A nailer buying guide

A Nailer Buying Guide You’ve finally decided to treat yourself to that nail gun that will make even your most mundane projects a breeze. You picture yourself as the lone gun slinger, ready to take on the big boys; any job, any time.

When it actually comes down to selecting that mighty nailer and bringing it home to meet your other tools, you’re faced with a bit of a dilemma. Which one do you want? Which one is calling to you? Who knew there were so many nail guns to choose from and such a variation in prices? Where, oh where, to begin?

Let’s start with the function. What are you actually going to do with this nail gun? What kind of project do you have in mind? Will you be building a dollhouse, putting up doorframes, or installing floors? Will you be using small nails or will you need larger nails for strength? Let’s go over the different roles of specific nailers so you can begin to whittle that list down to a more manageable size.

Brad Nailer If you will be using your nailer for woodworking or small projects around the house, a brad nailer may be what you need. A brad is a very fine nail with a tiny head that can be sunk into a piece of wood so it is hidden from view. A brad is not very strong, but it looks nice and if you will be working on the type of projects that require a little finesse, the brad nailer may be for you.

Finish Nailer If your project requires a longer nail and a little more strength, such as for window and door frames, or furniture building, you will want to look at a finish nailer. Finish nails are bigger than brads but still have a very small head and so can provide a nice finished look, ergo the name. They too, can be sunk down into the wood and covered with paint or wood putty so that they are hidden from view while providing a much stronger hold than brads.

Framing Nailer Your best framing nailer is definitely required if you are planning on using your new tool for building a deck, or a new garage, or let’s really get crazy, a new house. These are the big boys and they can deliver.

Siding, Roofing and Floor nailers Just to add to the confusion, there are also specialty nailers. If you think you will be using your new nail gun for one particular type of construction project, you may want to invest in one of these. Each one is designed specifically for siding, roofs or floors, and will be able to provide you with the ease and efficiency you are looking for to complete your project.

There are a number of variations within each type of nailer. For example, there are framing nailers that are very strong and can be used on very hard materials, while there are other framing nailers that are only appropriate for lightweight framing jobs. Some brad nailers could handle a paneling job but some can only be used on fairly thin materials.

You probably have more than one project in mind. Ideally, you could buy a different nailer to fit each project, but since that isn’t very practical for most of us, focus on what you will be doing with your nail gun most of the time and go with that.

Next, we will look at the operation of nail guns. There are a number of ways that all of these guns are powered, so we will take a look at each type so you can decide which will be the best fit for you.

A spring nailer is the simplest and least complicated of all the nailers. That being said, it is not as powerful as some of the other types of nail guns, but works just fine for small projects around the house. It operates just the way the name describes it. An electric motor pulls back on a spring, the hammer is cocked and released, and the nail is driven into the wood.

Next we come to the pneumatic nailer. This is most likely what you will see on big construction sites and probably the most popular of the nail guns. This gun uses compressed air instead of a spring to create the hammering force we are looking for. While the pneumatic nailer is very powerful and priced pretty reasonably, the downside would be the fact that you have to stay attached to an air compressor throughout the entire job.

One answer to the problem of being attached to a bulky air compressor is the gasoline driven or combustion nailer. This type of nail gun operates pretty much like the engine in your car, using gasoline to make it run. For this reason, a combustion nailer is portable, not requiring an air hose or

electric cord, which is great if the project you’re working on is not near an electrical source. It uses a spark plug and internal battery to ignite the gas that drives the piston, which in turn drives the nail.

They are almost as powerful as the pneumatic nailers but one drawback is that the battery gives you limited time which may not be convenient if you are working on a big job.

An electromagnetic nailer is run by electricity, either corded or battery powered, that creates a magnetic force and causes the nailer to, in turn, drive the nails into the wood. This nailer is very convenient but not nearly as powerful as the other nail guns we have discussed.

There is another type of nail gun that fits right in the palm of your hand. Palm impact nailers are extremely light weight and low priced, but they are not very powerful. They really come in handy when you’re working in a tight space, though. You just push on the nailer with your palm and your nail shoots into place. These nailers are actually pneumatic so you still need an air compressor. They are the only ones that use regular nails, as opposed to a coil or strip of nails that the other type guns require. So, you don’t need special nails, but if you have a lot of nailing to do, the process of loading each nail separately can cost you a lot of time.

Now that you know the different types of nail guns that are out there, and you have decided on which type your project(s) will require, we can narrow it down even further by examining some of the features that distinguish one model from another.

Weight and Comfort - I know, as you are perusing through the many different nailers that are available, you are picturing yourself with the biggest, heaviest, and most powerful one; ready to take on any job that comes your way. Hold on ---- no, really, I mean hold on --- which is what you have to do with the nailer you decide to buy. Over and over again, nail after nail.

You don’t want to use any tool that is too heavy or bulky for you. It’s uncomfortable, but more than that, it isn’t safe. You have to be able to control your nailer at all times, so make sure the one you decide on fits in your hands comfortably and allows you to complete your project without a trip to the emergency room.

And don’t forget that you also have the weight of the nails to consider. This will add quite a bit to the load – so again – I reiterate – make sure you can pick up your nailer easily, because even if it feels light

to you when you start the job, no doubt, by the time you’re finished it’s going to feel twenty pounds heavier.

Safety First - I wasn’t kidding about the emergency room visit. According to OSHA there are approximately 37,000 emergency room visits each year in the United States due to nail gun accidents.

