Best Framing Nailers – Types, How To Choose Best One

FRAMING NAILER BUYING GUIDE

Those days are gone when carpenters or contractors use a hammer and a bunch of nails to accomplish their tasks of framing, sheathing, decking, remodeling houses, or other heavy-duty jobs by spending a ton of time and labor. Nowadays it is clear to all of us that the advantages of using an automatic framing nailer far outweighing the uses of manual hammers.

Framing Nailer already proved itself as a productive and error-free tool. Not limited, the flexibility, swiftness, and responsiveness of robot-like framing nailers is an ideal tool to reduce the risk of work-related incidents, improve job satisfaction, and maximize contractors’ profit.

Consider the outperforming advantages we appear here to provide a detailed guideline on how to choose the best framing nailer for your project.

WHAT IS A FRAMING NAILER?

In the meanwhile, we already got an idea about the definition of a framing nailer. However, for better understanding here we quote the definition from Wikipedia.

“A nail gun, nailgun or nailer is a type of tool used to drive nails into wood or some other kind of material. It is usually driven by compressed air (pneumatic), electromagnetism, highly flammable gases such as butane or propane, or, for powder-actuated tools, a small explosive charge. Nail guns have in many ways replaced hammers as tools of choice among builders.

WHEN SHOULD YOU USE A FRAMING NAILER?

Framing Nail gun is a handy device that you can use in a wide range of heavy-duty as well as smaller woodworks or construction projects like as follows –

TYPES OF FRAMING NAILER

It is essential to know the types of nail guns to select the best device match with your purpose, especially if you are fresh in this line. Framing nailer can be classified in different ways, but the most common types of framing nailers available on the market are

• Pneumatic Framing Nailer – Because of versatility and heavy-duty performance, pneumatic types are the most popular nail gun among contractors. The engineering term ‘Pneumatic’ means to achieve mechanical motion by applying compressed air or inert gases. In the case of the pneumatic nailer, the air compressor turns a piston which then drives a nail with high pressure to fasten two pieces of material.
  Hence, to generate the hammering force in a pneumatic framing nailer, you need a separate machine. That means, if you want to use a pneumatic nail gun, you had to have an air compressor or if not then have to buy it independently.
  However, you need to be careful during the purchase of an air compressor for framing nailer as different guns required a different rate of air-pressure to run. They rated as PSI – pounds per square inch and CMF – cubic feet per minute, which needs to be equal or more than the requirements of a nail gun.
  While a pneumatic nailer can be powerful and capable of heavy-duty tasks, simplicity in design and control, reliable and safe, the compressor and air hose limit the mobility.
• Cordless Framing Nailer – A cordless framing nail gun, powered by battery-fueled offers more prominent movability than a pneumatic model since it doesn’t require an air blower or a hose. So, people who have no compressor or do not like to be attached with a hosepipe all the time, a cordless framing nailer is for those.
  You may wonder that without compressor how it runs. In fact, the principle is the same, instead of a compressor, compression occurred by fuel combustion. Fuel discharged from a disposable gas cartridge into the chamber. A battery provides an electric spark to ignite the fuel. The resulting explosive force drives a nail into the wood.
  There is another version of cordless found in the industry which is entirely powered by a battery, no fuel cell. This type of nailer use 18V or 20V Lithium-Ion battery to drive the motor.
  Though the model has a quick start-up time, however, doesn’t have the equal intensity of a pneumatic nailer.
• Electric Framing Nailer – Electric nailer is operated by a rotating electric motor which gradually compresses a spring to store energy and suddenly releases it. However, this sort of nailer made to perform a small scale of works like brads or staples. Electric framing nail guns are corded – need mains to power means limited mobility. Plus point is you will require no compressor, no fuel-cartridge or battery to charge it.

Once you decide to get a pneumatic framing nailer or a cordless one, yet you have to consider a few more factors to choose the best framing nailer.

WHAT FEATURES SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A FRAMING NAILER?

Power

• The power source is an important aspect that everyone needs to consider before purchase a framing nailer. Because the cost of operation and convenience largely depends on that. Like if you choose air framing nailer, you will get heavy-duty performance, but you have to manage or buy an air compressor additionally which involves in making some initial investment.
• On the other hand, if you choose battery operated nail gun, you will get convenient operation in tight place but have to buy fuel cartridge (if run by fuel combustion) and or charge the battery in a specified interval. We enthusiastically discuss the pros and cons of each framing nailer in our review part to backing you to pick the right one according to your project nature.

Types of Triggers

A trigger in framing a nailer is not only required to choose the actuation mode but also it is an essential safety component. Generally, there are two main types of triggers found in framing nail guns: sequential trigger and contact trigger.

• i) Sequential Trigger –is also known as a single-shot trigger or restrictive trigger or trigger fire mode. In this mode, a framing nailer drives a nail when the safety contact tip depressed against the material, then presses the index finger trigger to release a nail. This method usually used when precision is required. It is also the safest mode as it fire nails when the controls are active in a specific order. However, a certain skill is necessary to operate the nail gun in this mode safely.
• ii) Contact Trigger – is also known as bump trigger, multi-shot trigger, successive trigger, dual-action, touch tip, contact tip, and bottom fire. In this mode, the nail gun drives a nail as soon as the contact tip touches wood or materials. This mode is appropriate for those who need speedy nailing rather than precision. However, this is not a safe way as accidentally a nail can shot out in any direction which causes serious wounds.

