Best Finish Nailer For Baseboard : Top 7 Picks For 2022
Are you looking for a nail gun that can handle baseboards?
A finish nailer is a perfect tool for installing baseboards. Its lightweight, easy to use, and has an easy-to-adjust depth setting so you dont have to worry about making mistakes.
There are a lot of options out there when it comes to finishing nailers. Some are cordless and others have a compressor that needs to be hooked up. Which one should you choose?
In this article, we will discuss the best finish nailer for baseboard, their quality, built, and common faqs.
Numax Pneumatic Baseboard Nailer
Nail Types Tips And Tools
Finish nails with tiny heads are standard for molding installation. When installing the nails with a hammer, use a nail set to countersink the heads. Installing finish nails with a hammer also requires drilling pilot holes to avoid splitting the molding. The simplest way to install molding is with a finish nailer or a pin nailer that shoots thin, blunt-tip nails designed not to split the wood, says Don Vandervort’s HomeTips. A good rule of thumb for selecting finish nail length is to use a nail that enters the stud or framing at least as deeply as the thickness of the molding. For example, if youre installing 1/4-inch thick molding, use a 1-inch finish nail. This allows the nail to penetrate the molding, standard 1/2-inch drywall, and then penetrate the stud 1/4 inch.
References
Can I Use A Brad Nailer For Trim
For detailed woodwork and trim, where you need more holding strength than a micro pin can provide, a brad nailer is typically the top choice among contractors and weekend warriors alike. Brad nails are formed from a fine, 18-gauge wire, which means they are smaller in diameter and typically have less holding strength.
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What Is A 23
Last but not least, is the 23-gauge pinner. These too are available in cordless and pneumatic options. This gun should be relegated to tasks like mitered returns or attaching thin moldings or other details to wood.
Because most of them fire headless pins or very small-headed pins, theyre often used in conjunction with glue and therefore end up typically acting as a temporary clamp. Theyre also a good option for installing beads and thin stops. They dont split wood and leave a barely noticeable hole that requires minimal to no filling. These nailers are available in pneumatic and cordless configurations.
Should I Get A 15 Or 16 Gauge Finish Nailer
The main advantage of a 16-gauge gun is that its smaller and lighter. If youre shopping for a finish nailer, Id recommend the larger 15-gauge gun, simply because the fatter nails provide more holding power. Youll pay about the same for a name-brand 16-gauge nailer as you would for a 15-gauge gun.
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The Difference Between A Finish Nail And Brad Nail
Brad nails are 18 gauge, which is thinner than most nails. Because they have such a small profile, theyre less noticeable in most projects. When looks count, a brad nail can blend in easily, in many cases even being covered by paint.
Finishing nails are a bit thicker, usually around 15 or 16 gauge. That extra heft makes them a little better suited for specific jobs. Theyre sturdy and more able to hold something big in place .
Brad nails also tend to bend easily. For this reason, they can be tough to work with if you have to hand nail them. If you have a nailer, it tends to give much more consistent results. Though, its not impossible to use a hammer see Can You Use A Hammer With Brad Nails?
But finishing nails, since theyre bigger, cant be used on very thin wood. If youre trying to put something small or delicate in place, use a brad nail. Some people also use brad nails on just the very ends of trim, as thats the area most likely to split. Finishing nails might be fine for the rest of the trim but too large at the sides.
Also, finishing nails are recommended if youre nailing through a piece of drywall. Brad nails lack the grip to keep anything in place against drywall for long both the nails and the drywall are too soft, and theres too much give there. Some people still use brad nails anyway, as they like their low visibility. In this case, its often recommended to use an adhesive or glue for extra staying power.
How Much Space Does The Baseboard Take Up
When measuring the area of the baseboard, you must remember to measure the entire area.
You cannot just measure the actual size of the baseboard because that might leave some space behind the baseboard.
So instead, measure the entire area including the space left behind the baseboard.
In other words, if you are measuring a 4×4 baseboard, then you must also include the space of about 0.25 on each side of the baseboard.
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Minimum Recommended Air Delivery
Pneumatic nailers use compressed air to drive the nails. The airflow is measured in CFM. Different types of nailers require a different CFM at 90 PSI. Knowing the CFM required by your tool will help you determine the proper air compressor to pair with the tool.
When searching for the best nail guns, keep in mind the different types of models, motors, gauges and angles. Each variation of nail gun will have its own benefits, depending on the types of jobs you need to complete. Need help identifying a type of nail gun or nail? Snap a photo and use image search in The Home Depot Mobile App. If you plan on using a nail gun just once, consider tool rental to get your project done. Use once, then bring it back – no maintenance required and you wont need to store it either.
