kreg jig for molding on kitchen cabinets

[Tubbytee]

I have a friend who wants me to put crown molding on his kitchen cabinets. They are only about five inches from the ceiling. Not much clearance. I was wondering if anyone has ever used their kreg jig to to fasten crown molding to a cabinet??  I tried it on some scrap lumber and it seems like it should work. Thanks.

[Russ Haynes]

"What did people use before "Pin Nailers" became available?"

Probably hide glue, dowels and their teeth for clamps.  Innovation and progress.  Very cool stuff.

"Todays pin nailers are "air-driven"---not everyone has air tools."

So are most brad nailers.  And if this guy doesn't have an air compressor, he probably doesn't have a fuel charged brad nailer either.  A Paslode is a helluva lot more expensive than a small compressor and an 18-gauge brad nailer.  And the on-board compression tools like Ryobi's AirStrike series just came out -- and they're three times the cost of a compressor and a brad nailer.  Sure he could pound in brads by hand, but (1) that makes it real hard to hold any mitered corners together or keep the pieces set where you want them because they jump around every time you hit it with a hammer, and (2) who does that anymore?  And if they did, I wouldn't recommend it -- one slip of the hammer or your nail set and you've got a big dent in your moulding.  Besides, I'd be willing to be that 80% of the people who hang out on DIY/woodworking boards have an air compressor in their shop.  And with today's smaller and more powerful compressors, the one they have is probably portable.  And if they don't, they should.  Air power is as essential to a decently-equipped shop as a table saw and a shop vac.  Let's find out -- hey TubbyTee -- you got an air compressor?

[Ken Darga]

Brads can be installed, using suitable hand tools---

a small tack hammer, or the like, and

a  1/32" punch.

(They've been used for eons, before air nailers came on the market).

[Russ Haynes]

So were horses.  And leeches to cure fevers.  And mercury treatments for just about everything.  And when "soothing syrups" for children were loaded with morphine.  You wanna drive a bunch of brads 7 feet off the floor into poorly installed cabinets holding each one in a comb or pair of needle nose pliers with a tack hammer, then set every nail, putty and finish, rock on brother.  But I sure as hell wouldn't do it that way and I don't know anyone else who would either.  My advice was on the easy, fast way to do it that would require the least amount of fussing and repair work afterward.  And the right tool to accomplish those things is a 23-gauge pinner.  If he doesn't have one or doesn't want to buy one, he can use pocket holes, a brad nailer, or drive in every splinter of metal by hand and a punch.  But for every task there's a tool and the one for this job is a pinner.

[Ken Darga]

Russ, 

My comments were offered as alternate methods of installing molding & trim.

There are different means of accomplishing a task.

[Russ Haynes]

"My comments were offered as alternate methods of installing molding & trim."

Mine too.

"There are different means of accomplishing a task."

Absolutely.  Some are easier than others.  And having the right tool always makes it easier.

Just messin' with you a little bit, Ken!  come on, lighten up, it's only Wednesday!  It's always fun to poke at the guys who use the "old" methods, right?  If I didn't have a strong traditionalist streak myself, then why do I have a couple grand worth of hand planes when I have a power jointer, planer, and probably four different powered sanders in the shop?  Why do I spend the time cutting dovetails by hand?  Of course there are different ways of doing things.  But when I'm working in other people's houses, the idea is get in, do the work quickly and invisibly, then get the hell out.