Making a large trellis/ 16 gauge brads too big?

[Tom Fischer]

I'm going to make a large trellis panel - approx 8' long by 6' high.
Number 1 clear pine select.
Ripped to 3/4' X 3/4"
The style is called "English Rabbit Fence"- 2 1/2" square holes.
Basically looks like below (made that one 10 years ago), but a little better and a lot bigger.

I already have the 16 gauge brad gun + enough stainless 1-1/4" brads.
But have a feeling that 18 gauge would be better, (possibility of splitting the 3/4" lattice pieces).
This trellis Will take over 600 nails.
I have built a tool stand, make my nail gun (DeWalt) stand straight and plumb.
Hate buying extra tools, unnecessarily

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Also previously made some lattice panels with hemlock
Hemlock is very brittle stuff.
And didn't have a tool stand for the nailer (make it stand straight)
Got some splitting with the 16 gauge brads

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Think the 16's will be OK?
Wondering also if anybody ever puts any lub on brads, maybe smear a thin film of dishwash detergent on them before putting them in the gun?
Or maybe Johnson paste wax?

Thanks
Tom

[Bill ThompsonNM]

I would experiment first, but I agree with your suspicion that 16g is too large.
Try 20 or 30 with some scrap, same wood and same size. Then ask here what gun to
buy to shoot smaller brads.
One that shoots smaller brads and pins would be a nice addition.

[Mark W Pugh]

Wondering also if anybody ever puts any lub on brads, maybe smear a thin film of dishwash detergent on them before putting them in the gun?
Or maybe Johnson paste wax?

Thanks
Tom

Just me, but I would be cautious of putting anything on the nails, which then translates to goo in the nail channel. Goo collects dirt and everything else. I think you could have a mess inside the nail channel if you're not careful. I haven't done it, just thinking out loud.

[Tom Fischer]

Thanks Bill and Mark,

I ran a few tests yesterday, and some of the brads were coming out the sides.
So, that's when I made a small sled for the gun.
That seems to help a lot.
Narrow stock, the nails have to as close to dead plumb as can get.
I just shot 20 nails with no bad fires.
I'll go with this.

And thanks for the "no messing the nail channel".

Here's my tool stand.
Not a bit deal, but the tool isn't designed for it either.
Think DeWalt would have some built in design to easily put a base on the gun.
Do other MFGs have some easy to add on design?

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[Jeff Duncan]

Sounds like your on your way! I'll just second the thought of not adding anything to the nails. Keep in mind many nails have an adhesive added to them which helps greatly in their staying put. I would not want to add any lubricant that would counteract the adhesive;)

good luck,
JeffD