Question 1

Is this Nailer for 15 gauge or 16 gauge cleats for hardwood floor installation or does it matter? can it use both?

Accepted Answer

Use only Bostitch Cleat nails . The only option with the cleat nails they give you is the length of them . 1 1/2” or 2 “ . Gauge is irrelevant . Good for 3/4” thick flooring only . My go to cleat nailer for a very long time .

Question 2

Is this too powerful for Brazialian Chestnut? (PS, Maybe part of the issue was the size of the cleat ... that it should be 18 gauge rather than 15 to avoid splitting.)

Accepted Answer

I agree with Finbar.  This gun would NOT be too powerful for solid Brazilian Chestnut.  It has a Janka (hardness) rating of 3540 whereas I used it on Brazilian Cherry which is 2760.  The higher the rating, the harder the wood.  This chestnut is the second hardest in the Janka list I found by The Hardwood Guys.  Google is your friend!  We used this gun to install about 2000 sq. ft. of Brazilian Cherry.  The gun never failed.  I would only warn you that you may have misfires when the nail count is close to the last nail, so watch your nail count and refill before it gets down too close to the end. Also, you want to make sure that you are giving your gun enough psi because a drop can also cause a misfire (partial penetration).  I would set the compressor to automatically build back up to the max psi that you choose (see what the gun requires).  We hung somewhere between 90 psi and 100 psi, if my memory serves me correctly. I highly recommend this gun.  Even a 5'4" computer-girl could use it!

Question 3

Hi, even though bostich speficies 16 ga, people have used it with 18 gauge L cleats.  Does anyone know what brand 18ga cleats have worked?  Freeman??

Accepted Answer

BOSTITCH  offers a conversion kit, part # MIIIFN-KIT that provides all of the parts necessary for this conversion. The tool will then drive the Bostitch FLN-150 and FLN-200 flooring cleats.

Question 4

If I buy the 15 guage cleats from Lumber Liquidators do you think it will work in the MIIIFN or will it jam. Where do I find right ones if need to?

Accepted Answer

The Bostitch cleats are 15.5 gauge. 15 gauge cleats will probably jam. Even the right size cleats will jam occasionally. I had one or two jams in each room that I did. I bought mine at Home Depot. Any store that sells Bostitch nailers will have them.

ASIN	B0000302TH
Best Sellers Rank	#400,110 in Tools & Home Improvement ( See Top 100 in Tools & Home Improvement ) #16 in Power Flooring Nailers
Brand Name	Bostitch
Color	Gold
Customer Reviews	4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (247)
Global Trade Identification Number	00077914030102
Included Components	Nailer, Graphite Mallet
Item Type Name	FLOORING NAILER-MIII
Item Weight	14 Pounds
Manufacturer	BOSTITCH
Manufacturer Part Number	MIIFN
Material Type	Blend
Model Number	MIIFN
Operation Mode	Powered
Product Style	Nailer
UPC	077914030102 786714916096 754262207492
Unit Count	1.0 Count
Warranty Description	7 year limited warranty

Bostitch Hardwood Flooring Cleat Nailer

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