The 7 Best Nail Guns To Buy Online in 2024 Reviews

“Drive nail into the surface effortlessly, accurately and quickly with Nail Guns”

Nail guns a handy power tool that drives nails into the wood without damaging it or causing splinters.

It works by using gas or compression to force the nail or other fixtures into the surface. Compared to doing it manually, this process reduces by nail fixing time and effort by at least 60 to 70%.

If your job or projects involves frequent usage of nails and hammer, then investing in a nail gun is essential rather than luxury.

Though there are several models in the market, every nail gun is designed to satisfy certain requirements. So, it is important to take your time for analyzing the models and choose the best option that satisfies your unique needs.

Some of the important factors to analyze are mentioned below for your reference.

• Type: There are various types of nail guns available, which are differentiated by their driving nail size. They can handle different tasks. 
• Nail Gauge: The nail gauge sizes represent the nail thickness it can handle. A general rule is that a nail gun with a low gauge number means a thicker nail, while a higher gauge number refers to a thinner nail. The common nail gauge range for nailer are 15-gauge to 23-gauge. Here 16-gauge is great for doing various projects, and 15-gauge is to install thick trim, and 18-gauge (or higher gauge) is to do thin trim work or fine detail work.
• Nail Length: The durability of the nail fixture depends on the nail length. The longer nails (up to 2- 3 inches) can be used on thick surfaces, whereas shorter nails (up to 1 – 2 inches) are used for thinner applications. So, check out the nail length available for the nail gun before buying.
• Power Source: Pneumatic (powered by air) and electricity (powered by electricity/battery) are two main power sources available for nail guns.

They are:

• 1. Pneumatic is perfect for professionals due to its incredible power. It works by connecting to an air compressor and uses air to drive nails. It is lightweight, affordable, has longer runtime, and is easy to handle, yet they are limited by the length of the compressor hose and power cord.
  2. Electric (both corded and cordless models) are perfect for DIYers, which can handle small-medium sized nails. Due to its compact, and portable nature, the cordless version is most preferred and used. They are a bit heavyweight, less powerful and expensive compared to pneumatic models.

With several types of nails guns out there, picking the right one based on your project type and size will be a bit overwhelming. So, we came up with a detailed “Buying Guide” and a list of some best nail guns (in each category) in the market. Read on to know how to make a perfect choice as per your working requirement.

Best Nail Guns in 2024

Nail Gun	Nail Gauge	Nail Length	Warranty	Buy Now
NuMax Nail Gun	12 Gauge	Up to 3 ½ inch	1 year	Check On Amazon
PORTER-CABLE Nail Gun	18 Gauge	Up to 2 inch	3 years	Check On Amazon
Ryobi P320 Nail Gun	18 Gauge	Up to 2 inch	2 years	Check On Amazon
DEWALT Brad Nail Gun	18 Gauge	Up to 2 inch	3 years	Check On Amazon
CRAFTSMAN Nail Gun	18 Gauge	Up to 2 inch	3 years	Check On Amazon
Metabo HPT Nail Gun	18 Gauge	Up to 2 inch	5 years	Check On Amazon
BOSTITCH Nail Gun	11 Gauge	Up to 1 ¾ inch	7 years	Check On Amazon

Top Nail Guns Reviews

1. NuMax Nail Gun

NuMax is a well-known brand of power tools that specializes in making nail guns and related products. You can even find budget options from NuMax when it comes to nail guns.

We have mentioned the NuMax SFR2190 at the 1st position as it is one of the best nail guns available out there. This is a pneumatic nail gun that offers a 21-degree nail tilt for ease of usage. It has a strong magnesium body coupled with an ergonomic design that is also quite lightweight. This also features a trigger that allows you to switch between single fire mode or quick-fire mode whenever you need. You can use this nail gun for various surfaces like the roof or wooden fences of your house.

The maximum supported nail-length is 3 ½ inch along with up to 12 gauge support in this nail gun. There is also a built-in air exhaust feature that is really useful for blowing away the dust from the workpiece. Because of the no-mar tip feature of this nail gun, you get high precision results while using it. It also comes with a no-slip tip that grips on the work surface for extra safety and accuracy. This product comes with a 1-year limited warranty that is quite similar to other options out there.

