Electric Nail Gun Recommendations?

2percenter

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I am FINALLY to the point where I am putting my DK cabinet back together. All those nail-gun nails (brads?) I carefully removed are going to have to be replaced to hold this thing in one piece. I figured I could use some finish nails and a hammer and do just fine. Then I did a test run and remembered I am one of the worst people to ever lay hands on a hammer. So, the best solutions to a lack of skill is always to spend more money on tools. I have no air compressor, but see that there is such a thing as an electric nail gun. Are these worth it? The set up will be much less than an air compressor/gun (which isn't going to happen).

Does anyone have one of these? Should I get one? What size do I need to get in order to zap some ~1.5" long brads into some wood and get this thing buttoned back up?

Any help is appreciated.
 
I am FINALLY to the point where I am putting my DK cabinet back together. All those nail-gun nails (brads?) I carefully removed are going to have to be replaced to hold this thing in one piece. I figured I could use some finish nails and a hammer and do just fine. Then I did a test run and remembered I am one of the worst people to ever lay hands on a hammer. So, the best solutions to a lack of skill is always to spend more money on tools. I have no air compressor, but see that there is such a thing as an electric nail gun. Are these worth it? The set up will be much less than an air compressor/gun (which isn't going to happen).

Does anyone have one of these? Should I get one? What size do I need to get in order to zap some ~1.5" long brads into some wood and get this thing buttoned back up?

Any help is appreciated.

My cheap harbor freight special works just fine for me. You can pick up a compressor and a gun for under $100 if there is one near you... or you can order directly from them:

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=brad+nailer&Submit=Go

Harbor Freight is like the Chinese dollar store of the tool world. A good deal of their stuff is poor quality, but I haven' had a problem with my nailer since I bought it.
 
I tried using an electric brad nailer for some minor renovation projects...they are garbage. Completely underpowered, constantly leave nail heads exposed, commonly mar the surface you're working on...Total waste of $50.

If you really need a nail gun or brad nailer, it's worth spending a couple hundred and getting a good compressor kit from somebody like DeWalt.

I have a 3 gallon unit that I'm extremely happy with. It works like a dream.
 
I wouldn't waste my money/time on an electric. Get a cheap pancake compressor and a cheap 16ga or 18ga nailer. If you have a Harbor Freight, check out the sales.

Over time I've ended up with an 18ga stapler, 22ga upholstery stapler (for ground braid inside pin and vid cabinets), 16ga, 18ga nailers, pin nailer, and framing nailer. All have a specific use and I've gotten my moneys worth, mostly because half of them are HF cheap guns.

Joey
 
I got an electric one a couple of years ago as a father's day present. It works fine, but you have to perform a modification to the impact weight. The factory version has the weight press fitted to the solenoid. Total garbage. Mine lasted about a dozen nails and then separated. I hammered it back together twice, each time lasting less than a dozen uses. The third time I tapped the hole and replaced the pin with a screw and it has held ever since. 10 minute fix.

I now have a compressor and if I was to do it again, I would have just gone with an air nailer. They will take larger nails as well as doing a better job of setting the nails.

ken
 
This is what I was afraid of. I guess I will check out harbor freight cheapies. I won't be doing high volume, but will probably need to put in more than 12 before the thing gives out on me.

Thanks for all the input.
 
Ridgid makes a 18v finish nailer for around 200 I believe.

If you decide to get more tools down the road, Ridgid has a nice 18v line that uses the same batteries.
 
They use CROWN STAPLES. You need a compressor and a crown stapler. I have a DeWalt stapler and it is the beez kneez. Light and powerful.
 
They use CROWN STAPLES. You need a compressor and a crown stapler. I have a DeWalt stapler and it is the beez kneez. Light and powerful.

Ah. That's a good point. This is why I need to go to the store and check them out in person. I knew they weren't 'nails' per se, and I guess I'll stick with what Nintendo thought was best.

I am pretty sure I am going to buy a crown staple gun and borrow an air compressor. That's sort of a pain, but a 'cheap' air compressor that will work still seems to be >$100.

I welcome any more advice. You guys have been most helpful.
 
I bought the "best" electric brad nailer that Home Depot Had:

http://urlzap.net/yk

I have used it to rebuild several Pinball Cabinets and a couple of projects around the house. It is a whole lot nicer than lugging around a compressor.
 
I bought the "best" electric brad nailer that Home Depot Had:

http://urlzap.net/yk

I have used it to rebuild several Pinball Cabinets and a couple of projects around the house. It is a whole lot nicer than lugging around a compressor.

Yep. That's the one I have. Worked great until the impact weight popped off. Works great now that I have threaded it on. I don't know why they didn't do that in the first place.

ken
 
Ah. That's a good point. This is why I need to go to the store and check them out in person. I knew they weren't 'nails' per se, and I guess I'll stick with what Nintendo thought was best.

I am pretty sure I am going to buy a crown staple gun and borrow an air compressor. That's sort of a pain, but a 'cheap' air compressor that will work still seems to be >$100.

I welcome any more advice. You guys have been most helpful.

Have you looked at a rental? I know my local Home Depot rents pretty much anything you might want. It's obviously more expensive that way (you could buy harbor freight specials for the rental on a nailer and compressor), but if you don't need it long term it may be a better bet to rent it for a day or two than invest in the equipment.
 
What type of nailer or staple gun did companys use to make the cabinets where the stapes or nails are reversed? You have seen it when you repair your game cabinet you pull of a piece of wood and the staple or nail is pointing out towards you where the head or staple is reversed into the wood..How do you do that? or what tool does that?
 
cordless finish nailer

I use a DeWalt cordless 18volt finish nailer. I bought it from tool king as a refurb. It has an adjustable power setting so it can work on anything quite well. They have great stuff with the full warranty.

I have a compressor and air nailer, but the cordless unit is great because it allows you more freedom to move around. (hoses suck!)

hope this helps
 
oooooooops, I guess I now have a Bostitch Crown stapler, not a DeWalt. They look the same color. Anyhoo, it works like a dream, I just used it 10 minutes ago. Drives each staple in with a slight countersink, and I was using 1 3/4 inch staples.
 
So, if one is to have to chose between a brad nailer or a stapler, which one would you go with? Do the staples work just as good as the brad nails?

Or do you have to get one of each for cab fixer-upping?
 
Some of the cabinets were put together with staples, yet some of the cabinets were put together poorly so...

If it's between using staples that you won't see or finish nails you won't see, go with finish nails. It's very easy to fill the hole with putty or filler and make it disappear.

I would recommend that anyone not JUST use brads/staples/nails. Use them in conjunction with good carpenters glue, either Elmers or Titebond. Titebond makes a great waterproof glue (Titebond II), sold at Lowes and most places, and it has a longer set up time than the regular glue. It's great for this hobby and woodworking in general.

Joey
 
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