Which gauge nails are closest to hot dipped galvanized finishing nails?

[mike sato]

I recently bought an 18 gauge and a 15 gauge nail guns from Harbor Freight. First air nail guns for me.

Prior to buying the nail guns, I've been using the following hot dipped galvanized finishing nails for my projects:
... 2 penny ..... (18 gauge 1" nails)
... 3 penny ..... (? gauge 1-1/4" nails)
... 4 penny ..... (15 gauge 1-1/2" nails)
... 6 penny ..... (15 gauge 2" nails)

I listed the gauge of nail gun nails whose diameters I think are closest to the hot dipped galvanized finishing nails that I'm used to using. I didn't buy a 16 gauge air nailer so buying 16 gauge nails is not an option right now.

Are my guesses for the gauge of nails to buy correct diameter wise, to be the closest to the hot dipped galvanized finishing nails?

My 15 gauge gun can shoot 1-1/4" nails and my 18 gauge gun can shoot 1-1/4" nails. Which gauge nail is closest to a 3 penny finishing nail diameter wise?

Thanks for any help,
Mike

[Jerry Miner]

This might help:

Finish nail gauge 1-1-18.jpg

[Jim Becker]

Your 18 gage gun shoots "brads" which are smaller than probably most of the "finishing nails" you use. The 15 gage gun shoots actual nails which are closer to what you are used to in the "neander nail" world. BTW, it's concerning that your 15 gage nailer can only take 1.25" nail length...these tools usually go to 2"- 2.5" or so. Is that a mis-type?

[Art Mann]

You can't directly compare finishing nails and air nailer nails. Finishing nails must be much larger diameter in order to drive them into the wood with a hammer. Nailer nails can be a smaller diameter and still hold about as well. Buy whatever length you need without worry about diameter. I have finished out several houses using a 16 gauge finish nailer and have never had any holding problems. For really small pieces, like shoe mold, I will use an 18 gauge nailer. 15 gauge is a little more sturdy but not necessary in most cases. Nothing wrong with it though.

I went to the Harbor Freight website and I can't find a 15 gauge nailer. I have doubts that anyone would make one with the nail length restricted to 1-1/4" length. I use 18 gauge nails that are much longer than that.

[Jim Dwight]

I have a 15 gauge HF nailer. It shoots up to 2.5 inch nails. I think the OP is talking about the low end of its capabilities. Mine needs oil more often than my other nailers but drives 2.5 inch nails fine.
I use my 18 gauge Ryobi cordless nailer mostly for base, casing, and crown. 18 gauge 2 inch brads hold pretty well and the cordless aspect makes it more convenient. But when I need more holding power, the 15 gauge HF works fine.

[Art Mann]

Against my advice, the crew used 18 gauge pins to hold up crown molding in one of the Habitat for Humanity houses I worked on. We had to go back and put 16 gauge nails because the crown was falling off in places. I think they were too short. Two inch long 18 gauge may be okay but I don't want to take any chances. The crown molding I installed in my house about 15 years ago was put up with 16 gauge 2-1/2 inch nails and it is still hanging.

[mike sato]

This might help:

Finish nail gauge 1-1-18.jpg

Thanks for taking the time to post that chart. Very helpful.
Mike

[mike sato]

Your 18 gage gun shoots "brads" which are smaller than probably most of the "finishing nails" you use. The 15 gage gun shoots actual nails which are closer to what you are used to in the "neander nail" world. BTW, it's concerning that your 15 gage nailer can only take 1.25" nail length...these tools usually go to 2"- 2.5" or so. Is that a mis-type?

The Harbor Freight air nailer that I got can take nails from 1-1/4" to 2-1/2". Just wanted to indicate that both my 18 gauge and 15 gauge nailers can take the 1-1/4" nails. Sorry for not being clear in my post.
Thanks for your help,
Mike

[mike sato]

You can't directly compare finishing nails and air nailer nails. Finishing nails must be much larger diameter in order to drive them into the wood with a hammer. Nailer nails can be a smaller diameter and still hold about as well. Buy whatever length you need without worry about diameter. I have finished out several houses using a 16 gauge finish nailer and have never had any holding problems. For really small pieces, like shoe mold, I will use an 18 gauge nailer. 15 gauge is a little more sturdy but not necessary in most cases. Nothing wrong with it though.

