I know this question has been asked many times but my story is...
I need to install about 200 sf of the top-nailed (older style, not the
tong & groove type) red oak hardwood floor. We were thinking to use
just hammers to do that, but it took us 2 days to install 50 sf in the
kitchen, with nail head yet to be sunk. So we decide to get a nail gun
for the rest of the job. Now the wood strip is 2" wide and 5/16" thick
oak, should I use 18 gauge brad nailer with 1" nail? Or should I go
for a 16 gauge finish nailer with 1" nail?
Thanks in advance,

"Larry Guan" wrote in message
I need to install about 200 sf of the top-nailed (older style, not the
tong & groove type) red oak hardwood floor.

should I use 18 gauge brad nailer with 1" nail? Or should I go
for a 16 gauge finish nailer with 1" nail?
Thanks in advance,

I don't know if the 16 ga is best, but I do know the 18 ga brad is wrong.
Brads are for tacking things in place, not for long term securing of things
like floors.
Ed

http://pages.cthome.net/edhome

On 2 Aug 2004 15:49:41 -0700, (Larry Guan) wrote:

I know this question has been asked many times but my story is...
I need to install about 200 sf of the top-nailed (older style, not the
tong & groove type) red oak hardwood floor. We were thinking to use
just hammers to do that, but it took us 2 days to install 50 sf in the
kitchen, with nail head yet to be sunk. So we decide to get a nail gun
for the rest of the job. Now the wood strip is 2" wide and 5/16" thick
oak, should I use 18 gauge brad nailer with 1" nail? Or should I go
for a 16 gauge finish nailer with 1" nail?
Thanks in advance,

There is a specialized nailer for wood floors. You hit it with a
hammer and the nail is driven into the edge of the hardwood flooring.
You can likely rent one.

Thunder

On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 02:59:00 GMT, Rolling Thunder
wrote:

On 2 Aug 2004 15:49:41 -0700, (Larry Guan) wrote:

I know this question has been asked many times but my story is...
I need to install about 200 sf of the top-nailed (older style, not the
tong & groove type) red oak hardwood floor. We were thinking to use
just hammers to do that, but it took us 2 days to install 50 sf in the
kitchen, with nail head yet to be sunk. So we decide to get a nail gun
for the rest of the job. Now the wood strip is 2" wide and 5/16" thick
oak, should I use 18 gauge brad nailer with 1" nail? Or should I go
for a 16 gauge finish nailer with 1" nail?
Thanks in advance,

There is a specialized nailer for wood floors. You hit it with a
hammer and the nail is driven into the edge of the hardwood flooring.
You can likely rent one.

Thunder


that's for tongue and groove. he's face nailing neat-edged flooring.

Rolling Thunder responds:

I know this question has been asked many times but my story is...
I need to install about 200 sf of the top-nailed (older style, not the
tong & groove type) red oak hardwood floor. We were thinking to use
just hammers to do that, but it took us 2 days to install 50 sf in the
kitchen, with nail head yet to be sunk. So we decide to get a nail gun
for the rest of the job. Now the wood strip is 2" wide and 5/16" thick
oak, should I use 18 gauge brad nailer with 1" nail? Or should I go
for a 16 gauge finish nailer with 1" nail?
Thanks in advance,

There is a specialized nailer for wood floors. You hit it with a
hammer and the nail is driven into the edge of the hardwood flooring.
You can likely rent one.

AFAIK, those floor nailers work ONLY with t&g, which the OP said he did not
have.

Personally, I'd go for the thicker nail at least 1-1/2" long.

Charlie Self
"Give me golf clubs, fresh air and a beautiful partner, and you can keep the
clubs and the fresh air." Jack Benny

You need a face flooring nailer:

http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/S...671+1091553277

I think you can get a face-nail shoe for one of their angled nailers.

FWIW, if you have to use finish nails I would use 15g (not 16 or 18). You
want something that will hold, that's for sure. Your best bet is a face
nailer that shoots those barbed flooring cleats, though.
"Larry Guan" wrote in message
om...
I know this question has been asked many times but my story is...
I need to install about 200 sf of the top-nailed (older style, not the
tong & groove type) red oak hardwood floor. We were thinking to use
just hammers to do that, but it took us 2 days to install 50 sf in the
kitchen, with nail head yet to be sunk. So we decide to get a nail gun
for the rest of the job. Now the wood strip is 2" wide and 5/16" thick
oak, should I use 18 gauge brad nailer with 1" nail? Or should I go
for a 16 gauge finish nailer with 1" nail?
Thanks in advance,

No brad nail or finish nails for flooring...

Use the correct tool and nails...

http://www.porta-nails.com/nailer/index.shtml

These can be rented at most rental centers and
you need the "face nailer" model.


Larry Guan wrote:

I know this question has been asked many times but my story is...
I need to install about 200 sf of the top-nailed (older style, not the
tong & groove type) red oak hardwood floor. We were thinking to use
just hammers to do that, but it took us 2 days to install 50 sf in the
kitchen, with nail head yet to be sunk. So we decide to get a nail gun
for the rest of the job. Now the wood strip is 2" wide and 5/16" thick
oak, should I use 18 gauge brad nailer with 1" nail? Or should I go
for a 16 gauge finish nailer with 1" nail?
Thanks in advance,

There will never be a brad or brad nailer that will penetrate with every hit
into oak. If you feel you must face nail, then go with a 15 ga. nailer. 16 will
probably do the job, but you have to remember, this is OAK