About to click the *checkout* items on the 15 and 18 gauge trim nailers I’m ordering. What size nails should get me by. 1.25″ and 2.5″ for the finish nailer. On the brad…can’t seem to decide but me thinks 3/4″ and 1.5″
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General rule of thumb: nail length is 3x the thickness of material you are fastening (or is that 2x?).
It helps to have a selection on hand. I have boxes of 3/4", 1.25", 1.5", 2", and 2.5" on hand, in 16 gauge.
If you're nailing baseboard through drywall into framing, you need to go longer because drywall does not 'hold'. When fastening 3/4" base over drywall, 2.5" 16g nails works well.
Edited 7/21/2005 12:32 am ET by Pierre1
When figuring nail length remember that electrical wires that are more then 1 1/4" in from the edge of framing do not require nail plates. I try to make sure that I never penetrate the stud more then 1 1/4".
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Certainly.
If nailing base that is less than 3/4", twos would be a better choice than 2.5s".
Finish nails are cheap and, if you don't get the box wet, will stay on the shelf a long time. So get a selection, but you won't need sizes close together. You don't need 1" and 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" ... skip the 1-1/4" for example.
And do a little math on whjat you think you will be using them for. Baseboard ... 3/4" + sheetrock 1/2" + into the stud 3/4" minimum = 2" nail.
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
I carry 1 1/4",2",and 2 1/2" 15 gauge nails. Most of the time the 2 1/2" are used. For the brad nailer I carry 1/2 " up to 2" in 1/4" increments. Brad nails are fairly inexpensive and go a long way, pays to carry a variety.
mike
I generally just grab boxes of 1 1/4" and 2 1/2"
Like Ed said ... no reason to collect them all ... usually.
staples ... usually 1" and somewhere around 2" ...
23g pin's ... there's where an assortment does come in handy ... so I try to grab a box of 1" ... and an assortment box at the same time. With those small pins ... an 8th can make or break ya.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Assortment of both gauges. Short 18 gauge (1 1/4 to 5/8) or good at nailing joints tight. I'd say better to have a bunch of different nail lengths on hand rather than ruin some material because you settled on one or two nail sizes.