Best Features:

• 12 gauge nail gun
• 2 inch to 3 ½ inch supported nail length
• 21-degree nail angle
• 1-year warranty
• Ergonomic design
• Pneumatic powered
• Magnesium body
• Multiple mode trigger

Components:

• Nail gun
• Allen key set
• No-mar tip
• No-slip tip
• User manual
• Warranty card

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2. PORTER-CABLE Nail Gun

Porter cable is one of the oldest brands with more than 100 years of tool production while offering great customer satisfaction. This brand also provides various kinds of nail guns with different sets of features.

PORTER-CABLE’s PCC790LA is another excellent option if you are looking for a nail gun for either your home or workshop. This 20V cordless nail gun comes with 18 gauge nail support. The maximum available nail length for this nail gun is 2 inch. It also has a variable depth adjustment option that is great for multi-purpose use. Some extra features of this nail gun include a free release lever and a jam release lever. After a full charge, you can use this nail gun for about 1300 nails that is probably enough for a couple of days of continuous usage.

The multi-functional LEDs offered by this nail gun are very useful for working in a dark environment. A great thing about Porter Cable’s nail gun is that it comes with 3 years of warranty that includes absolutely free repairs of the nail gun. This nail gun weighs 5.9 pounds, along with a great build quality and excellent craftsmanship. Also, 1 battery is included along with the nail gun so that you can use the nail gun out of the box.

Best Features:

• 18 gauge nail gun
• 2 inch supported nail length
• 3-year warranty
• Ergonomic design
• Battery-powered
• Weighs 5.9 pounds
• Battery life of 1300 nails per charge
• Multifunctional LED lights

Components:

• Nail gun
• 1 20V 1.5 Ah lithium battery
• User manual
• Warranty card

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3. Ryobi P320 Nail Gun

Ryobi is comparatively a lesser-known brand of power tools that produces many products, including nail guns. The products from Ryobi are affordable and the first choice of many customers.

At the third position in our list of best nail guns, we have the Ryobi P320 Airstrike nail gun. Since this nail gun is a battery-powered nail gun, it does not require any external power supply, such as a compressor. This also reduces the need for external attachments such as hoses and pipes while using it. All of this is possible as this nail gun from Ryobi is powered by an 18 volt one+ lithium-ion battery. It offers decent power along with a long battery life with this nail gun. In one complete charge of the battery, you can fire up to 1700 nails quite easily.

There is also a low-nail indicator included with this nail gun that is pretty useful if you are using the nail gun continuously. The air pressure of this nail gun can be set according to your requirement via the adjustable dial. Ryobi’s P320 nail gun weighs 6 pounds, including the battery that is similar to other options out there. Its outer body is made out of plastic that is quite durable.

Best Features:

• 18 gauge nail gun
• 1 inch to 2 inch supported nail length
• Battery-powered
• 2-year warranty
• Portable
• Lithium-ion battery type
• Plastic body
• Weighs 6 pounds
• Battery life of firing 1700 nails in one charge

Components:

• Nail gun
• User manual
• Warranty card

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4. DEWALT Brad Nail Gun

Dewalt is yet another renowned brand name in the power tools industry. This brand focuses on both hand tools as well as power tools such as nail guns.

Dewalt DCN680D1 is also a battery-powered nail gun that is powered by a powerful 20V battery. This 18 gauge nail gun supports nails up to 2 inches in length. Its overall weight is around 5.30 pounds that is quite acceptable considering the included weight of the battery. There are a total of two function modes available while using the Dewalt DCN680D1 that include the sequential trigger and contact trigger modes.

You get a 3-year long warranty with the DCN680D1 nail gun from Dewalt that is pretty decent for a battery-powered one. Another great feature of this nail gun is the low nail lockout. This blocks the nail gun from functioning if the number of nails available in the cartridge is low. It also prevents unnecessary firing of the nail gun from preventing wastage of nails. You also get multi-functional LEDs with this Dewalt nail gun that provides lighting and tool’s information.

Best Features:

• 18 gauge nail gun
• 2 inch supported nail length
• 3-year warranty
• Low nail lockout feature
• Weighs 5.30 pounds
• Two function modes
• Battery-powered
• Multi-functional LEDs

Components:

• Nail gun
• User manual
• Warranty card

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5. CRAFTSMAN Nail Gun

Craftsman is a brand that develops and produces almost all kinds of high-quality power tools. Along with outdoor power equipment and automotive tools, they produce various indoor power tools, including nail guns.

