I'm looking to pick up a gas or pneumatic nail gun for small projects around the house. If I'm installing baseboards, or making cornice's, small projects like that, what is the recommended type of nail gun?

A brad nailer or finish nailer?

I've read about both, but my concern is that the brad nailer won't have enough nail to hold in trim and molding, but the finish nailer will be too powerful.

Maybe the best choice is get one of the available combo kits?

Too powerful?


Power is adjusted for both tools via the amount of air pressure you have the regulator set at.

I use a Bostitch brad nailer or narrow crown stapler for base molding, etc.. Either should serve you purposes well. A finish nailer or a crown stapler is a little more versatile as they can install heavier crown molding as well, further a finish nailer can be used to assemble secondary structures of cabinetry / furniture. If you are not going to be building bookshelf soon I would say save the money and get a brad nailer. The Bostitch is between $60 to $80 on the net.

When doing some initial research on them, I found some people having issues of blowing out the back of molding because the 16g finish nail was too big, and had too much pressure going through when countersinking.

I think that is the same Bostich that I was looking at...does it shoot a 2" brad?

No bookshelves for me, I've only done dog toy boxes, fireplace molding, and small crown molding.

3/4 to 2" 18 gauge.

I have been hearing a lot of good feedback on the dewalt 18v trim nailer, there a little new on the market so they are pricy right now but i know a few guys that will make you a deal on their old pasloads. just food for thought...