I'd like to be able to do some light wood trim work (baseboards,
door/window trim pieces etc.).

Rather than buy separate tools (a friend has a compressor which I can
borrow), I see there are these combo brad nailer/stapler guns (Bostitch
etc.).

Are they any good and can anyone recommend one I should look for (not
too expensive)?

Thanks.

Pat Coghlan writes:

I'd like to be able to do some light wood trim work (baseboards,
door/window trim pieces etc.).

Rather than buy separate tools (a friend has a compressor which I can
borrow), I see there are these combo brad nailer/stapler guns
(Bostitch etc.).

Are they any good and can anyone recommend one I should look for (not
too expensive)?

I had a friend leave a black/decker one here and it was such a lousy
staple gun, I picked up my manual swingline. I didn't try it was a
brad nailer though.

Of course, it could be the brand, as B&D has perennially been
garbage.

Best Regards,
--
Todd H.
http://www.toddh.net/

In article ,
Pat Coghlan wrote:
I'd like to be able to do some light wood trim work (baseboards,
door/window trim pieces etc.).

Rather than buy separate tools (a friend has a compressor which I can
borrow), I see there are these combo brad nailer/stapler guns (Bostitch
etc.).

Are they any good and can anyone recommend one I should look for (not
too expensive)?

Thanks.

They work OK as far as driving the fastener, but the combo guns often
mar the wood surface when driving brads. A brad-only gun will set the
brad slightly below the surface without any "collateral damage" so to
speak.

For occasional or even frequent use it is hard to beat the
brad nailers and staplers from Harbor Freight. They run frequent
sales with prices in the $10 to $20 range, depending on exact
model and fastener size. You could easily purchase an 18 ga
1 1/4 or 2" brad nailer, and a stapler, for less than the cost of
a combo gun from one of the "name brand" manufacturers. (Which are
likely also produced in China)
--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland

I agree that the combo brad/stapler nailers do mar the surface a bit.
I have found that by holding the nailer on an ever so slight angle that
I can avoid any marring of the surface and that's my "work around" to
the situation. I have a Sears Craftsman model that I picked up a
number of years back and it has worked trouble free through many uses
over the years. I have only used it once as a stapler (carpet up a
stairs) and it certainly met my expectations. With everything made in
China nowadays, the Harbor Freight specials might not be any different
than any of the products from the big name manufacturers out there.
However, I still like to believe that you get what you pay for.