The brad nail is one of the most commonly used pieces of hardware of our time. Part of this is because it’s entirely possible to find brad nails for sale if you’re engaging in a home improvement project on a budget. Another reason is due to the versatility of the brad nail, and yet another is the ease of use when handing a brad nailer.
If you need more of an excuse to purchase a brad nail gun for a wide range of DIY projects at home, keep reading. Here you can find all of the facts on brad nails, their most common uses, and everything else there possibly is to know about brad nails.
First of all, what the heck is a brad and brad nailer?
A brad nailer is a nail gun that is specifically designed for brad nails. Brad nails are thin-gauged nails that are perfect for more delicate woodworking, like the projects you are likely to complete within the home. Brad nailers and brad nails are ideal for detailed wood applications, like attaching trim work or crown molding and handling cabinetry.
So What’s the Difference Between Brad Nails and Finish Nails?
There is a lot of confusion about how a brad differs from its close relative, the finish nail. First of all, brads are typically smaller than finish nails, which makes them the ideal choice for working with delicate materials. Since a brad is smaller, though, it does not provide the same hold as a finish nail. For this reason, finish nails are a better alternative when working with sturdier materials.
In addition to the fact that a finish nail is larger than a brad, another reason for its stronger holding capabilities is the larger head found on a finish nail. Brads are well-liked for the fact that the nail head is barely there, which means the nail is likely to go unnoticed. However, this minimizes the holding power of the brad as opposed to a finish nail with a larger nail head.
Main Benefits of Using Brads
The most apparent benefit of turning to brads for construction work is that they can handle delicate materials. By handle, we mean that the nail won’t split the wood, even on impact with a nail gun. The other benefit is that the nail is barely even noticeable since the head is extremely small – some would even venture to say there is no nail head at all. However, the head is there, it’s just very tiny compared to other nail types.
When It’s Time to Use a Brad Nailer
As mentioned before, brad nailers are used when a home improvement or construction project is utilizing brads. This won’t be for more heavy-duty woodworking, like decking or roofing. Instead, the perfect time to purchase a brad nailer is when indoor projects like trimwork and crown molding are on you To-Do list. If you don’t feel that purchasing a nailer is necessary, you can always rent one from a home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot.
