I've mostly used 18ga nailers in my projects, but I have access to a 16ga nailer for an upcoming task. I'm planning to nail some 15x15mm spruce laths, especially close to their ends. I'm curious how much easier a 16ga nailer would split the wood compared to an 18ga. Will I run into any problems using the 16ga?
2 Answers
Well, technically, yes! A 16ga nail is bigger than an 18ga, which means it could split the wood more easily. But honestly, the actual split really depends more on where you're nailing. It’s not just about the nail size. By the way, are you sure those laths are 15mm? They're pretty tiny. What are you working on?
You're spot on! The 16ga is thicker, which might lead to more splitting, but in practice, the wood grain and where you're nailing is way more influential. If your laths are as small as 15x15mm, just be gentle and maybe test on a scrap piece first to see how it reacts. What project are you tackling with those laths?