We’re having a new house built and I am going to do the finish carpentry. I need to buy a decent nail gun for running the base and installing door and window casing. Suggestions and advice about what nailer to purchase will be greatly appreciated!

I’m leaning towards a 15 gauge nailer, rather than buying a 16 gauge unit. However, Lowes has a 16 gauge Bostitch (Model #: SB1664) on sale for $129; I like the price, but that’s about all I like about this nailer. I have two other Bostitch guns (18 gauge brad & crown stapler) and have found that these are essentially disposable tools – in fact, I think that the $12 Harbor Freight brad nailer I “took a chance on” is every bit as good, or better, than my Bostitch brad nailer. Also, I don't know if 16 gauge nails are heavy enough for the work I'll be doing.

Lowes also has a Senco combo-pack for $199 that includes an angled 15 gauge finish nailer and a stapler. I’ve used a number of Senco nail guns and liked them (you get what you pay for). At this moment, the scale tilts in favor of this Senco package. With this, I could retire the Bostitch stapler to the bottom of a drawer.

Regarding price point, the less I spend on tools, the more I’ll have for quality materials and upgrades to our new home. But on the other hand, I don’t want to be penny wise and pound foolish by buying a junk nail gun that will jam and generally not perform.

Your recommendations regarding brand and gauge are appreciated!

Many thanks!

I bought a 15 guage Dewalt finish nailer at local (beleive it or not) farm
and ranch supply store for a very reasonable price. I think it was about $10
cheaper the the Bostitch I was going to buy at Lowe's. I have been very hapy
with it so far. I have only owned it for about 4 months, however I finished
my family room with it and my Curly Maple stairs (dont ask). I did get a
Bostitch stapler and I have no complaints about that either. I do agree that
you at times pay for the name brand, but there is a reason that name brands
got that reputation....Just a thought. Hope this helps.

EPI
"makesawdust" wrote in message
...

We're having a new house built and I am going to do the finish
carpentry. I need to buy a decent nail gun for running the base and
installing door and window casing. Suggestions and advice about what
nailer to purchase will be greatly appreciated!

I'm leaning towards a 15 gauge nailer, rather than buying a 16 gauge
unit. However, Lowes has a 16 gauge Bostitch (Model #: SB1664) on sale
for $129; I like the price, but that's about all I like about this
nailer. I have two other Bostitch guns (18 gauge brad & crown stapler)
and have found that these are essentially disposable tools - in fact, I
think that the $12 Harbor Freight brad nailer I "took a chance on" is
every bit as good, or better, than my Bostitch brad nailer. Also, I
don't know if 16 gauge nails are heavy enough for the work I'll be
doing.

Lowes also has a Senco combo-pack for $199 that includes an angled 15
gauge finish nailer and a stapler. I've used a number of Senco nail
guns and liked them (you get what you pay for). At this moment, the
scale tilts in favor of this Senco package. With this, I could retire
the Bostitch stapler to the bottom of a drawer.

Regarding price point, the less I spend on tools, the more I'll have
for quality materials and upgrades to our new home. But on the other
hand, I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish by buying a junk
nail gun that will jam and generally not perform.

Your recommendations regarding brand and gauge are appreciated!

Many thanks!


--
makesawdust

I would think that either a 15 or 16 guage would be adequate for doing
trim. I have used a 16 gauge for baseboards, and I actually use an 18
guage for 1/4 round trim, as the trim was stained and the nail head
less visible.

Come to think of it, I think I used the 18 guage for some baseboards
too, I can't recall exactly

So, if you're just doing baseboards, I'd try the 18 guage you already
have.

If you have an 18 guage already, then I'd get a 15 guage nailer. A 16
guage doesn't offer much over an 18 other than nail length. With longer
nails, you want a heavier guage anyway, as long nails bend more easily.

I bought the porter cable DA250B:
http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=2608

I've used it to install crown moulding in 5 rooms in our home, and I
love it to death.

Your experience with Bostich must be a fluke or limited to that model.
I got a beat-to-death Bostich framing nailer from a pawn shop for
cheap. It works like a champ. I used it to put up 500 feet of privacy
fence pickets on wet PT pine, and it did wonderfully.

Good luck.

makesawdust wrote:
We're having a new house built and I am going to do the finish
carpentry. I need to buy a decent nail gun for running the base and
installing door and window casing. Suggestions and advice about what
nailer to purchase will be greatly appreciated!

I'm leaning towards a 15 gauge nailer, rather than buying a 16
gauge
unit. However, Lowes has a 16 gauge Bostitch (Model #: SB1664) on
sale
for $129; I like the price, but that's about all I like about this
nailer. I have two other Bostitch guns (18 gauge brad & crown
stapler)
and have found that these are essentially disposable tools - in
fact, I
think that the $12 Harbor Freight brad nailer I "took a chance
on" is
every bit as good, or better, than my Bostitch brad nailer. Also, I
don't know if 16 gauge nails are heavy enough for the work I'll be
doing.

Lowes also has a Senco combo-pack for $199 that includes an angled 15
gauge finish nailer and a stapler. I've used a number of Senco
nail
guns and liked them (you get what you pay for). At this moment, the
scale tilts in favor of this Senco package. With this, I could
retire
the Bostitch stapler to the bottom of a drawer.

Regarding price point, the less I spend on tools, the more I'll
have
for quality materials and upgrades to our new home. But on the other
hand, I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish by buying a
junk
nail gun that will jam and generally not perform.

Your recommendations regarding brand and gauge are appreciated!

