We tackle that question DIYers often ask: What is a finish nailer used for?

A finish nailer can be a handy addition to your DIY tools collection but is it worth it?

Below we will walk you through the various applications of finish nailers to help you make the best possible decision, assuming you’re new to this type of nail gun.

What is a finish nailer used for?

Now, a finishing nailer is best suited for the pretty work rather than those super rugged construction projects.

To be specific, this kind of nail gun is used to fasten finishing materials such as trim, crown molding, and the like.

Simply put, this is the go-to nailer when you have tasks involving baseboards, trim work, crown molding, etc.

In other words, it’s literary used for what its name suggests: to apply the finishing touches to structures to give them the taste you like.

Here is a list of the projects that folks commonly use this useful piece of equipment for:

• Trimming- You shoot 15 or 16 gauge trim nails (depending on the project) to fasten trim with this magnificent tool.
• Interior molding- For decorative molding purposes, pros often use 15/16 gauge finish nailers.
• Baseboards- You can use brad nailers here but the finish nailer offers the best results.
• Paneling- You can quickly install tongue-and-groove paneling on ceilings (and elsewhere) with a finish nailer though some carpenters like to use a brad nailer for this.
• Cabinetry- A finish nailer (especially with shorter nails) could be better than a brad nailer when assembling cabinets.

 

Types of finish nailers

Two ‘types’ of finish nailers are available in the market:

1. 15-gauge finish nailer
2. 16-gauge finish nailer

And while in some instances there’s overlap, you’ll never get the best results if you choose one when its peer is the better alternative.

Keep reading to learn what their key difference is and their suitability to your projects…

Pause: Finishing nails are simply small nails with extra small heads. When you sink them into the surface, they leave a tiny hole that you fill in with some putty then paint over for a sleek, smooth finish.

 

What is a finish nailer used for? – tackling the 15g vs 16g finish nailer question

1.  15-gauge finish nailers

Now, the fundamental difference between the two nailers is the gauge size (thickness) of the finishing nails they shoot.

To be clear, gauge size starts from 16 and stops at 10- the smaller your nail’s gauge size, the firmer the hold (interesting but true!).

As such, there are no prizes for guessing that 15-gauge nails are so called because they shoot 15-gauge nails (0.0720 inch diameter).

Length-wise (suffice to say that finishing nails lengths range from 1-inch to 4-inches), 15-gauge finish nailers shoot nails between 1.25 to 2.5 inches long.

Overall, these nails have more holding power (they have a heavier head) than 16-gauge finish nailers.

That said, you have to be careful because they can split the material (they’re fatter).

15 ga finish nailer uses

More often than not, this nailer is the better option for nailing large 3/4-inch.-thick baseboards,  thick, heavy crown moldings, and trim where more holding power is essential.

These nailers can also be suitable when nailing large door casing and studs, or even when installing stair treads/risers.

A massive advantage of shooting 15-gauge finishing nails is that they’re angled so the nailer will easily reach into tighter spots.

Their biggest downside is that it may be necessary to fill and stain/paint the material because the hole is bigger compared to when you use 16-gauge nailers.

Pro-Tip: There are pneumatic and cordless models for these nailers.

2.  16-gauge finish nailers

First, the obvious: 16-gauge finish nailers get their name from the fact that they shoot 16 gauge nails.

The diameter of 16 gauge nails is 0.0625” and the nailer shoots finishing nails from 3/4” up to 2-1/2 inches long, just like 15-gauge finish nailers.

By now you can tell that because 16-gauge nailers shoot thinner nails, they leave a smaller hole and you’ve less filling work to do.

It also goes without saying that the risk of splitting/damaging things is lower.

The other advantage of 16-gauge finish nailers worth mentioning is that they’re generally smaller and lighter.

What is a 16-gauge finish nailer best used for?

If holding power is not an issue, the 16 gauge nailer works well.

You should therefore go for the 16-gauge finish nailer for tasks such as installing interior trim, baseboards, and crown.

In fact, you can this nailer for many more tasks and it’s our most recommended option for people who frequently tackle plenty of trim work.

However, this is not the nailer for installing pre-hung doors despite it being more versatile than its counterpart.

There are pneumatic and cordless models for these nailers too.

Pause: The size of finishing nails is measured by the old “penny” unit system too with the letter “d” standing for the nail length. For instance, 16 gauge nails are 16 penny nails or 16d under this method with the d standing for their 3.5 inches length.

Straight vs angled finish nailer

There’s a point we’d like to expound further to be able to get a winner here..

Now, and we had mentioned this before, the fasteners that 15-gauge finish nailers shoot are angled.

Subsequently, some craftspeople call the tool an angled finish nailer.

Because of the same logic, you’ll hear some people refer to the 16-gauge nailer as a straight finish nailer (You don’t need to be reminded that it shoots flat/straight nails).

With that explanation, it’s clear that the key question when choosing between the two is the project you have at hand.

Here is a summarized pros and cons table to guide you:

	Straight finish nailer	Angled finish nailer
Pros	·         The holes are less noticeable. ·         Cheaper nails. ·         Less likely to split wood.	·         More holding power ·         Gets into annoying corners easily
Cons	·         Difficult to access tight corners.	·         Can split materials.
Verdict	The best option for a variety of trimming applications.	Best for projects that involve working around really tight corners/spaces. Use it too when holding power is a critical concern such as cabinetry jobs.

 

What is a finish nailer used for? – Frequently asked questions

Can you use a finish nailer for framing?

Nope. We don’t recommend it.

In fact, you should only use framing nails for all framing projects.

ALSO READ: What gauge nails for framing?

What is a finish nailer used for?- Recap

In summary, you should use a finish nailer for tasks such as installing trim, crown molding, joining cabinet parts, and securing stair treads & risers, etc.

Turning to the debate about whether to pick a 15-gauge finish nailer or go for its 16-gauge counterpart, we feel that the 16-gauge nailer is more flexible and could be the best route to take if you don’t have funds to own both nailers.

We hope that this has been helpful.