Hey everyone! I'm diving into a DIY project where I'm attaching some small molding (about 3/4" thick) to my walls for added texture. Since I'm new to using a brad nailer, I have a few questions: 1. What size nails should I go for? I saw that 2" nails are recommended, but during some practice, they seemed to stick out quite a bit. Is using 2" too much? 2. On safety around electricity, is it safe if I stay at least 6" away from outlets? Do I need to consider the entire 6" strip vertically both left and right of each outlet? 3. I'm open to any other tips you might have! Thanks a bunch!
3 Answers
Definitely be cautious with where your hands are while nailing, as nails can come out unpredictably. It's wise to keep your off-hand well away from where you're nailing to avoid any accidents!
Just a heads up—longer nails are more likely to jam, at least that's been my experience. I have two Bostitch 18-gauge nailers; one can’t handle 2" nails and prefers 1.25". When I need longer nails, I switch to a 16-gauge trim nailer.
For your molding, 1.5" should do just fine. A trick my carpenter buddy shared is to shoot two nails at a 45-degree angle, crossing each other—this helps secure the molding better and prevents it from pulling out.
I have an 18-gauge brad nailer and usually use 1.5" brads, which work perfectly fine for molding. I've never regretted going shorter, and I think 2" nails are truly unnecessary for this task.
As for safety, you should be fine using 2" nails. Generally, electrical wires are pretty much in the middle of the stud. With 0.5" drywall and 0.75" molding, that's only 1.25" deep, leaving you plenty of room with a 2" nail to avoid hitting anything important.
Just remember, since it's molding and doesn’t need to bear weight, you only need to secure it, so don’t stress too much about the nail length!
Your advice is much appreciated!!
Is the advice there to just keep your off hand as far away from the operation as possible?