The last recommendation in our list of best nail guns, we have a cordless CRAFTSMAN V20 (CMCN618C1). This is a battery-powered nail gun that does not require any external power supply, such as pneumatic compressors or external electrical input. It is a multi-purpose nail gun that supports 18 gauge nails up to 2 inches in length. Its ergonomic design provides good control and stability for the user while allowing you to easily use it for a long time.

This is a lightweight nail gun which comes with 1 lithium-ion battery included in the package. The stall release and jam release feature of this tool guns makes it very hassle-free to work with. Its nail gun trigger also has a manual lock-off switch to prevent accidental fire for child safety. Craftsman covers this product with 3 years of warranty that is ideal for a cordless nail gun.

Best Features:

• 18 gauge nail gun
• Up to 2 inch supported nail length
• 3-year warranty
• Ergonomic design
• Lock-off switch
• Stall release and jam release feature
• Battery-powered
• Dual LED work lights

Components:

• Nail gun
• 20V Lithium-ion battery
• Battery charger
• Set of 100 1 inch brad nails
• Set of 100 1 ¼ inch brad nails
• Set of 100 2 inch brad nails
• No-mar tip
• User manual
• Warranty card

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6. Metabo HPT Nail Gun

Metabo HPT is one of the most reliable and commercial oriented brands that makes power tools. They also make nail guns apart from their other power tool offerings.

The Metabo HPT (NT50AE2) is present at the second position in our list of best nail guns, especially because of its reliability. This nail gun comes with a 5 year warranty period that is exceptional when it comes to such power tools. Along with that, you will also get 15 gauge nail support. This nail gun can use the nails that are between the 1 ¼ inch to 2 ½ inch length range. Hitachi also provides a carrying case along with this nail gun tool that comes in handy for transportation and outdoor applications.

The exhaust port on Metabo HPT is highly adjustable with a 360-degree rotation hinge. It has a selective actuation switch that allows for multiple trigger modes that include bump fire mode and contact fire mode. This nail gun is pretty lightweight as it weighs only 2.2 pounds. So, it can be used all day long while working on all sorts of projects without any hassle. Another noteworthy feature of this nail gun is that you can adjust the depth of nails by adjusting the drive depth dial.

Best Features:

• 18 gauge nail gun
• 2 inch supported nail length
• 5-year warranty
• Depth adjustment settings
• Pneumatic powered
• Includes selective actuation switch
• Weighs 2.2 pounds
• 360-degree rotatable exhaust port

Components:

• Nail gun
• Safety glasses
• No-mar tip
• Carrying case
• Hex bar wrenches
• Air fitting
• Warranty card
• User manual

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7. BOSTITCH Nail Gun

Bostitch is one of the oldest power tools brands that has been making power tools since 1896. It is a trustworthy brand that makes various pneumatic power tools like the nail gun.

BOSTITCH RN46 is a pneumatic powered nail gun that has a lot of useful features. This nail gun supports up to 1 ¾ inch nails that can have a maximum gauge rating of 11 gauge. As it is a pneumatic powered nail gun, you will require a compressor with a minimum pressure rating of 7- PSI to use it. The maximum pressure supported by this nail gun is up to 120 PSI that is useful for harder surfaces.

It uses an aircraft-grade aluminum body that comes with a remarkable 7 years of warranty. The other features of the nail gun include an adjustable shingle guide and an exclusive side load canister for nails. Its operation speed is also pretty fast and precise. The overall weight of the product is 5.8 pounds.

Best Features:

• 11 gauge nail gun
• 1 ¾ inch supported nail length
• 7-year warranty
• Adjustable shingle guide
• Supports 70 PSI to 120 PSI air pressure
• Pneumatic powered
• Aircraft-grade aluminum body

Components:

• Nail gun
• Pneumatic kit
• Framing nailers
• Power framing nailers
• User manual
• Warranty card

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How to Choose the Best Nail Gun:

There are various factors to consider while shopping for a nail gun. Here, in this buying guide, we are providing all the essential information required for you to purchase the right nail gun, as per your work requirement.

