Carpentry and Woodworking - best tool for my 1/2 fir baseboards and trim?
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : best tool for my 1/2 fir baseboards and trim?
rwilday
12-26-05, 08:11 AM
After replacing a few walls due to water damage it's time to put back the baseboards, door trim and window trim. All of these trim pieces in this old house are the original 1/2 thick fir. What is the best tool. I assume I want a nail gun which a nail at least 1" long with a compressor. But, before I go spring with mucho doe, I'd like to verify.
I'm a home improvement junkie, so I want the right tool, however I do prefer to keep to a reasonable budget. Any recommendations?
I'm a home improvement junkie, so I want the right tool, however I do prefer to keep to a reasonable budget. Any recommendations?
marksr
12-26-05, 08:28 AM
The cheapest way to go is to predill, nail and set. If using a nail gun I would think you would want at least a 2" nail. Unless your walls are wood you need to have a nail long enough to penatrate the sheetrock and secure to the stud.
There are a lot of cheap grade nail guns on the market. I have one from harbor freight, purchased about 10 yr ago. It works fine but then I don't use it commercially or on a daily basis.
When purchasing an air compressor you should consider what your future uses for it will be. A nail gun uses realitvely little cfm [because it uses air sporadicaly] where as air sanders and paint guns require a lot more cfm.
There are a lot of cheap grade nail guns on the market. I have one from harbor freight, purchased about 10 yr ago. It works fine but then I don't use it commercially or on a daily basis.
When purchasing an air compressor you should consider what your future uses for it will be. A nail gun uses realitvely little cfm [because it uses air sporadicaly] where as air sanders and paint guns require a lot more cfm.
thezster
12-26-05, 09:37 AM
Agreed.... if you're going to spend $$ - get the best compressor you can afford to allow for multiple applications - and a cheaper finish gun (18gauge/ 3/4 inch to 2 1/4 inch capable)
chandler
12-26-05, 03:22 PM
If you are a junkie, be careful, you could do like I did, and make a career out of it. Regardless, you will want a good compressor and gun. I'm like marksr in that I have a cheapo Harbor Freight brad nailer, but it never makes it to my truck. I use a Senco SFN40 or (preferred) AirFree 41 for doing what you do, since they will shoot 2 1/4" nails, thereby penetrating the molding, sheetrock, and still leave enough bite to hold it all together. On the other hand, I have a Porter cable narrow crown stapler to use on thin backing such as lauan. If my backing is a wood wall, I choose to use a Bosch brad nailer, which gives me the capacity to use 1 5/8" brads.
Check with the orange big box, they usually have specials on compressor/nailer/hose combinations at a fair price, and you will still have a quality tool after the dust settles.
Check with the orange big box, they usually have specials on compressor/nailer/hose combinations at a fair price, and you will still have a quality tool after the dust settles.