I went to the Harbor Freight website and I can't find a 15 gauge nailer. I have doubts that anyone would make one with the nail length restricted to 1-1/4" length. I use 18 gauge nails that are much longer than that.

Thanks for clarifying why nail gun nails can be a smaller diameter than the equivalent hammer nails.

I understand why you couldn't find a 15 gauge nailer at Harbor Freight. I only discovered the 15 gauge air nailer by meticulous researching on their website prior to going to the HF store. It is not listed as a 15 gauge nailer but as a "34 degree angle finish nailer", while all of the other nailers are listed by their gauge.

When I went to the HF store in Las Vegas by the Orleans casino, even the workers there said that they don't think they sell a 15 gauge nailer. When I found the nailers in the store, I found the box and the bold letters on it says "34 degree angle finish nailer". One has to look for the smaller print to see that it is a 15 gauge nailer. In comparison, the 18 gauge nailer box says in bold letters "18 gauge brad nailer".

Here's a link to the HF webpage for air nailers. Go to page 2 to see the "34 degree angle finish nailer".

https://www.harborfreight.com/catalo...p=1&q=nail+gun

>> I have doubts that anyone would make one with the nail length restricted to 1-1/4" length. <<
As I responded to Jim, "The Harbor Freight air nailer that I got can take nails from 1-1/4" to 2-1/2". Just wanted to indicate that both my 18 gauge and 15 gauge nailers can take the 1-1/4" nails. Sorry for not being clear in my post."

Thanks,
Mike

[mike sato]

I have a 15 gauge HF nailer. It shoots up to 2.5 inch nails. I think the OP is talking about the low end of its capabilities. Mine needs oil more often than my other nailers but drives 2.5 inch nails fine.
I use my 18 gauge Ryobi cordless nailer mostly for base, casing, and crown. 18 gauge 2 inch brads hold pretty well and the cordless aspect makes it more convenient. But when I need more holding power, the 15 gauge HF works fine.

Yes, you are correct. I was just noting that the 15 gauge HF gun can take 1-1/4" nails.
Thanks for the info,
Mike

[mike sato]

Against my advice, the crew used 18 gauge pins to hold up crown molding in one of the Habitat for Humanity houses I worked on. We had to go back and put 16 gauge nails because the crown was falling off in places. I think they were too short. Two inch long 18 gauge may be okay but I don't want to take any chances. The crown molding I installed in my house about 15 years ago was put up with 16 gauge 2-1/2 inch nails and it is still hanging.

Thanks for sharing your info. Helpful to a newbie with an 18 gauge nailer.
Mike

[Roger Nair]

If I were looking for equivalent to hot dipped galvanized nails, I would search for stainless steel nails. Generally speaking a hot dipped nail will not have tight specs, on diameter and smoothness, plus a hot dipped nails will shed the coating to some degree and may contribute to fouling the gun. Electro galvanized will have a better dimensional spec but will likely under perform with respect to rust resistance.

Besides all that, loose nails do not generally correspond to the specific sizes of gun nails. Look to the specs of your specific gun.

[mike sato]

If I were looking for equivalent to hot dipped galvanized nails, I would search for stainless steel nails. Generally speaking a hot dipped nail will not have tight specs, on diameter and smoothness, plus a hot dipped nails will shed the coating to some degree and may contribute to fouling the gun. Electro galvanized will have a better dimensional spec but will likely under perform with respect to rust resistance.

Besides all that, loose nails do not generally correspond to the specific sizes of gun nails. Look to the specs of your specific gun.

Yes, I ordered 4 different length nails after receiving the responses in this thread. I ordered 1000 of each length, all stainless steel nails since I often use treated lumber.

Thanks for your input,
Mike

[Rich Engelhardt]

Did you make sure you got the right nails for the 15 ga?
15ga comes in two "flavors".

Bostitch- FN and Senco - DA. The 2.5" ones are not interchangeable.

I learned that the hard way - - as in I have a whole package of them I had to toss.

[mike sato]

Did you make sure you got the right nails for the 15 ga?
15ga comes in two "flavors".

Bostitch- FN and Senco - DA. The 2.5" ones are not interchangeable.

I learned that the hard way - - as in I have a whole package of them I had to toss.

Yes, I ordered DA nails for my 15-ga, 34 degree Harbor Freight nailer. Straight nails for the 18-ga HF nailer.

Thanks for the heads up,
Mike