Type of Nail Guns (Nailers)	Recognized Nail Size	Suitable For
Framing Nailers	Up to 3 ½ inches in length	Heavy construction works, wood sheathing, wood framing, wood siding, decks, and fences.
Finish Nailers	15 – 16-gauge finish nails Up to 2 ½ inches in length	Crown molding, carpentry, baseboards, trim work, or bulkier wood pieces.
Brad Nailers	18-gauge brad nails up to 2 inches in length	Crown molding, cabinetry finishing, or trim work
Pin Nailers	23-gauge pin nails up to 2 inches in length	Furniture repair/trim, delicate trim work, cabinetry, wood veneers, or any work requiring 23-gauge headless nails.
Roofing Nailers	Large diameter heads up to 1.75 inches in length	Roofing & thick wood material and securing shingles
Flooring Nailers		Installing vinyl floorboards or tongue and groove wood to a wood subfloor
Palm Nailers		Small projects, narrow or tight spots & joist hangers
Siding Nailers		Mixing thin wood pieces to synthetic materials/wooden mounts (or) installing siding.
Specialty Nailers		Fastening material (apart from wood) and professional specialty works.

Let’s know about them in detail.

1.  Types of Nail Guns:

Manufacturers design various types of nail guns to handle different jobs. A few nail guns can take larger nails with big heads, while others can handle only small nails. So, mostly the nail guns are differentiated based on the nail size they shoot. Here we are explaining the 8 most common types of nail guns. All you need is to select them based on the tasks you are doing.

Let’s get into its details.

a. Framing Nail Guns: 

With its heavy-duty build, this framing nail gun is designed to simplify the wood fastening process to do projects, such as fence building and new construction. Though it accepts a wide range of nail sizes, yet they commonly handle nail sizes is 3 ½ inches in length (or 16-penny nails), which are quite useful for hardest fastening tasks.

It is the best option to shoot nails into any type of wood, which allows you to use them for diverse applications like deck or fence fixing, construction projects, renovating a room, setting up house framing, or attach the wooden siding.

b. Finish Nail Guns:

This type of nailer is considered a mid-sized nail gun that uses only finishing nails (made for moulding or baseboards). They will handle small assembly jobs, yet don’t work for framing. This gun drives 15 or 16-gauge finish nails up to 2 ½ inches in length. They are used on anything like from crown molding and door trim to cabinetry to cupboards.

c. Brad Nail Guns: 

These are small nailers that run mostly on battery power and handle only thin brad nails. These nail guns are designed for light jobs like doing some craft and trim work, yet preferred most by DIYers. They can shoot 18 – 20-gauge brad nails of up to 2 inches in length. This nailer is used on smaller wood pieces that may split/crack if we use a finishing nail. Thus, they are the perfect option for doing small woodworking projects like trim work, crown molding or cabinetry finishing.

d. Pin Nail Guns:

This type of nailer leave small holes in the wood while shooting, which means they won’t need any sanding or putty like larger brad or finishing nails require. It is quite commonly used for finishing furniture, as they shoot small 23-gauge pin nails up to 2-inch in length. When you apply a paint coating on a pinhole, then it is invisible.

Though the pins are not designed to offer much holding power, they are just used to secure a glued wood piece to stay in its place while drying. Also, used to deal with delicate craft projects, such as jewelry boxes.

e. Roofing Nail Guns:

This type of nailer is meant to secure roofing and shingle material like asphalt, tar paper or roof insulation. They can handle nails having large diameter heads of up to 1.75 inches of length. They use coil nails rather than nail strips, as the round coils grasp more nails at a time that cut back on refills.

