A construction or remodeling project is complete once the final touches are applied. That's why having access to a finish nail gun is crucial. Investing in quality nail guns is a great way to ensure that your doors, windows, cabinets, trim boards, and moldings always look their best. But if you have the wrong nail gun, it can delay your progress and even ruin your efforts entirely.
With so many options available, how can you decide? With this convenient review, you’ll be able to select the perfect finish nail gun for any of your upcoming or current projects.
What’s a Finish Nail Gun?
A finish nail gun is compact and uses thinner -gauge nails. Nails between 15 and 16 gauge are often used. A heavier gauge finish nailer provides a maximum holding power. This causes the nail holes to be slightly more noticeable, but they are easily fixed with wood putty. This should be your go-to nail gun if you're working on wood projects involving heavier trims.
Pneumatic
With a pneumatic nailer, compressed air is used to create the hammering force, which is produced by an external air compressor. Compared to manual nailing, the pneumatic nail gun enables operators to be more precise and work at higher output levels while experiencing less tiredness. Due to its heavy-duty performance, professionals tend to favor pneumatics.
Cordless
Cordless finish nailers are far more practical. However, they do have their drawbacks. For example, gas nailers need disposable fuel cells, which means ongoing expenses, and bothersome shop runs during projects. And while battery-powered nailers have a longer battery life, they are substantially heavier than smaller pneumatic guns. The cordless alternative is ideal for residential use and minor DIY projects.
Straight
This nailer employs a spring-loaded magazine system that exerts pressure on the nails and, after firing, mechanically reloads a nail into the chamber. With a straight finish nailer, the magazine is parallel to the surface being nailed. Nails driven with straight finish nailers can only be driven in a straight line.
Angled
The magazine of an angled finish nailer is set at an angle from the nailer's head. The steeper the angle, the higher the number, therefore angled finish nailers include 201-degree and 34-degree nailers. Compared to a straight finish nailer, the angled version may be maneuvered into more compact areas, thereby expanding the tool's usefulness. At a steeper angle, the nailer takes up less space.
Top Rated Finish Nailers
Whether you’re looking for the best cordless finish nail gun or a reliable pneumatic nailer, we’ve put together our top picks of finish nailers that could elevate your project to a whole new level.
DEWALT Finish Nail Gun
This cordless finish nailer runs entirely on batteries. The nailer's long life is thanks to its brushless motor, built with sturdy parts. It contains a trigger with two nail firing modes: sequential and contact actuation. You can choose between these two formats based on the work or project you are working on.
For accurate countersinking of nails, it also has a tolless depth of drive adjustment. The tool-free jam effectively clears nail jams. The lever immediately resets the driving blade in the event of a jam.
Metabo HPT Finish Nail Gun
With nails ranging from 1-1/4 inch to 2-1/2 inch, this nailer is of the highest caliber. With a simple switch flip, you can quickly switch between sequential and contact nailing. This characteristic distinguishes this nailer from others. Additionally, it is relatively lightweight at only 4.2 lbs. Therefore, this finish nailer is more manageable and reduces user fatigue.
Ryobi Finish Nailer
The Ryobi nailers have a switch on the back that you can use to increase the nail depth. This nailer is activated by pressing a button. Dry fire lockout feature reduces the possibility of dry firing. By using the knobs on these nailers, you can adjust the depth of your nails. In addition, nail jams can be removed by flipping out the nailer's front end.
Find Premium Quality Nails at Fastener USA
Choose only high-quality items from Fastener USA for the broadest assortment of stainless steel finish nails available. We exclusively offer premium, long-lasting stainless steel nails in practical MiniPak, TrimPak, Box, and Variety pack options. We put a lot of effort into keeping up with technological advancements and the construction sector to fulfill your needs better as materials and methods change.
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