Plaster, particularly old plaster in houses, is a very hard material. Despite this hardness, plaster can easily damage when tasked with supporting weight or when broken up with drills or nails. Always drill a pilot hole in plaster before nailing it to avoid damaging plaster with a the nail. Preferably, nail into a wall stud beneath the plaster rather than anchoring a nail in plaster alone. John O'Neon, author of “Granny and Grandad's House Encyclopedia,” recommends filling pilot holes with a paste of plaster of Paris and alum water, then placing the nail into this mixture. This reinforces the wall, helping to prevent plaster damage such as chipping and splitting.
Paslode manufacturers nailing and stapling equipment for the construction industry. This company produces two basic types of nails: those designed for use with a specific material and those designed for general use. Avoid using nails designed for materials like stucco, metal and floor systems when working with plaster. You can use any other Paslode nail -- include framing nails, galvanized framing nails, finish nails and Brad nails -- with plaster. When nailing through plaster and into a stud, choose a nail designed for use with wood, such as the Paslode Engineered Lumber Nail.
Paslode designs some of its nails for use with specific types of nailers. Known colloquially as nail guns, types of nailers exist for numerous construction tasks, such as angled finishing nailers for use on angled surfaces; finishing nailers for trim work, baseboards and other finishes; and Brad nailers for molding. Coil nailers serve as all-purpose nails guns. When using a specific type of nailer for a project involving plaster, always use nails designed for use with that specific type of nailer. For instance, if you're attaching molding to plaster with a Brad nailer, use Brad nails.
The way in which you put a nail into plaster matters more than the type of nail you use. When it comes to choosing Paslode nails for hammering into plaster, pick a nail that works with the nailer you plan on using. Choose a nail long enough to pass through your plaster and into your stud when using this method – drilling a pilot hole can help you determine the thickness of plaster on your walls. If you need additional assistance choosing nails, ask for the best nails for plaster at your local hardware store, get details on these nails and find the Paslode equivalent.