Most manufacturers designed these roofing nailers with non-skid pads on the gun’s body to avoid the gun from sliding off the roof by any accident. Also, we can use this gun for other types of works, yet they may not provide the best results.

f. Flooring Nail Guns:

This type of nailer is sturdy and tough, which makes it useful for all types of flooring installation tasks. These nail guns are pneumatic that use compressed air to work and thereby create a lot of driving force to quickly perform the task. It is considered the best tool for hardwood flooring installation and is used for all types of flooring material.

g. Palm Nail Guns:

As the name implies, this type of nailer gets fit into one’s palm, which makes it suits best to work in confined, tight spaces like nails to install windows or shelves or inside a cupboard. Since it is lightweight to maneuver in tight spaces and portable to carry around while working, they are driven by compressed air. Thus, it can easily be used for both large and small projects outside or inside the house. The main drawback of this nailer is that it won’t suit for doing heavy-duty works.

h. Siding Nail Guns:

Looking to perform some renovation work outside the garage or home? Then this type of nailer suits perfect for this purpose. It is meant to work with lighter pieces of non-wood and wood materials to attach fiber cement.

i. Specialty Nail Guns: 

It is another type of nailers that are not designed to use for general purpose around the home/garage. Just like flooring nail gun is meant to use for assembling the floor, and some other nail guns use staples to attach upholstery. These nail guns are meant to use for special purposes.

2. Power Source

In general, there are two main types of power sources available to run the nail guns safely and effectively. They are powered by either air (pneumatic) or electricity. Let’s get into its details.

a. Pneumatic Nail Guns:

It is a quite common nail gun type that gets connected to an air compressor. Even though it is paired with an electric outlet, this nailer use air from its compressor to shoot nails into the required material. Since they come in a variety of models and offers incredible power, these nailers are a consistent choice for experts and they can even drive the largest nails.

They are lightweight that range from 2 – 5 pounds, easy to handle, offer longer runtime and are less expensive than battery-powered/electric nailers. The main drawback of this type of nailer is, it let you limit the work area based on the length of the power cord and air compressor hose.

b. Electric Nail Guns

Electric nailers can be either corded or cordless. Most DIYers prefer to use this electric nailer, especially a cordless tool. The reason is that they have sufficient power to handle the small–midsize nails, which are quite commonly used in DIY projects. But while using a cordless tool, you have to be aware of their battery life to prevent running out of power in the middle of the work. Whereas, corded nailers will prevent this problem, yet you have to tether them to the nearest electric outlet.

Battery-powered nail guns are quite enough to deliver from 400 – 1600 shots per charge. Plus, it can be used anywhere (portable) without any worry about the length of the power cord (as corded models), which makes it a bit expensive than corded or pneumatic models.

The main drawback of this cordless nailer is that they are a bit heavyweight (7 pounds or more) and not powerful compared to pneumatic nail guns.

3. Nail Loading Process (Coil Nailer Vs. Strip Nailer)

Usually, a nailer will continuously load nails to shoot them automatically, and thereby speed up the process to complete the work quickly. So, it becomes the most chosen option for most people over a hammer. Yet while shopping for a nail gun, one has to choose its nail loading process – either a strip style or a coil-style one, as per their requirement.

Let’s take a look at them to know which one suits you best.

• Coil-Style Nailer: The gun with this style will use nails to connect by using a paper or thin wire. Here the nails are loaded into a circular area on the gun and the nails resemble a coil while taking out of the box. So, this is why it is named coil style nail guns. This style of nailer will hold larger nails compared to a strip-style nailer.

• Strip Style Nailer: The nail gun with this style will load nails in such a way that assured together with paper, glue, or plastic. These nail strips will resemble a small ruler. Mostly, battery-powered nailers use this style of nails. Also, smaller gauge nail types and brad nails are strip-style nails.

4. Nail Gun Firing Methods:

Different types or models of nail guns offer different firing methods. So, it is essential to check out the firing methods while looking over various heat gun models. This will let you know the working function of the nail gun for safety reasons and thereby prevent any accidental discharge or damage to the work surface. Take a look at different types of firing methods used in a nail gun.

• Contact: The gun with a bump or contact firing will let you drive nails, in such a way that each bump of safety tips against the surface when you hold down the trigger. It is an easy and quick way to perform a large task, yet need control and precision from the user.

• Single Sequential: A gun with this method need sequential order of the safety tip to press against the surface, and allows you to pull the trigger for fire. Though it let you leave the tip against the working material and move it as firing. So, it is the safer option compared to a gun using bump firing and also offers quick usage.

• Single Auctuation: Just like the single sequential type, it let you bump fire for the first nail and continue your work by placing a safety tip in contact with the surface.

• Full Sequential: This gun works quickly and safely which prevents any accidental discharge. Thus, it is considered the safest option. Here the gun needs to activate the safety tip first and then triggered to drive the nails. Then the safety tip should be disconnected and connected before trigger pulling again.