Most nail guns have a built in safety catch to keep people from shooting nails accidentally. This catch holds the trigger in place until the nail gun is placed against something, preferably wood and not your annoying brother-in-law’s leg. Unfortunately, this system can be circumvented by the rebel carpenter who is rushed for time and can’t be bothered with the safety catch. By keeping the main trigger depressed the whole time you can use the safety catch as the trigger; the nail is released each time the gun is placed against the surface. This of course defeats the whole purpose of the safety catch.

Some nail gun manufacturers build what is called a sequential trip system into their nailers to avoid the above scenario. The trigger is designed so that it has to be released and then depressed again in order to fire the next nail. The safety features are there for a reason. Make sure your nailer has an adequate one and even more importantly, make sure you use it!

Size and Angle - You want to make sure that the nailer you choose is the right size for your particular project. Both the length of the nailer and the size of the hammering end are important. You want to be certain that you can maneuver your nailer so it is flush against the wood surface you are nailing. If you have 16” between studs then you want your nailer to be less than 16” in length.

Angle is another consideration. Will you be nailing a flat surface or will you be nailing on an angle? If you are framing, no doubt you will be “toe-nailing”, which is when you have to nail boards that are at right angles to each other, as in a corner. A nailer that allows you to angle is important in these situations.

Swivel Connector - There’s nothing as frustrating as when you are going along on a job and you go to take a step and find that you are tethered to the electrical cord. You have to stop what you are doing and unwind yourself, the nail gun, and the cord. Who has the patience for that? A swivel connector allows the cord to move with you instead of against you. Sounds like a minor detail but anything to make your project easier or faster is a plus.

Nail Type - Nail gun nails come in either a coil or a strip. A coil of nails is just that. The nails are glued to a long piece of plastic and rolled into a coil. They are loaded into the nailer similar to loading a machine

gun. Coiled nails are extremely heavy and bulky but this method works very well for nails with large heads. In contrast, strip nails are joined together like staples. The consensus seems to be that they are easier to load than coiled nails and easier to carry around, but there are fewer nails per strip so you have to reload more often.

It is important to know what size nails you will be using for your particular project, as the size and type of nails that can be used varies widely from nailer to nailer. A nail gun that can load more than one type of nail will allow you greater flexibility and work for you on many different jobs. You will also want to check to see how involved it is to change nail types. Some nailers are not very convenient when it comes to changing the settings.

Price - Unfortunately for most of us, price is also a major issue. There is such a wide range of nail guns and price points that you should be able to find that one nailer that fits into your budget as nicely as it fits into your hand. Find your price range and go from there. Don’t forget to include the price of an air compressor if required, or extra batteries or gasoline, depending on which type you go with. And of course, there are always the nails.

Warranty and Manual - Most, if not all nailers, will come with a warranty. It’s says a lot if a company is willing to stand behind their product for more than six months or a year. That being said, most products, if defective, will probably reveal the problem within the first few months of use. With the power of the internet, it is easy to do some research on performance issues of your nailer before you make the purchase, once you have narrowed it down to just a few choices. Before making your final decision it is also probably a good idea to check out the owner’s manuals on the nailers you are most interested in. Most companies have their manuals available to download on their websites, so all you need is a model number. This is a good way to check out how certain features work, how easy the nailer is to operate and what accessories come with the nailer, or what accessories you will need to purchase.

Speaking of accessories, what exactly might you need or want to get to go along with your new nail gun?

Air Compressor – If you decide on the pneumatic nailer, you are going to need an air compressor, unless you choose the nailer that comes with its own compressor. This may be a way to save money but keep in mind that if you purchase a package, you won’t be able to use the compressor with anything other than the nailer. Air compressors come in all sizes and price ranges. I know, I know…. another decision.

The first thing you want to do is find out the requirements of your nailer. Air compressors have two separate specifications; CFM and PSI. CFM (cubic feet per minute) is a measurement of air consumption, that is, how much air is required to run your tools. PSI (pounds per square inch) measures the air pressure, the force of the air required to run your tools. You should be able to find this information in the manual or on a label affixed to the nailer. Make sure the compressor you choose has enough capacity to handle these requirements or you will be disappointed in the performance of your nailer.

Check to see if you need to purchase an air hose, as this is often sold separately. Also, if you choose a compressor that runs on gasoline make sure you have some on hand.

Nails - Don’t forget to get your nails. We already went over the types of nails and what factors may influence your choice. Make sure you check to see if your nailer requires certain brands or sizes and stick to those constraints. Don’t take the chance of jamming up your new nail gun by not following the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure you have enough nails on hand to complete the project.

Power – Remember that if your nailer is cordless, you need to provide some sort of power for it; either gasoline or a battery. Make sure you use only what the manufacturer recommends. Cutting corners may damage your new nailer and cost you in the long run. If your nail gun runs on a battery it might be a good idea to purchase an extra one and keep one charging while you’re using the other. This way you won’t have to stop in the middle of a job and wait for the battery to charge back up.

Safety Equipment – You should not operate your nailer without OSHA approved safety goggles to protect your eyes, and gloves to protect your hands. You may even want to get some earplugs as they can be quite noisy.

The right nailer can make your projects progress so much easier and faster. Do your homework and get the one that fits you. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s instructions; they are there for a reason.

More importantly, be mindful of how to safely operate your nailer so as not to cause you or anyone else unnecessary trips to the emergency room.

TopNailerReviews.com is a Nail Gun / Nailer Review Website which provides comprehensive reviews including product overview, detailed product features such as power source, weight, dimensions, primary use, warranty, power output etc. to read reviews and comparison tables please visit: http://www.topnailerreviews.com/.

Contact: Nigel Marshall Editor In Chief editor@topnailerreviews.com