Nailer Basics
The primary benefits of a nailer are speed and ease of use. A nailer uses pressurized air, battery power or a fuel cell to drive nails more quickly and with less effort than you could with a hammer. With the right technique, you can also use a nailer to drive the fasteners with a lot of accuracy.
Nailers use nails collated — or collected — into a coil or strip. Different nailer models drive different types of nails. Large framing nailers have the power and capacity to drive large, full-head nails for framing a house or deck. Smaller brad and finish nailers drive small nails that are less noticeable and that you can easily conceal.
Read our nailer guide to get details on different types, learn about firing methods and see tips on using a nailer safely.
What Is a Brad Nailer?
A brad nailer is one of the smaller, lighter nailers. The compact size makes it easier for a beginner to use and control than a larger model. Most brad nailers drive small, 18-gauge nails sometimes known as brads or brad nails.
With only a .0475-inch diameter and a small head, a brad nail doesn’t have a lot of fastening power but its small size minimizes the risk of splitting thin, softwood workpieces. Hammering these small, thin brad nails could bend them or damage the workpiece, but a brad nailer makes them simple to drive.
A brad nailer drives the brads cleanly and consistently, leaving only small nail holes. Depending on the project, you may not even need to fill the holes to hide them or to prep the workpiece for paint. This makes brad nails and brad nailers perfect for crafts and projects involving small pieces, as well as work where you don’t want the fasteners to be visible.
What Is a Finish Nailer?
A finish nailer typically drives either 15-gauge or 16-gauge nails, depending on the model. Lower gauge numbers mean larger diameters — 0.072 for 15-gauge nails or 0.0625 inches for 16-gauge nails — so these nailers drive larger nails than brad nailers. These nails have larger heads and a stronger hold than brads.
Finish nailers can handle more heavy-duty fastening and can work with dense materials like hardwoods and medium-density fiberboard (MDF). These tools aren’t suitable for thin pieces of wood; the larger-diameter nails could easily split the material.
Heavy-duty work requires more driving force and power. A finish nailer is bigger and heavier than a brad nailer and it may require more practice to use effectively. The nail holes in your workpiece will be larger than those brads would make. You’ll need to fill them with putty or wood filler to conceal the nail heads for a clean, finished look and to prepare the surface for paint.
In addition to the nail gauge or nail diameter a nailer can use, pay attention to the maximum nail length the tool can handle. In general, you should use a nail with a length 2-1/2 to 3 times the thickness of the material you’re fastening. So, nailers with a greater nail-length capacity are capable of more heavy-duty work.
Brad Nailer vs. Finish Nailer: Which Do You Need?
Deciding whether you need a brad nailer or a finish nailer comes down to the materials you’re using and the type of work you’re doing.
Best Projects for a Brad Nailer
- Fastening thin, delicate softwood pieces
- Installing small pieces of trim or moulding
- Working on craft projects
- Tacking pieces in place to allow adhesive to dry
- Attaching work pieces temporarily
- Assembling parts on a project that requires small nail holes rather than a strong hold
Best Projects for a Finish Nailer
What can you do with a finish nailer? Applications like these benefit from the larger nails this tool drives:
- Fastening hardwoods and other dense wood products such as MDF
- Installing heavy or thick moulding (crown moulding, baseboards, window and door casing, etc.)
- Installing wood paneling
- Building furniture
- Making cabinets
- Assembling stairs
- Working on a project that requires both holding power and relatively small fastener holes
Frequently Asked Questions About Brad and Finish Nailers
Answers to some common questions about brad and finish nailers can help you decide which tool you need for your next project — or whether you might want one of each.
Are Brad Nailers and Finish Nailers the Same?
No, brad and finish nailers are different tools designed for different projects. Brad nailers drive thin nails for crafts, temporary assembly or for securing thin trim and moulding. Finish nailers use larger nails for work requiring good holding power, such as installing large pieces of moulding, securing stair treads to risers and building cabinets.
Should You Use a Brad Nailer or a Finish Nailer for Baseboards?
A finish nailer is best for installing baseboards. The strength and holding power of the 16- or 15-guage finishing nails will make the moulding more secure and minimize the need for reinstalling the pieces in the future. However, finish nails create noticeable holes, so plan on filling them in before you paint or stain the baseboards.
What Is the Best Nailer for Trim?
A finish nailer is best for installing most types of door and window trim. Typically, these are larger pieces of trim. Finish nails have enough strength to fasten them securely. You’ll be able to use the nailer for other do-it-yourself and woodworking projects as well. A brad nailer will work for small trim pieces, but it won’t be as useful for other projects as a finish nailer.