V
3

My boss insists on using a framing nailer for finish work and I think it's a bad idea.

Last week on a job in Austin, we were installing some simple 1x4 trim. My boss grabbed his framing nailer and said it was fine since the nails were the right length. I argued that the bigger gauge leaves ugly holes and can split the wood. He said it saves time and money on renting a second tool. Has anyone else had this fight with a crew lead?
3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In
3 Comments
henry_murray
Come on, it's just trim, not a museum piece.
6
angela_patel75
It's not just ugly, that split wood will fail way faster than a proper finish nail.
2
olivia_lopez98
My uncle does custom carpentry and he always drills pilot holes first. He says forcing a nail into dry wood is asking for splits, and once it cracks the whole piece loses strength. That split lets moisture in and the wood starts to rot from the inside out. A clean nail in the right spot holds up for years. Why would anyone skip such a basic step?
6