our general rule of thumb in shop was 1.5 times the size of material you are fastening, but only if the material you are attaching it to will take that size, its always a consideration, can't tell you how many noobies used a long pin for something simple and destroyed the pc with a go thru.
good luck pinning
Rj in az

 

If you're saying 1-1/4" pins for holding a 3/4" on to a 3/4", then you're fine. The 1.5 times is correct.

 

Great, thanks.

 

Im in the market for another pin nailer.Is the milwauikee a good choice? thanks

 

Im in the market for another pin nailer.Is the milwauikee a good choice? thanks

- mtnwalton

I'll let you know, but everything I've heard and read says it's the one to get. It's certainly the smallest and lightest.

One benefit for me is that it uses the same 12V battery as my Milwaukee Dremel copy. I don't install baseboard or anything, I just got it to hold pieces while the glue dries, so the little battery is perfect.

 

I should probably write a full review, but my report so far:

It sends 1-1/4" pins beneath the surface of 3/4" softwood going into another 3/4" thick piece, and pretty much to the surface of red oak the same size (edit: after trying again, I see that it goes a little beneath, especially if the second board is perpendicular so it's going between the grain rather than across it). That's at the maximum force setting, i.e. I wouldn't mind it having a tiny bit more power, but it works well.

I should add that if you have a single 3/4" piece of oak, it goes well below the surface. And you can drive it through 2×4 fence rails (I forget what the wood is called, but it's treated with hemlock or something).

Even on oak, the pins are unobtrusive - no one is likely to notice them. And while I've probably only driven in 30 pins, it hasn't jammed and shows no sigh of doing so.

It is convenient, that's for sure.

 

My answer is as long as it can be, without penetrating through.

I see repeatedly people talking about using a 23 gauge pinner, that is said to max at 1", doing what you are talking about, and I always wonder how it has any hold at all?

For me a nailer, pinner, is just to hold the parts securely while the glue dries, and I don't need to clamp the parts. I have seen these 1" pins NOT holding the parts together, much less firmly together. Consider this.

 

I don't know if I would use my pin nailer to attach full 3/4" hardwood. Even if it's just to let the glue dry.

I only use mine to attach small cove molding or thin trim strips like you see between a cabinet and wall.

A pin nailer won't act like a clamp while the glue dries. An 18 gauge brad nailer can work that way, but I wouldn't expect a pin nailer to do it. You'll be surprised how little you can do with a pin nailer. It's the perfect tool for a handful of specialty tasks, but there's certainly a lot it won't do.

 

I have a Max I've been using for about ten years now. It takes up to 1-3/8" pins. Worst problem with it is, pins following the grain, even if you turn the nailer ninety degrees, but that's the nature of pins.

I see repeatedly people talking about using a 23 gauge pinner, that is said to max at 1", doing what you are talking about, and I always wonder how it has any hold at all?
- therealSteveN

 

I really like pin nailers. I use mine all the time.

I would almost never use it as the sole "clamp" to hold any 4/4. Simply not enough pressure in most cases.

 

My answer is as long as it can be, without penetrating through.

I see repeatedly people talking about using a 23 gauge pinner, that is said to max at 1", doing what you are talking about, and I always wonder how it has any hold at all?

For me a nailer, pinner, is just to hold the parts securely while the glue dries, and I don t need to clamp the parts. I have seen these 1" pins NOT holding the parts together, much less firmly together. Consider this.

- therealSteveN

I did considerable research and was assured it would do what I want it to do. It takes pins up to 1-3/8" I believe.

Whether I'd use it as the only clamp depends on what I'm doing. I probably wouldn't use it to butt joint two 5/4 ironwood pieces.

 

double post

 

What I did use it for already was in place of epoxy to hold desk legs onto their base firmly enough so I can put screws in to hold them while I drill holes for 3" bolts. It worked very well, and it allowed me to put some wood glue there (since there was no epoxy).

What I didn t use it for: the foundation for a 4-story office building.

What I don t make: 4-story office buildings.

This is in progress, and you can see the legs I'm talking about. I hold them onto their bases with vertical bolts from underneath (crude but effective).

- nickbatz