So I've still got this pile of v-groove shiplap blue pine lying on stickers near the back of the shop. It's a big enough pile to confidently cover all the walls and surround the roll-up door. I'd originally intended to run it horizontally, partly because I figured that would require somewhat less time teetering atop a ten-foot stepladder.
While reading through sbop wall comments and experiences here and elsewhere, it occurred to me that my walls might function better if I bolted on stringers every 16" or so, then hung the planks vertically. Less dust accumulation, possibly a stronger wall for hanging racks and cabinets, and fewer overall cuts to make. Twelve-foot walls would soak up 12-foot boards in a jiffy.
Then I went out and put a tape on the stack, just to double-check. They're all 14-footers. That's a bit more wastage than I had in mind!
So horizontal it is, I guess. Not only that, but I'm probably gonna be a hardhead and hang it V-side out. Why? I just like the looks. Visible v-grooves remind me of the way so many garages were finished out with v-groove cedar when I was growing up in Portland (and cedar was cheap...).
Next order of business is to settle on a nailer. My 16-gauge P-C coughed up a lung, and I haven't had any luck with either replacing o-rings or praying over it. Might try sacrificing a chicken next, begging a loan, or even the sacrilege of replacement. I've heard good things about 15-gauge angle nailers for good holding power in blind-nailed shiplap, and now I find that Milwaukee makes what looks like a nice cordless version that runs on M18 fuel batteries. I've got two of those -- three, if I can figure out which dark corner the other one's hiding in.
Since it all goes up in my own dang shop, access to a compressor isn't an issue. My little 18-gauge pneumatic nailer won't take two-inch nails, so I question its holding power, but I'm concerned that a 15-gauge might split out tongues. Should I bite the bullet and replace my 16 with like-type? Use the 18 and double-tap every nailing point? Go out and buy a shiny new 15-gauge that I might not use much after the wall is hung?
Might be overthinking it. Any preferences or recommendations on nailers for this application?
Thanks.
Cheers,
Jack