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Two Essential Advice You Should Follow:
Now lets look at two essential measures that you should follow while finishing your overall trimming process. If youre using baseboards that havent been painted yet, you should use a punch while sinking up to the hole.
You can find them on any local machinery stores. They will help you to drive the nails smoothly through your baseboards. And, they have a sharp tip on the top that makes the nailing process much easier to perform.
The next advice you must follow is to use a nail that is long enough to strongly hold the baseboard with your wall. As there are no special reasons to use a baseboard other than covering the bottom of your wall or decorate it, a longer nail will ensure more strong and secure fixture on your home.
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What Are 18 Gauge Nails Used For
18-gauge brad nailers shoot a thin nail between 3/8 to 2 depending on the model. They leave a smaller hole thanks to their small head and so are less likely to split thinner wood. Theyre the ideal nailer for attaching casing to window and door jambs because theyre less likely to blow out the connections.
What Size Nails Do I Need For Baseboard Trim
Lets talk about how to use the nail gun size to determine the best size for baseboard nails in your home. As previously mentioned, a higher gauge number indicates a thinner nail. So the larger the gauge number is, the slimmer or finer the nail will be. Standard finish nailers use nails with a gauge of 15 or 16, but for more delicate moldings, you might end up using nailers that are 18 gauge to 23 gauge with even slimmer, shorter nails.
To make it easier, think of it this way.
- Finish nailers: 15 gauge and 16 gauge nailers
- Brad nailers: 18 gauge nailers
- Pinner or micro pinners: 23 gauge nailers
Now lets break it down a little further.
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What Size Brad Nails Do I Need
Brad nails come in lengths ranging from 1/2 inch to 2 and 1/2 inches. The size that you use depends on the project. But theres an easy rule of thumb to help you decide.
Pick a brad nail that is three times thicker than the surface youre nailing it into. For example, if youre using the brad nail for 1/4 inch trim, use 3/4 inch brad nails. This gives you enough of a nail to get through the top wood. And theres still plenty left to grip into the surface youre nailing into.
Some projects, of course, dont require this much extra nail power. If youre worried the nail might stick out the other side, you might be able to get away with a shorter nail. But in most cases, its better to give yourself extra power by using a nail with three times the depth of your wood.
How To Choose The Right Gauge Nail For Baseboard Trim
The gauge number is another confusing term for most beginners. When choosing the right gauge number, you need to consider several things.
First, you must choose the type of material that will be used to cover the baseboard. The reason why you need to consider this is because there are different types of materials that require different gauges.
For example, vinyl requires a smaller gauge number than wood. Vinyl has a thickness of 1/8. Whereas wood has a thickness of 3/4. Let me make one more thing clear here.
The gauge number is inversely proportional to the thickness of the nail. It means nails with thicker gauge numbers will have a shorter diameter and vice versa.
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Can You Screw In Baseboards
4.5/5baseboardin-depth answer
Trim screws have very small heads and are used to attach trim to wood or metal studs. The size of the head is larger than a finish nail, which is why they are used sparingly in residential remodeling. Some walls are built with steel studs without wood backing which makes trim screws necessary.
Additionally, what is the best glue to use for baseboards? Why glue works better than nails in installing baseboards and
- Double-sided. You can usedouble-sided instead of nails for a simple installation of Santa Luzia Mouldings.
- Adhesive. Titebond® GREENchoice Professional Cove Base is our recommendation for better fixation along the wall.
- Caulk. For a perfect finish use Titebond® Painter’s Plus Caulk.
In this way, how do you secure baseboards?
Nail Baseboard to WallSet the scribed baseboard in place. Next, at each stud location, hammer two 8d finish nails through the board, at a slight downward angle, near its top and bottom edges. To avoid marking the wood, use a nail set to drive the heads just below the wood surface.
What is the thinnest screw?
The smallest diameter screw is 0, and the largest commonly available is 24.
Before Starting The Trimming Process:
Do you know, the size of a piece of wood may shrink or swell depending on the climate they are staying? Yes, you heard it correct! Your wooden baseboard may become lessen in size due to the climate condition inside your home.
Now, the place where they belonged before may considerably differ from your home climate.
In this case, you should leave them on your home for 24 to 48 hours so that they become accustomed to your home weather.
This will cause them to transform into the relevant size & become ready to fit on your walls.
Brad nails are used to fasten your baseboards and are usually smaller in size.
As weve discussed before, if you arent certain about the inside wiring on your wall, its better for you to use a nail that isnt too long or short.
It will reduce the chance of experiencing that worst scenario & at the same time, strongly hold your baseboards to the wall.
