I just bought my first brad nailer. Our you guys using weatherproof brads on the layout?
I don’t have a nailer, but I do use brass escutcheon pins. On my first trestle, I used steel brads, and of course they rusted and not exactly prototypically.
I just used regular 18ga. brad nails on my Davis Slough trestle. Installed in 2006 I’ve only had two outside brace boards come loose. The brads do rust a bit but this makes them grip the wood. I’ve used stainless brads (without the brad nailer) and they have a tendency to work themselves out from the movement of the wood.
Obviously steel does rust but out here on the rainy Oregon coast the process has been very slow. Nothing is popping apart. I think that where people have trouble is with structure that is consistently damp without a chance to dry out such as constant water from sprinklers or ground contact. Possibly being buried for a long period in snow as well…we almost never get snow here.
Wasn’t Brad Nails an action movie star from the 70’s?
You mean ol’ Hard as Nails?
tac
www.ovgrs.org
Supporter of the Cape Meares Lighthouse Restoration Fund
I think he was the guy whose career ended because his movies were…tacky! 
Nah, the movies ended when he was nailed!
WOW! Highjacked and ended, all on the same page.!
Some days are tougher than others!
Hehe! Well my serious answer didn’t get any response at all but the other stuff…
Actually Richard I was listening. I won’t be buying galvanized or stainless. I figure if you don’t need to in your WET country, my dry part of the world will do just fine. Besides, I have a mining railroad and a little rust would be good for those miners!
I’ve used brads outside for projects and I use a drop of waterproof carpenters glue in the joint. This way the brad supplies support for shearing forces on the joint and the glue handles the lateral forces. Works pretty good - some of the stuff outside is over 5 years old and still holding up. I think the glue helps keep the brad from rusting in the joint - only the outside end rusts. I do treat the wood so that moisture does not penetrate easily.
Doug,
A thought just in case for you or others that might read this and not realize the difference.
I’m assuming from what you said that you bought a brad nailer and not a pin nailer. The pins lack a head and will not hold well by themselves. They need to be used with glue as they provide shear strength only. They are great for small and delicate work and to hold temporarily while the glue dries but boards will pop out easily from them. I have both and use whatever is most appropriate.