What Do You Use a Brad Nailer For?
A brad nailer is commonly used to join or even finish wood n items. However, this device can also be used for attaching other materials including matboard, paint can boards, small pieces of plywood or plastics.
In general, the brad nailer is ideally used with materials that are long and thin. You can use the brad nailer for cases where the assembly process called for pins or staples. The nails deposited are quite small in size and cannot penetrate through the entire thickness of the wood.
For this reason, the brad nailer is used, unlike nails guns that use larger nails or nails that are good for thicker wood. A lot of people are also using this device for material that is not very tough such as cardboard.
Brad nailers can also be used with pre-assembled materials that are prepared for them. This is also known as kits, and includes items such as cabinets, boxes and frames. The brad nailer makes a quick work of these items, and it saves you the trouble of assembling everything yourself.
Some of the common materials that can be attached with a brad nailer include plywood, recycled baseboard, plastic, laminates, particle board and even matboard. There is also other application that may require to use a gun on a nail, such as attaching license plates, or attaching coverings like for microwaves or stoves.
Difference Between Brad Nailers and Finish Nailers
Brad nailers are specifically designed for nailing hardwoods. They are ideal for trapping difficult areas under hardwood flooring, nailing down wooden tiles, and for plywood installations. These types of nailers can often drive a nail through a bed of nails already in place with only a couple of inches of clearance.
Miter, crown, and finish nailers, on the other hand, will not drive a nail through a nail already in place. They are designed to use a guide so that the nail drive is absolute.
These nailers can, however, be used for any type of use. You can use crown and finish nailers to drive tek, brad, and spiral nails. Since they have a better position of nail and a trigger to keep the nail size at size, it is much easier to keep to a specific size.
Finish nailers are a better option for people who do not know nailing jobs well. They can guide the finish nailer onto the nail so they can more easily hit accurately. Also, a finish nailer does not require a compressor.
Brad nailers do not require a compressor, but they cost more than finish nailers or miter nailers. One of the biggest differences between brad nailers and finish nailers is that with a brad nailer, you can shoot through a piece of vinyl, wood, laminate, and other easy-to-pierce materials.
18-Gauge Brad Nailer Uses
There are a large variety of items involving furniture which have to be constructed or hung to your walls or floor. Brad nailer is used widely to applied stabilizing materials to wood, metal and plastic.
A Brad nailer often is really cheap and a must have for large DIYers and professionals alike. Brad nailers are really versatile allowing you to work with a wide array of materials. However it can really make a difference which material you are using it on and if your surface allows you to work with a 18 gauge brad nailer, 18 gauge nailer (18G Brad nailer), or a 24 gauge brad nailer.
When driving in the brad nail, it can leave a small ripple in the surface where the nail is, even when you are using the 18 gauge brad nailer. This ripple is inevitable in almost every situation, when the nail punctures the surface it is driving into the material and creates a small bump.
Brad nailers also have a really small round head which means they are designed to not go through the surface of what it is being applied to. Using a 24 gauge brad nailer will mean that the head is larger than the 18 or even a 24 gauge brad nailer.
The head being larger than a 24 gauge brad nailer will mean that the head will go through the surface and have to be drilled out from the other side.
Brad Nail Sizes
Brad nail gives you a lot of storage space as it can hold 60-80 nails in a single size. Standard items include 18d and 20d, as well as 12d. Look for nails that are color-coded and not representative of the actual size. It’s an easy way to see exactly what size you need.
Finish Nailer vs. Framing Nailer
When it comes to DIY projects there are a few different nail removal tools called a nail gun. Basically, these types of nail guns are used to drive nails through wood, fiberglass, and other materials. While you may find many different brands, there are two variations:
Finish Nailer
This nail gun is perfect for applications such as installing trim, baseboards, moulding, and other finishing touches. This type of nail gun is small and lightweight – but powerful. It is not used for structural or load bearing projects.
Framing Nailer
This nail gun is going to drive nails through many different kinds of materials that are used for framing, sheathing, and other structural purposes like installing sheathing and wall studs. They are made to withstand the rigorous and demanding day-to-day job a professional is pushing for.
Drywall and roofing nail guns are also similar to framing nail guns – but are often quite a bit larger. While some nail guns may be grouped into these categories, there is some crossover. Framing nailers are often used to install roofing shingles because they are strong and can drive nails straight. When it comes to drywall, there are a couple of different types of nail guns, but regardless, a first-time DIYer is not going to be using one for your project.
Electric Brad Nailer
Electric brad nailers are the easiest to use because they are corded models. These nailers have a very simple design and are easy to hold because they are fitted with a handle. When you need to install a finish nail near the end of a board, an electric brad nailer makes the job faster and easier.
Another big advantage of electric brad nailers is that they have a compact design. This makes them a great option for finishing tasks.
This nailer allows you to work in tight areas because the mechanism of this nailer is lightweight and easy to handle. Some of the lightweight electric brad nailers can be as light as three pounds.
The nails from this nailer range from 3/8 inches to 2 inches. You can set the depth of the nails based on the needs of your project.