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Type Of Nail Gun That Is Best For Baseboards
The type of nail gun which is best for baseboards is a pneumatic nail gun because it can handle the tough jobs and is used in many different industries. Read article pneumatic vs cordless nailer.
A pneumatic nail gun is what you need to make your trim look professional when installing baseboard molding
there are two types of nails that are recommended for installation: 16-gauge or 18 gauge nails, both of which are galvanized
nails sizes for baseboards range from a small finish nail to a large framing nail, but typically the size used is 18 gauge or 16-gauge nails.
What Are Finish Nails
Finish nails, or finishing nails, are generally made of 15- or 16-gauge steel wire, making them slightly thicker in diameter than brad nails. The added thickness means that finishing nails create a stronger hold than brads. This makes them useful for heftier applications with thicker material, such as cabinets or baseboards.
The greater diameter of finish nails leaves a wider hole after fastening a piece of wood. For this reason, youll need to follow up with a filler to conceal the spots and tidy your handiwork.
Because they are thicker than brad nails, finish nails are more likely to split thin or delicate pieces of wood trim.
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What Nail Gun Do You Use For Baseboard
As I have mentioned above, the most suitable nail gun for baseboards is a finish nailer. Specifically, a 15 gauge or 16 gauge nailer. A 15 gauge nailer is designed to drive nail sizes from 1-1/4 inches up to 2-1/2 inches. A 16 gauge nailer on the other hand is designed to fire nails from 3/4 to 2-1/2 inches long.
Can I Glue Baseboard Instead Of Nailing
While many contractors use glue to secure baseboards to the wall, youll typically find that nails are used to secure them most of the time. In some cases, however, a combination of nails and glue is used to secure the baseboards. Installing baseboards properly is important to keeping with the aesthetic of the home.
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Finish Nailers And Pneumatic Nail Guns For Baseboards
For attaching the baseboards, youre probably going to be using a nail gun of some type, so lets talk about trim nailer guns for a second. A trim nailer gun, also known by other names, including the term pneumatic trim gun, is designed to save workers tons of time by forcefully injecting the nails into the material being fastened, which in this case would be the baseboards.
Thanks to their precise, powerful action, these pneumatic trim guns enable you to hold the baseboard or piece of trim in position while still achieving the exact placement you need for the nail. Plus, the speed is definitely a major benefit, enabling you to accomplish a lot more work within a small amount of time.
In general, construction experts suggest following this guideline: the larger the gauge number of the trim nailer gun, the smaller the nail youll need for it. So since youre looking for an aesthetically pleasing finer finish for the baseboards in your home or building, youll probably select a finish nailer thats between 15 gauge and 16 gauge. This type of gun will take the kind of small, unobtrusive nails that you want inserted into your baseboards.
How Do I Fill The Nail Holes In The Baseboard Trim
No matter how careful you are and how small the gauge of nail you use, you are most likely going to have to fill or cover nail holes. One thing to remember is not to use caulk. This is because caulk contracts as it dries, and it will not fill the nail hole right. It will always have a dent or divot even after you paint over it.
The best filler for nail holes is spackling paste. It is actually designed for this job and forms itself to fit any hole easily. It will not contract or change shape as it dries so you should be able to cover it nicely when you paint. You can even sand it if you need to.
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What Size Finishing Nails For Baseboards
last updated on By William Aguinaldo
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Do you know using the perfect size nail ensures more durability and strength over your moldings? Absolutely! It doesnt matter whether youre completely unaware about this issue or, you retain no prior experience on installing baseboards inside your home.
Well, the good news is weve designed this guide to teach you every aspect you must consider while selecting the right size of nails for your baseboard. In addition, the second half of this guide will cover what size brad nails you should use on your baseboards?
So lets begin:
Its very crucial to select the right size of nails to use on your baseboards. Although the size or gauge will mostly depend on the project youre working on, but selecting the accurate size may save you from some worst-case scenarios like splitting the baseboard, or perhaps, you may end up punching a hole through an unseen wire or pipe. You dont ever wanna experience it, do you?
What Nail Gun Is Best For Trim Work
Best Finishing Nail Gun For Trim BOSTITCH 15-Gauge 1 1/4-Inch to 2-1/2-Inch Angled Finish Nailer. DEWALT 18-Volt Cordless 20 Degree Angled Finish Nailer. BOSTITCH 20V MAX Cordless Straight Finish Nailer. NuMax 16 Gauge Straight Finish Nailer. Hitachi 1-1/4 Inch to 2-1/2 Inch 15-Gauge Angled Finish Nailer.
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