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?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliviabennett1mo ago

Listen to that old boat builder, he knows his stuff. I see what @jordan184 is saying about soft woods, but there's another thing people miss. You have to think about the wood moving with the seasons, especially in a damp place like Tacoma. If you sink the nail too deep and fill it, that little plug of filler doesn't move with the wood. Over a few years, it can pop out or show as a tiny bump under the paint. Getting it flush means the wood can expand and contract naturally without stressing that spot. It's a long term fix, not just about saving time on sanding right now.

jordan1841mo 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_ellis781mo ago

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