Work Faster and Smarter With the Best Nail Gun Available
If you want to take on more DIY projects, having the right tools is essential to get great results while being safe. While you can opt for the conventional method of using hammers with nails, it’s time-consuming, takes a lot more energy, and may not give you the desired results. A better way to go is nail guns which are faster, more precise, and effective. This type of power tool can be the missing piece to ensuring accuracy and stability in your projects. We have chosen the greatest nail guns of 2023 that are available in the market for your review.
Comparing the Greatest Nail Guns
Stanley Electric Nail Gun
– Best Overall
This heavy-duty electric nail gun comes with dual power: high and low for different materials and an 8-feet power cord. It uses different sized staples or nails which makes its use quite diverse. This option is easy to use with contoured grips. However, there may be a delay in the firing mechanism. Packing a powerful punch within a classic look, this option is the best overall on our list.
Porter-Cable Cordless Brad Nail Gun
– Best Cordless Nail Gun
This brad nailer kit is powered by batteries and doesn’t need to be plugged in and eliminates the need for a compressor. It features multiple tool-free settings to increase its efficiency and safety. It has an integrated belt hook and its lightweight makes it easy to work with. Compared to other cordless nail guns, this one is not too durable and may stop working after some time.
Freeman Nail Gun
– Most Versatile
This nail gun set features 4 nailers which can be used for heavy-duty work. The tools are made of a durable material and are dependable for any construction work such as framing or finishing. While the product is highly versatile and durable, it may lose its efficiency over time.
NuMax Pneumatic Nail Gun
– Most Durable
This durable option comes with a magnesium body and a secure handle for easy handling along with interchangeable triggers for quick shots. It’s quite powerful and can be used for different projects. The nail gun comes with an air exhaust which blows debris away. However, air starts leaking from the trigger after some time.
BOSTITCH Framing Nail Gun
– Best 2-in-1
This versatile option is designed with quick-change nosepieces to switch from framing to metal connector nails. For both options, the magazine holds about 60 nails. The pneumatic nail gun (compressor required) also features a push-button to set the desired nail depth. When you need to put it down, use the rafter hook on the nail gun to hang it from a rafter or joist. Additional design features include lightweight magnesium housing, a rubber grip, and rubber skid pads.
Metabo Angled Finish Nailer Kit
– Best Included Features
This clever model is engineered with a 360-degree integrated air duster to clear debris from your work surface. The nailer is also designed with an actuation switch to conveniently go from sequential to contact nailing. The lightweight nailer weighs just 4.2 pounds, has an adjustable drive dial for “flush fastening,” and allows you to clear jams without the use of additional tools. A compressor (not included) is required to operate the pneumatic nailer.
WEN Pneumatic Brad Nail Gun
– Most Nails Included
This option comes equipped with 200 18-gauge nails (500 each of 3/8-inch, 3/4-inch, 1-inch, and 2-inch nails) that all fit within the nailer’s range and a 106-nail-capacity magazine. If the nails get jammed, the nose latch will let you clear it quickly. The nailer also features a rotatable exhaust, nail gauge, depth adjustment wheel, and rubber grip handle.
DEWALT Finish Nail Gun
– Best Safety Features
This model includes Sealed Lube Dual Technology for use with or without motor oil. The Nailer is designed for use with 1- to 2 1/2-inch, 16-gauge, straight collated nails. The lightweight, 3.9-pound nailer features a 360-degree rotating exhaust cap and an easy opening at the front to remove any jams. The tool also allows you to adjust nail depth and set the sequential action trigger. For added safety, the nailer is designed with a trigger lock-off. The purchase also includes a carrying case, an adjustable belt hook, and 1,000 samples finish nails.
Makita AF505N Brad Nail Gun
– Best Carrying Case
Shipping with its own sturdy carry case, this brad nailer gun has a narrow nose design that allows it to get into those hard-to-reach spots and offers peerless performance in all conditions. The tool-less quick release feature of this choice makes it so simple and convenient to use, allowing you to adjust the depth with a simple dial on the back.
BOSTITCH Coil Siding Nail Gun
– Most Powerful
Working with both wire weld and plastic inserted coil nails and featuring a total magazine capacity of 300, this high-powered nail gun can adapt to a range of tasks and materials with ease, helping you power through your projects. The soft rubber foot on this option makes it a great choice for use on softer woods, as it won’t do any damage while in use. It also features a very lightweight, durable design made from long-lasting aluminum.