5.  Switching Firing Modes

For roofing type and framing type of nailers, using switching firing modes will be a hassle. Even the best nailers when you need to switch out triggers for changing its modes. So, various tools offer a tool-free mode change. A few manufacturers use a slide switch or button near the trigger to change its modes. Whereas, electronics are used by most cordless models to control the mode.

In any case, while switching between sequential firing and bump firing modes, make sure your tool is easy to go forward and backwards.

6. Nail Gauge Options

Make sure to check out the nail gun before buying to know what nail gauges will it accommodates. The nail gauge size refers to the nail thickness. A general rule is a nailer with a lower gauge number means it handles a thicker nail. Whereas, a higher gauge number refers to a thinner nail.

15-Gauge, 16-Guage, 18-Guage, & 23-Gauge are some of the most common nail gauge options available for nail guns.

Among them, 16-gauge nails are considered the most versatile size, which makes them a great option to use for different projects. While 15-gauge nails are used to install thick trim and 18-gauge (or higher) nail guns suit perfectly for doing furniture repair, fine detail work, and thin trim work.

7. Nail Gun Angles

Nail gun angle (or) nail collation angle is referred to as the angle that nails are stored or collected in the nail gun’s magazine. Remember that the nail gun angle is not slanted in which the nail gun shoot the nail, it always drives nails straight into a material/surface.

Usually, nail guns offer a range of angles from 15° – 34°, here the angle will tell you about the type of nail heads and the number of nails a nail gun can accommodate. Let’s check out the nail gun angles.

• 15-degree Nail Guns: Hold a large number of full-round head nails that are perfect for doing wall studs, floor joists, and other framing works. Since these full-round head nails need to frame building codes. These guns are heavy that makes overhead work difficult.

• 21-degree Nail Guns: Though they can hold full round head nails, but are lighter and hold fewer nails compared to 15-degree nail guns. This greater angle will even make tight corners easy to access.

• 28-degree Nail Guns: They save space in the magazine by holding the clipped head or offset head nails. These are compact nail guns than 15- or 21-degree angled nail guns. The drawback is that not all building codes let you use this clipped head or offset head nails in their framing works.

• 30-degree Nail Guns: They offer excellent access to tight corners. Their magazines can hold two strips of nails – uses offset head or clipped head nails, which aids in reloading less often.

8. Operating Pressure

It is quite essential to check out the minimum recommended operating pressure (PSI) for a given nail gun before its purchase. Usually, the shorter the nail, the less pressure is required to shoot out them. Similarly, the larger nails need more pressure to drive the nail. Most nail guns operate with a PSI range of 70 – 120.

9. Air Delivery

Generally, pneumatic type nail guns use compressed air for driving nails. For this, it is essential to know the minimum recommended airflow (CFM) needed by a nailer to determine the right air compressor for pairing up with the tool. Since different types of nailers need different CFM values at 90 PSI.

10. Other Features

Here are some additional features that help you to use the nailers with ease and effectively. Take a look at those features and choose them as per your working requirement.

• Large Magazine Capacity: If you are dealing with a large-scale project where you have to use a lot of nails, then a nailer having a large magazine (stores more nails) capacity will be your best companion. A few nail guns come with a magazine to store 110 – 120 nails whereas, other models offer an extra-large storage capacity of 300 – 400 nails. So, check out the magazine capacity based on your project requirement.

• Depth Adjustment: Based on the project/task, nails are driven at different lengths. Thus, it should have precision control while using different nail lengths. Sometimes, it is quite useful for a nail not to be driven fully into the material/surface. Here the depth adjustment will let the nail drive flat into the surface, or else the nail may leave protruding from the surface. The nail (depth) adjustment can be done either by tools or by hands.

• Tool-Less Jam Release: Sometimes, it is quite common for a nail gun to get jammed while doing renovation or construction work. To get rid of this issue, most manufacturers designed nailers that comes in handy with tool-less jam release. This feature will make the gun easy to access and clear away nails (if any) jammed.

