A Nailer Buying Guide

So, you’ve decided to buy a nail gun and you’ve already visited your local mega-hardware megaplex to pick one up. When you got there, though, you were faced with a wall of nailers that all looked pretty much the same except for size and color. How are you going to choose? In this article, we’ll give you some guidelines to help you decide.

Function
The first step is to ask yourself what kind of work you want to do with the nailer. Do you want to frame a house? Put up paneling? Build furniture? Build doll houses? Do you want a nailer that will be able to do different kinds of projects?

Think, too, about the finished project itself. How strong will it have to be? How thick is the wood you’ll be using? How pretty do you want it to be when it’s finished?

Your answer to these questions will determine the type of nails you need and, therefore, the type of nail gun. Here are a few of your choices:

Brad nailer
A brad is a small, thin nail with a very small head that can be sunk into the wood so it doesn’t show. A brad nailer won’t give you a lot of strength, but it’s just the ticket for small items that need to look nice. This is the nail gun to consider if you’ll be working with small or thin materials.

Finish nailer
Finish nails, which are quite a bit bigger than brads, also have small heads. They are also specially coated so they won’t “bleed” rust after you paint over them. Finish nails provide some durability without sacrificing looks, because the nails are sunk into the wood. You can then hide them with finish, wood putty, or paint. Consider a finish nailer if you want to do light remodeling, furniture building, or basic woodworking jobs.
 
Framing nailer
If you’ll be doing really heavy work – say, building a house or a deck – you’ll want a framing nailer. These are the draft horses of the group, sinking three-inch nails into dense wood with relatively little effort from you.
Siding, roofing, and floor nailers
If you’re pretty sure you’ll always do a particular type of construction nailing (or something similar), you might consider getting a specialty nailer. These nailers are designed for a very specific purpose, so they’re likely to be the most efficient for that type of work.
Keep in mind that within each type there are variations – some framing nailers, for example, are suitable for “light” framing, where others can sink nails into almost anything. Similarly, most brad nailers can probably do some paneling, but there may be some that can’t. Be sure to read the manual, specifications, and advertising carefully for the nail gun you’re considering, to make sure it will do the things you want it to do.

Chances are, you don’t want to do just one project, or just one kind of nailing. In that case, you may want to consider buying two nail guns. However, if buying two nail guns means you won’t be able to afford any nails, buy the nailer that will serve your needs most of the time – and then consider renting the other kind when you need it.

Operation
As we pointed out on the Basics page, there are a number of different ways nail guns can be powered. So, depending on what type of nail gun you want, you may need to decide what kind of “operating system” to get. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, so let’s look at them in turn.

Spring nailer
Have you ever played pinball? In a spring nailer, an electric motor pulls a spring back, thereby cocking the hammer – just like pulling the knob on a pinball machine before you release the ball. It’s simple, and has the advantage of a less complicated interior than some other types. However, a spring gun has somewhat less power than some other types of nailers.
 
Pneumatic nailer
On the other end of the spectrum is the pneumatic nail gun. This is a powerhouse! Instead of a spring, a pneumatic nail gun uses air to cock and release the hammer. The nailers you see on construction sites are, most likely, pneumatic. Pneumatic nail guns are relatively low in cost, widely available, and very powerful. The disadvantage is that you must have the air compressor as well as the nailer. Some nailers, though, include compressors with your purchase.
 
Gasoline-driven nailer
For people determined not to attach themselves to an air-compressor “umbilical cord,” gas-driven nailers provide a viable alternative. These offer almost all the power of pneumatic nail guns, without the extra bulk. Like your car, they use a small internal-combustion engine to drive the piston that cocks and releases the hammer and drives the nail. Many of the cordless nailers you see are gas-operated, which makes them ideal for sites where there’s no electric power.

Electromagnetic nailer
In this type of nailer, electricity is used to create magnetic force that forces the piston back and forth, thus cocking the hammer. Some electromagnetic nail guns are battery operated, and therefore cordless. Convenient, yes; but unfortunately, not as powerful as the pneumatic or combustion nail guns.

Palm-impact nailer
This little cutie is a breed all its own. Palm-impact nailers look something like closed funnels, and they fit in the palm of your hand. Of all the nailers discussed on this site, these are the only ones that use regular nails. Instead of loading in a coil or strip of nails, you simply load one nail by attaching it to a magnetic nail guide – something like a magnetic screwdriver. When you push on the nailer with your palm, the nail is powered in. Palm-impact nailers are pneumatically powered, so you’ll need an air compressor – but probably not a very powerful one. These little nailers are lightweight, cheap, and can be, depending on the model, quite versatile. However, loading nails one at a time can slow you down, and you won’t get as much power as you will out of a conventional pneumatic nail gun.

Features
What makes tool buying fun? It’s picking out the features, of course! Here are some issues you’ll want to consider.

Weight and Comfort
When you went to the mega-hardware megaplex, did you pick up any of the nail guns? If you did, you found out that these are not your grandmother’s staple guns – some of them are really heavy! Go back to the megaplex and handle some of the nailers. Try bending down while you hold one. Can you get back up? Seriously, if you can’t pick it up, you can’t use it safely. And remember, you haven’t even added the weight of the nails yet – which can be considerable. Get the lightest nailer that will do the job, and be prepared to use two hands when you operate it, particularly if you don’t have a lot of upper-body strength.

Your comfort is, perhaps, even more important than the weight of the nailer. Even though using a nail gun is much less work than a hammer and nails, it’s still work and you may need to hold the nailer for a long time. Find a nail gun that fits your hand well, and that’s easy for you to maneuver. See if the trigger is comfortable to squeeze. Pick it up and put it down to make sure it doesn’t strain your wrist, shoulder, or arm. Oh, and don’t forget to bend your knees when you get back up!

