I'm a hobbyist diving into a moulding replacement project and I'm considering buying my first nail gun. Should I go with a 16 gauge or is an 18 gauge good enough for the job? Any advice on which one would work better for this kind of project would be appreciated!
3 Answers
If you're just starting, I'd say go with the 18 gauge nailer. It's versatile and works well for trim projects! I own both and find myself using the 18 gauge way more than the 16. It's great for most tasks without being overkill!
I used to think the same and had both, but I've found I only grab the 16 gauge for specific cases like replacing window trim. The 18 gauge is usually the go-to for regular projects, so maybe start with that and upgrade if you find you need different sizes later!
Honestly, it depends on your specific project. If you're doing crown moulding, consider getting a 15 gauge angled finish nailer instead. I find the combo of a 15 gauge and an 18 gauge brad gun covers almost all my trim jobs. The 16 gauge isn’t really necessary for most work!
Thanks for the tip! I'll definitely look into getting both a 15 and an 18 if I can.
I agree! The 18 gauge is really handy for general trim work, and it's less likely to leave big holes, which is a bonus for hiding any marks.