• Depth Control Adjustment: Adjusting the depth control of the nail is vital while working with different types of surfaces/materials like thin pieces of wood or hardwood (or) performing a lot of household DIY renovations or construction. Some modern nail gun kits offer an adjustable tool-less depth for a faster adjustment to flush driving nails. A few nailers offer 9-depth settings for accurate flush nail action that can be used for all types of wooden surfaces.

• Nail Gun and Stapler Combination: This feature is quite useful for those to do different jobs like laying carpet, flooring installation or other woodworking jobs. So, having a tool that performs more than a single task is an effective time and money saver. Choose a nail gun model that converts easily into a stable gun in just a couple of minutes that allow you to do flooring nailer to a flooring stapler.

• Low Nail Indicator & Dry Fire Lockout Feature: A low nail indicator is a time-saving feature that indicates when to reload the nails in the magazine. Also, a gun having a dry-fire lockout feature will deter the tool from firing/shooting when the gun runs out of nails. This safety feature is essential to consider while buying a nailer.

• Exhaust: Nail guns come with an exhaust, especially a directional exhaust that let the user direct the exhaust away from the face. Thus, it lessens the risk of inhaling the exhaust and thereby maintain the work area free from particles and other debris.

• Connector Swivels: Connectors are essential when you want to attach a compressor hose to the nail gun. Here a connector swivel will let the connector tube be moved to an exact place to perform the task.

• Nail Adjustment and Sizes: We know that different types of tasks need different nail lengths. So, a nailer with a nail adjustment feature will allow the user to switch the nail size (required) for doing different tasks. Check out this feature to know the nail limitations you face by using your tool.

• Lights: A quite useful feature while working in tight spaces/corners, where it is difficult to observe the lining up of a nail gun. So, a nailer with lights will align the tool effectively and add precision to your task.

• Magazines: The size and location of the magazine are essential to check when selecting a nail gun. Here a nailer with a small magazine capacity refers to frequent refilling of nails, while a model having a larger magazine capacity means spending less time refilling the nails. So, pick the model based on your project requirement.

• Trigger Size: It is just like a bonus for nailer operators and this feature is not seen in all models of nail guns. Some high-end models offer larger triggers, which is ideal that allow the gun to use with gloves and quick up your work.

• Battery Life: Battery life is essential to consider while using portable or cordless nail guns. If you are using this type of nailer, then check out to know how long the battery lasts before it needs to get recharged again. Also, one should know how long the tool takes to charge its battery (or) offering any rapid charging option.

• Hooks: Usually, a hook is a common accessory used to attach the tool to the operator’s belt. Also, they let you attach the gun to the wall. So, a nailer with adjustable hooks works best, as they let you do your work with utmost comfort and they are portable enough to carry around.

• Speed: The speed of a nailer will be determined by the number of nails it drives in a specified time. We generally choose the speed of the tool based on your project requirement.

11. Warranty

Modifying a nail gun may void the warranty and also lacks its proper working. In case, if you are suffering from any such problems, then check the warranty provided by the manufacturer on their product and consult them.

Usually, most manufacturers offer a warranty of a minimum of 1 year on their product and a few offer 2-, 3-, or 5-years warranty on the product. So, check out the model offering the best warranty and customer service. Having a warranty is easy rather than paying for the gun repairs further.

How Does Nail Guns Work?

Though considered as a complex power tool, yet they working function is easy and simple. Here is the detailed process that makes you know all how these nail guns work.

• Any type of nailer requires a power source to operate, as it will let the nail move from the magazine holding nail into the chamber.
• Here the power focus on the nail that has to be driven into the surface/material.
• The safety tip of a nailer needs depression on a surface along with a trigger squeeze to let the gun know how to drive the nail properly into the surface of any material.
• Thus, it is the basic description of the nail gun.

There are some extra features like vents or filters for exhaust, a piston mechanism to move the nail into the chamber when pressed a trigger, or some models that have a depth of drive to control the depth a nail has to be driven into the surface.

Maintenance of Nail Gun

Maintenance will keep the nailers operating smoothly, longevity, and properly. Similarly, if you neglect regular nail gun maintenance, then it will result in serious safety issues, reduces lifespan, and won’t operate properly.

Here are a few tips that help you to maintain a nail gun effectively. But we suggest you go through the user manual to know the manufacturer’s recommendations on the product maintenance.

