What Is a Brad Nailer?
Brad Nailer vs.
The real difference is in the size of the nails that can be used with the gun.
The Spruce / Kelsey Hansen
Brad nailers use nails that are 5/8 to 2 inches long.
Finish nailers, on the other hand, can handle nails 1 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches long.
Most brad nailers accept 18-gauge brads in sizes ranging from 5/8 to 2 inches long.
The Spruce / Xiaojie Liu
Even if they are short enough, finish nails are too thick to feed through a brad nailer.
A brad nailer is loaded by unlocking the drawbar from the back of the magazine and pulling it back.
Where possible, give a shot to keep the strip of brads connected as you load them.
you’ve got the option to, of course, break apart long strips to fit the magazine.
It can be tricky balancing the two features since they sometimes work counter to each other.
Begin with both controls set to the midpoint between their high and low options.
Position the Nailer
Find the workpiece contact point on the “muzzle” end of your nailer.
This contact point depresses when you push the nailer against your workpiece.
For safety reasons, the gun cannot fire if the contact point is not depressed.
Then, remove the tool and examine the results on the workpiece.
The desired depth for driving the brads can vary from project to project.
In some cases, you might want the head of the brad to be flush with the wood surface.
In others, the head should be slightly recessed for a more finished look.
Keep the following tips in mind when checking the depth setting:
Buying vs.
It’s rare for a DIYer to regret having purchased a brad nailer.
where you will pay about $40 per day.
Keeping Your Brad Nailer Working Properly
A brad nailer is a fairly easy tool to maintain.
Simply wipe it clean of dirt and debris after each use, and store it in a dry location.
It is best to store the tool with the magazine empty of nails.
With battery-powered tools, start each work session with a fully charged battery.
Storing for long periods at freezing temperatures can shorten a battery’s life.
Or, have a tool repair specialist examine it and replace worn parts.