Many thanks!


--
makesawdust

I trim homes quite a bit and don't like using the 16g T nails, they just
don't hold like the angled 15g nails. The 15 gauge have a small head on them
and it keeps them from pulling out as easily as the 16 gauge t nails. This
is important when setting doors
and such. Go with the Senco, there excellent guns. --dave




"Mike Reed" wrote in message
ups.com...
If you have an 18 guage already, then I'd get a 15 guage nailer. A 16
guage doesn't offer much over an 18 other than nail length. With longer
nails, you want a heavier guage anyway, as long nails bend more easily.

I bought the porter cable DA250B:
http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=2608

I've used it to install crown moulding in 5 rooms in our home, and I
love it to death.

Your experience with Bostich must be a fluke or limited to that model.
I got a beat-to-death Bostich framing nailer from a pawn shop for
cheap. It works like a champ. I used it to put up 500 feet of privacy
fence pickets on wet PT pine, and it did wonderfully.

Good luck.

makesawdust wrote:
We're having a new house built and I am going to do the finish
carpentry. I need to buy a decent nail gun for running the base and
installing door and window casing. Suggestions and advice about what
nailer to purchase will be greatly appreciated!

I'm leaning towards a 15 gauge nailer, rather than buying a 16
gauge
unit. However, Lowes has a 16 gauge Bostitch (Model #: SB1664) on
sale
for $129; I like the price, but that's about all I like about this
nailer. I have two other Bostitch guns (18 gauge brad & crown
stapler)
and have found that these are essentially disposable tools - in
fact, I
think that the $12 Harbor Freight brad nailer I "took a chance
on" is
every bit as good, or better, than my Bostitch brad nailer. Also, I
don't know if 16 gauge nails are heavy enough for the work I'll be
doing.

Lowes also has a Senco combo-pack for $199 that includes an angled 15
gauge finish nailer and a stapler. I've used a number of Senco
nail
guns and liked them (you get what you pay for). At this moment, the
scale tilts in favor of this Senco package. With this, I could
retire
the Bostitch stapler to the bottom of a drawer.

Regarding price point, the less I spend on tools, the more I'll
have
for quality materials and upgrades to our new home. But on the other
hand, I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish by buying a
junk
nail gun that will jam and generally not perform.

Your recommendations regarding brand and gauge are appreciated!

Many thanks!


--
makesawdust

I bought a 15 guage Dewalt finish nailer at local (beleive it or not) farm
and ranch supply store for a very reasonable price. I think it was about
$10
cheaper the the Bostitch I was going to buy at Lowe's.

I also have the Dewalt 15ga. Seems great so far, especially for $99 brand
new (Amazon sale). It's light, comfortable to use, has very good visibility
of the target area, and will sink a 2.5" nail fully in hard maple. I was
almost set to get the Hitachi 15ga. but I couldn't pass on the Dewalt deal.

I have had a Craftsman for years and have no problem
"Hansen" wrote in message
...
I bought a 15 guage Dewalt finish nailer at local (beleive
it or not) farm
and ranch supply store for a very reasonable price. I think
it was about $10
cheaper the the Bostitch I was going to buy at Lowe's. I
have been very hapy
with it so far. I have only owned it for about 4 months,
however I finished
my family room with it and my Curly Maple stairs (dont ask).
I did get a
Bostitch stapler and I have no complaints about that either.
I do agree that
you at times pay for the name brand, but there is a reason
that name brands
got that reputation....Just a thought. Hope this helps.

EPI
"makesawdust" wrote
in message
...

We're having a new house built and I am going to do the
finish
carpentry. I need to buy a decent nail gun for running
the base and
installing door and window casing. Suggestions and advice
about what
nailer to purchase will be greatly appreciated!

I'm leaning towards a 15 gauge nailer, rather than buying
a 16 gauge
unit. However, Lowes has a 16 gauge Bostitch (Model #:
SB1664) on sale
for $129; I like the price, but that's about all I like
about this
nailer. I have two other Bostitch guns (18 gauge brad &
crown stapler)
and have found that these are essentially disposable
tools - in fact, I
think that the $12 Harbor Freight brad nailer I "took a
chance on" is
every bit as good, or better, than my Bostitch brad
nailer. Also, I
don't know if 16 gauge nails are heavy enough for the work
I'll be
doing.

Lowes also has a Senco combo-pack for $199 that includes
an angled 15
gauge finish nailer and a stapler. I've used a number of
Senco nail
guns and liked them (you get what you pay for). At this
moment, the
scale tilts in favor of this Senco package. With this, I
could retire
the Bostitch stapler to the bottom of a drawer.

Regarding price point, the less I spend on tools, the more
I'll have
for quality materials and upgrades to our new home. But
on the other
hand, I don't want to be penny wise and pound foolish by
buying a junk
nail gun that will jam and generally not perform.

Your recommendations regarding brand and gauge are
appreciated!

Many thanks!


--
makesawdust

Thank you very much for all of your advice. I ended up buying a "Senco FinishPro 35 Angled Finish Nailer Value Pack" from Lowes for $199.99. It included the 15 gauge nailer and a "freebie" 18 gauge stapler. I used the finish nailer over the weekend on a mantle that I'm building for our new house and all I can say is WOW (and I wish I would have bought this years ago)! Unlike my 2" 18 gauge brad nailer, there was no need to worry about deflection with the 15 gauge nails. Yes, the resulting hole is a little larger, but the mantle is getting painted so there are no worries.

Anyway, thanks for all of your help!