Got called out for my finish nailer technique on a trim job in Tacoma

I was doing some crown molding in a house near the water and the homeowner, an older guy who used to be a boat builder, watched me for a minute. He said, 'Son, you're driving those nails too deep. You're dimpling the wood and making more work for yourself.' I was using an 18-gauge and just blasting them in. He showed me how to adjust the air pressure down just a bit, maybe 5 PSI less, so the nail head sits flush without sinking. I tried it on the next piece and it was a total game changer. The wood stayed smooth and I barely needed any filler. It's a small thing but it saved me a ton of sanding and patching time on the rest of the job. Now I always check my depth before I start a run of trim. Anyone else have a simple tip like that that made a big difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

jordan18411h ago

What about when you're working with softer woods or MDF? I've found that setting for flush can leave the head proud if the material gives at all. My method is to still sink them just a hair, because a tiny dimple filled with a quick swipe of spackle is faster for me than going back to reset any nails that didn't drive fully. It really depends on the material and the finish paint job. A super smooth finish needs flush, but most semi-gloss trim work I do, a little dimple and fill is more reliable.

christopher_ellis788h ago

Nah, you're overthinking it. Just set the depth right and you get a clean finish every time, even on MDF.