Tongue and groove cladding - hammer or nail gun?

MichaelR

Hello,

I need to clad a stud frame wall with tongue and groove timber planks/boards. I need to drive five nails/panel pins through the tongue of every plank.

I am kinda afraid of breaking the tongue when driving the pins with a hammer. I could rent a nail gun, though.

Is a nail gun safer regarding the possibility of breaking the board?

kadman

If you drive the pin into the tongue at a 45 degree angle gently you will notice whether or not you are going to split the tongue,

before it actually happens. Nail gun is far quicker, but its instant so you will only know when the damage has been done. Nail gun also needs gentle precise use.

Its a delicate job no matter what you choose.

hargo

You can buy a box of clips for the job and no nails in the cladding.

MichaelR

Chose a nail gun at the end of the day. Rented a Paslode nailer and, while it was tricky to get going, everything went great after that; not a single split.

policarp

Got a nail gun from Aldi this week.

Great machine .

Very happy with it.