• Make sure to oil the nail gun before using it, especially to all of its moving parts. This lets the gun have proper lubrication.
• Ensure to lubricate the air fittings daily.
• Perform monthly maintenance of tightening all those screws and bolts, as they may loosen over time. Thus, tightening will help to work them effectively.
• Regular inspection is required for the whole unit to know whether any part is damaged and check out the battery’s expiration date (if using).
• Daily maintenance is required for feed systems, and you can use compressed air to clean the dust and debris from the feed system.
• Check out for any broken parts, particularly for safety issues, which has to be repaired, if not working properly or broken.
• It is essential to remove the power source before performing any maintenance activities. This will reduce the risk of the tool firing/mis-shoot when using.

Safety Tips for Nail Guns

Nail guns if used properly then it is completely safe to operate or else, they may result causing injuries, especially for the hands and fingers of the operator. So, here we are providing some safety guidelines to be followed for the safe and effective usage of nail guns.

• Always wear protective gear that includes work gloves, safety goggles, and shoes. Ensure to wear earmuffs while working with powerful nail guns (either large battery-operated or pneumatic guns), which are quite loud.
• Turn off the nail gun and stop the power supply before loading nails or removing a stuck nail from the gun.
• One should know how to use the nail gun properly along with how to load the nails, how to shoot the nails appropriately, and its safety feature before buying/start using it.
• Avoid carrying the nail gun against your body, as it may cause some injury or poses risk.
• It is a must to turn off the nailer and unplug it thoroughly after you are done using it.
• Use a nail gun in sequential mode rather than bump mode, why because, the sequential mode needs a 2-step process to shoot nails, enhancing a level of safety. Whereas bump mode is faster and mostly used by a construction worker or professional roofer, where they need to work speedily.
• Avoid aiming the nailer at anyone and never use it to fire when someone is behind/holding the material you are dealing with. The reason is that nails can shoot through soft or thin materials may possibly strike someone else on the other side.
• Avoid driving a nail gun near combustible or flammable materials.
• Ensure to keep the hands away from the front part of the nailer. Also, use clamps to hold two wood pieces together for fastening them by using a nailer.
• Keep an eye on the nail gun and move slowly while operating the nail gun. Avoid backup if using a nailer or shoot a nail far above your head or lean far over in either direction while working.
• Check the instruction manual to know the manufacturer’s recommended fasteners while using a nail gun, as fasteners should obey the local building codes and meet the local standards.
• One can find the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the nail gun, along with its safety measures while using it. Follow them to get the utmost safety while shooting nails into the surface/material.

Nail Guns – FAQs

Conclusion

A nail gun is the best alternative to a usual nail and hammer combination. Instead of holding the nail accurately and hammering it for ages, you can simply complete the same task within seconds using a nail gun. So, we have put together a list of best nail guns along with their important characteristics and advantages. We also got you covered with a thorough buying guide that will guide you to the best nail gun made for you. Here are our recommendations for the perfect nail gun if you are having trouble choosing one:

• If you are looking for a budget option, we would suggest you go with the Metabo HPT(NT50AE2) nail gun. In this nail gun, you will notice that even with the minimal price tag, you get the support for an 18 gauge nail size. This nail gun supports the nail length of up to 2 inches, which is ideal for home-usage. Also, it is a pneumatic powered nail gun so that you don’t have to worry about batteries anymore. You will also receive a 5-year warranty period with this nail gun that is more than most of the other options mentioned in this article.
• But, if we are talking about the reliability of the product, the BOSTITCH (RN46) nail gun has a long 7 year warranty period. Another important thing is that this nail gun has 11 gauge nail support, which is important if you are going to use large-sized nails. Although the supported nail length in this nail gun is only up to 1 ¾ inch, it is sufficient for carpentry. The operating pressure range of BOSTITCH (RN46) is 70 to 120 pounds per square inch, which is quite similar to others.
• Lastly, if your primary requirement is the gauge size as well as the nail length, you should go for the NuMax SFR2190 nail gun. This nail gun will give you 12 gauge support for thicker nails that are needed for heavy applications. Also, the supported nail length is the longest at up to 3 ½ inch that will come in handy for thicker wall appliances. The warranty period on this product is only 1 year, but that’s understandable considering all the heavy-duty work.

Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!