Buying Guide to the Top Nail Guns
Nail guns are integral to the DIYer’s toolkit. They are a type of power tool used to drive nails into wood and other materials at high speed without damaging the material’s structure. Think of the nail gun as a hammer with superpowers allowing you to join pieces with less effort, more efficiency, and greater precision.
Choosing a nail gun can prove to be a daunting task due to the vast array of options available on the market. We have given you an outline of the best choices available that stand out from the bunch. But which to choose? We’re here to help.
In this buying guide, we will consider different factors you need to consider and qualities you want to look out for when pitting one nail gun against another to help you choose the best option that’ll give you the best bang for your buck.
Functionality
The first factor to put into consideration is its functionality. Your answer to the question “What am I using the nail gun for?” helps make an informed decision in this regard. There is a nail gun for every task. Types based on functionality include:
- Flooring nail guns: Flooring nail guns are ideal for driving nails into floorboards at a perfect angle. Since most floorboards are made of hardwood, these are equipped to precisely deliver nails into floorboards without splintering the wood.
- Finish nail guns: These use headless nails to attach finishing materials to a piece of work. They come in two types – the angled finish nail guns and the straight finish nailers. Angled finish nailers fit well into tighter angles than straight ones. These can be used for works like trimming, paneling, or molding.
- Framing nail guns: Framing nail guns are quite versatile and can be used for a wide range of tasks. They also come quite heavy and bulky. If you need a nail gun for wood framing in heavy-duty construction jobs, then the framing nail gun is the ideal nail gun for you.
- Brad nail guns: Brad nail guns are used for delicate, decorative work like trimming or molding. They have a relatively lower holding power compared to other types. They usually prove handy when adding finishing touches to woodwork.
- Roofing nail guns: These are ideal for outdoor roofing jobs. They are used to drive nails into roofing materials like fiberglass shingles, asphalt shingles, and insulator boards.
Power source
When buying a nail gun, another vital factor to consider is the nail gun’s power source. It is a case of pneumatic versus electric.
Pneumatic nail guns
Pneumatic nail guns use compressed air to fire the nails and typically connect to an external air compressor. The nail gun is connected to the air compressor through an air hose. Once the trigger is pressed, the valve opens up to allow pressurized air that drives the piston to complete the nailing process.
This variety is used for heavy-duty jobs. A particular downside of these is their lack of mobility. The need to be constantly connected to the air compressor meaning they can only be moved within a limited range.
Electric nail guns
Electric nail guns come as spring-loaded and electromagnetic guns. Most modern electric options are tilting towards electromagnetic models. They use electromagnetism – a magnetic effect created by a moving current to move a slider that drives the nail. Unlike pneumatic nail guns, electric ones make less noise and are ideal for residential areas.
They come in two types based on power source – corded and cordless electric.
- Corded electric nail guns: Like pneumatic ones, these must always be connected to a power source – in this case, a main supply. The need to have it connected to a power source at all times means it is also less mobile.
- Cordless electric nail guns: These run on rechargeable batteries. Since they require no connection to an external power source, they are extremely portable and eliminate the risk of tripping on wires or hoses associated with pneumatic and corded electric options.
A downside of cordless nail guns is that batteries may not last long enough to finish the task. This downside can, however, be mitigated by having extra batteries at extra cost.
Gauge
Gauge is another factor to consider in making your choice of nail guns. As these tools come in different sizes, so do the sizes of the nails they shoot. Typically, there are four nail gun gauges – 15 gauge, 16 gauge, 18 gauge, and 23 gauge. The lower the number, the bigger the nail it shoots. The thickness of the wood will inform the gauge size you choose.
Price
A nail gun could cost between $25 and $250 depending on its capacity, design, and brand. But as a rule of thumb, the higher the power rating, the more expensive it will be.
Whether or not you’re new to these tools, it always helps to brush up on your skills before your next project. Check out this video from Fix This Build That on the six most common mistakes made while using nail guns:
People Also Asked
A: Nail guns are generally safe to use, but the risk of accidents cannot be overruled. To avoid the risk of accidents, it is advised that users read the instruction manual that comes with the tool. Also, nail guns should be kept away from the reach of children.
A: Nail guns come in two magazine styles – coil and straight. Coil magazines are ideal for extensive work because they hold more nails. Straight magazines are suitable for smaller workloads and are much lighter. Thus, the choice of magazine-style is informed by the range of work you intend to use the nail gun to do.
