What Gauge Nail For Trim Work. Finish nails are made from heavier 15 or 16 gauge wire compared to the 18 gauge of brad nails. Angle nailer the other 20%. This 16ga straight finish is lighter compared to similar.
However, for general shop woodworking, less might be best.
This helps when installing casework and when attaching warped trim to walls. What sort of finishing work do you have in mind? For trim, 18ga works just fine for me. Because brad nails themselves are thin, they work best in thinner cuts of lumber, including fiberboard and plywood. The nails are perfect for small projects, like making jewelry boxes, picture frames, or attaching decorating trims and edges to cabinetry. I have a 16 gauge trim nailer, but i was wondering if the nails would be too large for my 2 1/2 wide trim. 15 gauge, 16 gauge, 18 gauge 21 gauge, 23 gauge. The small diameter of brad nails makes them easy to mask in wood trim or paneling.