Nailguns

[Gunlex 10+ year member]

We have a nice nail gun, I was planning on using it rather than screws, is there anything that i need to be carful of? Is there any chance of spliting/cracking?

All advice appritiated, this is my first build!

Thanks,

G

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[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

brad-nailers are awesome and time saving!

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Cheap *****s are awesome and time-saving as well //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/naughty.gif.94359f346c0f1259df8038d60b41863e.gif

 

[Gunlex 10+ year member]

so it's all good then? no worries about cracking or spliting?

 

[Goldtaz1 10+ year member]

We have a nice nail gun, I was planning on using it rather than screws, is there anything that i need to be carful of? Is there any chance of spliting/cracking?
All advice appritiated, this is my first build!

Thanks,

G

Nail guns are your friend. I've always been a huge advocate of using a brad nailer over screws. I always laugh when I see how long it takes people on this forum to build a box from start to finish using screws and whatnot. Trust me when I say you have nothing to worry about with the nail gun other than simply running out of nails. LOL!

BTW, my nail gun and compressor combo cost a grand total of $150 bucks so for anyone that was going to chime in with the "some of us can't afford" statement, I call B.S.

 

[Gunlex 10+ year member]

my dad used to build houses, and his shop is as big as our house; so his stuff is as good as it gets //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

I have one and have used it for a few builds, but still like the screw method for most builds.

As long as you shoot them straight you'll be fine....

 

[Mr Cabinetry 10+ year member]

Ever since I started building enclosure's, Brad Air nailers is all I ever used.

I will use screws to assemble certain parts of enclosure to keep the joint tight ( mitered parts ).

Best Advise - Use an 18 Gauge Brad Nailer, 16 Gauge brads tend to cause the mdf to split more easily.

Put your spacing at 4" between nails.

If the MDF has a slight bow to it, keep the bow outwards, easier to push in to line up with the edge of the other board your nailing to.

Phil

Woodlawn Cabinetry

 

[swangin68 10+ year member]

i use 18 gage 1 3/8 long, also go to long they will bend and come out the side to easy and gotta be straight or they will come out the side...but they are fast and strong as well

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

I use an air stapler.

18guage... 1 3/8"

nG

 

[Paul73 10+ year member]

I use an air stapler.
18guage... 1 3/8"

nG

Me too....1/4" crown 1 3/8" leg glue coated staples. Works fabulous and is strong as shit too. I found that brads don't have the same holding power and are much easier to bend and shoot through the side of the adjoining panel.

 

[ngsm13 5,000+ posts]

Me too....1/4" crown 1 3/8" leg glue coated staples. Works fabulous and is strong as shit too. I found that brads don't have the same holding power and are much easier to bend and shoot through the side of the adjoining panel.

Truth.

nG

 

[xtremebassjunky 10+ year member]

wouldn't you want to keep the extra strength that the screws would give you?

 

[quakerroatmeal 10+ year member]

As long as you glue the crap out of it, shouldn't need any extra strength.

 

[Mr Cabinetry 10+ year member]

Originally Posted by Paul73 View PostI found that brads don't have the same holding power and are much easier to bend and shoot through the side of the adjoining panel.

I've never had much of an issue with this occurring, I guess that is because I don;t use the air nailer past the operational PSI requirement needed to drive the nails.

I don't like using staples in mdf because there is more of a tendency for splitting due to the tines of the staple being so close together.

However, regardless of that being said, the function of either type fasteners is to hold the parts together till the glue dries since it's the strength of the glue bond does all the work.