Safety
The most important safety measure you can take is to use the nail gun correctly. Therefore, make sure you can hold and use it properly. Make sure, too, that you can understand the safety instructions in the manual.

The main reason nail guns are considered dangerous is because they sometimes shoot nails when you don’t expect them to; and those nails can wind up in body parts unforeseen. Therefore, look for features that will prevent you from shooting accidentally.

Part of the responsibility belongs to you, of course. You must allow the safety features to do their work. For example, some nailers have a two-part mechanism: you must pull the trigger, and then bump the nail gun into the surface, in order to shoot a nail. People who are in a hurry have been known to rig the trigger so it stays compressed. That way, all they have to do is bump the nailer against the surface they’re working on. Very fast. Very easy. And very, very risky.

If you’re a maverick who likes to take chances, look for a nail gun with features that will help you resist the impulse to take short-cuts. Come to think of it, if you’re a maverick who likes to take chances, maybe you shouldn’t look for a nail gun at all.

Size and Angle - Will It Fit Where You Want It?
When it comes to nail guns, size does matter. Specifically, it’s got to fit where you want to nail. If you’re doing framing, for example, and the framing will be 16 inches on center (that is, 16 inches from the center of one piece of wood to the center of the next), it’s awfully helpful if you’ve got a nail gun that’s less than 16 inches long so you can fit it in between the studs. It also helps if you can fit the hammering end of the nail gun into the places where you want nails.

Related to size is the angle of the nail gun. Some nailers are designed to nail only on a flat surface; others are designed to nail either on the flat or at an angle. If you get an angled gun, you’ll be able to do what’s known as “toe-nailing” – that is, connecting perpendicular boards by nailing at an angle. If you want the greatest versatility possible, go with a nailer that will let you toe-nail.

Swivel Cord
What do telephones and nail guns have in common? They both have cords that will drive you nuts – unless, that is, you have a swivel cord. The swivel-cord feature allows the cord to turn as you move, so it doesn’t get twisted or kinked. It may seem a small thing, but you’ll have enough to do without stopping to straighten out the cord.

Nail Loading and Storage – Strip or Coil?
Nail-gun nails (other than the ones used for palm-impact nailers) are connected to each other in one of two ways: in a strip, with the nails glued together like staples; or in a coil, with the nails attached to a long piece of plastic that’s coiled and loaded into the nailer like a machine gun. Coil loading is bulkier, but it’s well-suited for nails that have large heads. On the other hand, strip loading holds more nails – in fact, some nailers hold two strips – which means you don’t need to reload as often. Keep in mind that the more nails you load at a time, the heavier the nailer will be.

Nail Range
Most nailers have some flexibility in the types of nails they take. Check the specifications to find out what types and sizes of nails the nailer will accommodate. The greater the variety, the more kinds of jobs you can do. Also, see what kind of adjustments you need to make when you switch nails. Is it easy to change the settings?

Warranty
Most nailers come with a warranty. Obviously, the longer the warranty lasts, the better for you. However, if there’s something wrong with your nailer it will probably show up shortly after you buy it – so don’t base your purchase on length of warranty alone.

Manual
Many manufacturers now post owners’ manuals on their websites, usually for free. Once you’ve got your choice narrowed down to two or three models, go to the manufacturer’s website and find the manual for that model. This will give you additional information about features, safety issues, and whether you’ll understand the manual when you’re ready to put the nail gun to work.

Price
Ah, the price. It may not be the bottom line, but it’s darned important. Fortunately, there is an amazing range of prices for nail guns. As you’re looking, think about how much you want to spend. Then, look at nailers in that general price range. We recommend that once you have chosen one or two models, you shop around to find the best price.

Accessories
No matter what type of nailer you choose, you will need some accessories. Here are the most basic.

Air Compressor
If you buy a pneumatic nail gun, you’re going to need an air compressor. Like nailers, compressors come in all different types and price ranges. The main thing you need to know is that the compressor must have sufficient power and force to operate the tools you’ll be using.

It’s a good idea to research air compressors, but in the meantime, there are two main specifications you’ll need to consider: air volume, which is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM), and air pressure, which is measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). To put it simply, CFM is a measure of how much air is blowing, and PSI is a measure of how hard that air is blowing. You need an air compressor that has enough CFM and PSI to meet your unit’s requirements. You’ll find these requirements in your product’s specifications and manual.

If you don’t want to buy an air compressor, you have two options. The first is to rent one when you need it. This runs into more money in the long run, but in the short run it might give you more money to spend on the nailer itself. Your second option is to buy a nail gun package that includes an air compressor. This is a great solution if you don’t expect to operate any other pneumatic tools.

Make sure you have all the parts and supplies you’ll need. For example, air hoses are often sold separately, and many compressors run on gasoline.

Gasoline or Batteries
If your nail gun is cordless, you’ll need either gasoline or a battery. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to determine just what you’ll need. It’s a good idea to keep extra on hand – you don’t want to run out of power at a critical time!

Nails
What’s a nail gun without the nails? Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and good construction principles, when choosing nails. Don’t automatically assume that any size, or any brand, will fit your machine. Some nailers are more persnickety than others about what they’ll take. In any event, buy plenty of nails if you’ll be working on a large project, so you don’t run out at an inopportune moment.

Safety Equipment
No matter what your budget, don’t skimp on safety! At the very least, you’ll need OSHA-approved safety goggles. You may also need earplugs and gloves to protect your hands from recoil. Check the manual to see whether you’ll need anything else.