A brad nailer is a specially designed nailer that can do nearly all types of woodworking work. Whatever your task is, whether it is trimming or molding or different types of home projects, you will need the presence of a brad nailer badly for these projects.
Brad nailers are necessarily a thing-gauge nail that is perfect for enclosing lightweight wood trim. It contains the solution for an infinite number of problems.
In this article, I am going to discuss “what do you use a brad nailer for.” Stay with me until I finish the discussion.
Brad Nailers and Finish Nailers – What is the Difference?
Sometimes, you can’t understand the difference between a brad nailer and a finish nailer.
However, a significant number of differences are there between these two types of nailers.
In terms of visualization, a brad nailer is smaller than a finish nailer.
Also, if you ask about the performance, the binding power of a finish nailer is much better than a brad nailer. Because a nailer has to have a head from where the brad gets fired. And the finishing nailer contains this head; on the other hand, a brad nailer doesn’t.
As they don’t have any heads, means they are thin-gauged, and due to this, they provide few benefits. Such as, using wood putty in order to hide the nail hole is unnecessary. Besides, they are ideal for mounting frivolous trim.
To perform delicate, detailed tasks, selecting a brad nailer will be the best choice. Because if you apply stain over the wood pieces, the wood putty will appear as darker than regular wood.
Additionally, you will get other benefits from using a brad nailer. It reduces the chance of damaging a thin piece of pruning. In contrast, you are not getting this benefit from a finish nailer because it contains a thicker gauge.
Uses of 18” – Gauge Brad Nailer
Brad Nailers come with 18-gauge brad that is 2” long, which means they create a small hole, and there is no chance of splitting the wood pieces. They create a strong bond between 2 wooden objects as well as reduce the usage of putty in any nail hole.
Because of the size of the brad nails, it is significantly easy to attach a thin-sized wood to a more massive wooden object using the brad nail.
Brad nailers are versatile, and you can use them in a number of home improvement projects as well as other renovation works. Using a brad nail, you can attach.
- Cove.
- Stop.
- Rail.
- Baseboard Shoe Molding.
- Making a photo frame.
- Small-sized wooden furniture.
And to name a few.
Let’s have a look at below for details of uses of brad nailers
Installing baseboards:
You may need to replace or rejuvenate the baseboards of your home at regular intervals. If you find yourself in this situation, then a brad nailer will undoubtedly be a handy tool to accomplish the project.
When you are looking for a lousy nailer that can perform trim or baseboard installation work, make sure you are seeking a highly robust and nose-sized brad nailer. A nose-sized brad nailer will shoot tiny nails to create a bond between 2 boards when you are operating it.
Crown Molding:
Are you a contractor and running your own business? If yes, then do you own a brad nailer? This question is crucial because, for every contractor, a brad nailer is the first tool that s/he has to have a brad nailer in his/her toolbox.
During a project, you will never know when you need to work on crown molding or window casings. Thin nails need to be replaced. For these types of instance work, a brad nailer will be a perfect solution.
Another effective use of a brad nailer is if you are looking to start your crown molding D.I.Y. project at home, you can’t achieve success if you don’t have a brad nailer in your hand.
Crafts:
Yes, believe me; an 18-gauge brad nailer will swear in many people who see themselves crafting consistently. Brad nailers are easy to operate, providing an excellent solution for every type of problem if the nail is unavailable in a project.
Even if you have children, after a certain age, you can teach them how to use a brad nailer. This type of teaching will improve your children’s self-confidence.
Additionally, brad nailers are highly portable and come with battery-operated models.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to use brad nailers for trimming work?
Yes. Brad nailers are the best option for lightweight type work.
For baseboards, which size nail do I need to use?
If you are installing baseboards, choose an 18-gauge nailer and 1 ½” long nails to get the best result. However, for a large and heavy baseboard, please choose a finish nailer. It means you need to choose the nailer based on the baseboard’s size and weight.
I have a crown molding project which nailer should I choose?
If the molds are lightweight, don’t hesitate to choose a brad nailer. However, if the crown molds are massive and full, the brad nailer can’t hold it. If so, you should go for a finish nailer option.
Is it possible to use brad nails in a finish nail?
No. The brad nails are 18-gauge nails and use a minimal diameter of nearly 1.2 mm. On the other hand, finished nails are 15-gauge or 16-gauge nails. This means the measurements of both nails are different, and you can’t use brad nails in a finished nail.
Final Words
I believe, by now, you already understand brad nail is a tool that can be used for a wide range of home improvement projects. Mostly, you can use them for fixing trims and molding and for an infinite number of other detailed jobs.