During framing nailer review, we found Makita AN923 nailer offers three-mode selector switch instead of dual – contact, sequential, and lock mode for more control over the trigger. So, check the trigger option carefully before making the final decision.

Depth Control System

• We do not need the same depth of drive during nailing. In case of using a hammer, we can fix the range by manually, but that was laborious. So, modern nail guns come with a depth adjustment mechanism that allows you to set the depth of drive or how far a nail goes into the wood. Depends on the brand you can fix it by manually using a wrench or automatically using switches, dials or buttons.
• Contemporary nailers come with Tool-less depth adjustment system which is convenient and easy to use. However, the tool-free mechanism is not as accurate as a manual adjustment system, mainly when you need frequent change. However, due to the continuous improvement of this system, it has become the industry standard nowadays.

Air Pressure

• If you already decided to go with pneumatic one, then you must need an air compressor. Generally, we use framing nailer in different wood construction, and wood finishing works. Based on work nature we have to select various lengths and depth of nails. A nail how much goes through a material is depends on how much pressure you applied.
• Usually, air pressure measured by pound per square inch (psi) and to drive a 2 to 3½ inch nail with a framing nailer correctly it required max 130 PSI and 3 CFM air volume.

Magazine Angle

• The degrees between the nailer head and the magazine is known as a magazine angle. However, this angle doesn’t affect the direction at which the nail discharges from the head. Usually, we hold the head flush of the nail gun against the material surface and drive nails perpendicularly into that. Hence, the purpose of angling the magazine is entirely saved the space or made the nailer suitable to work in a tight area.
• In our review part, we observed that most of the framing nailer angle is exist somewhere between zero and 34 degrees. Among this range 21, 28, and 30 – 34 degrees are the most common. The steeper the angle allows you to work in a more tight space it is.
• The heavy-duty pneumatic nailers that suitable to fastening 2 to 3½ inches nails are usually 21 degrees magazine angle. This angle magazine can hold a maximum number of nails besides saving 15 percent horizontal space compare to zero angles. Also, a 21-degree framing nailer is perfect to drive around head nails instead of the clipped head which is banned by many local building codes.
• You may think that the 28-degree magazine angle will allow you more room to work in a compact space. Yes, you are right, but in that instance, you will not get the same strength as like 21 degrees due to the complex driving mechanism. Therefore, in any of your lighter projects like interior carpentry where space saving is more important than power 28 or 30-34 degree nailer is best. Usually, we see that cordless nailer is using 30-34 degree magazine to make them lightweight and compact.

Magazine Style

• Stick and Coil, these are the two major types available in the market. The magazine-style largely depends on the purpose and types of nails which you are going to use.

i) Coil Style Magazine
In this fashion, the nails are held together by the use of two thin wires that loads into a round feeder of a nailer. Usually, it can hold large capacity nails which can save your time of reload.

ii) Stick Style Magazine:
In the stick-style nailer, utilize an extended flat magazine that holds a single line of nails. The nails are confined together by wire, plastic or paper strips. The straight magazine of nails slides into a feeder area on the framing nailer near the nose.

 Jam Clearing

• Modern framing nailers designed such a way that the chances of getting jam are very less. However, occasionally a nail goes out of alignment and stuck the nailer. Previously, the framer’s need to clear the jam by manually with the help of tools. Modern nail gun reduces that hassle and facilitate tool-free jam clearing mechanism. So, during purchase check what the system is.

Anti-Dry Fire

• Anti-dry fire is the latest technology in framing nailers which prevents firing when there is limited or no nails in it. This feature is useful as it saves the tools and the working surface from the possible damages. It is also a great feature that helps to prevent jamming in a great extent. Check that this feature has in your tools or not during go for a new one.

Rafter Hook

• Imagine that you need to climb up with a nail gun or may need to free your both hand during framing or truss building job. If your framing nailer has a rafter hook, you can quickly hook it up with your belt or hang on a rafter. So, having a rafter hook with your device is a plus point.

Contact Tip

• Some framing nailers accompany diverse sorts of contact tips. For example, the nailgun may have a no-mar tip that prevents the tool from leaving marks on the working surface. Another form is the positive placement tip which allows you to nail precisely on metal pieces, for example, metal joists.
• Contact tip also has a significant role in differentiating two actuation modes of framing nailers. Different contact tip keeps different effect on nailing. For example, some types of contact tips are – Pointed, Spiked, No-mar, Exposed, Interchangeable, metal connector, and so forth.

WHICH PARAMETERS SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BEFORE SELECTING NAILS?

During choose the best framing nailer, besides considering the above points, it is equally essential to think about what sort of nails it will use. Different nail guns designed for different types of nails – some for straight magazines or cartridges, others for round or coil magazines, some nails are joined together with paper; others may gather with plastic or wire.

Nail length

Selecting the type of nail guns depending entirely on project nature. Likewise, the length of the nail depends on the kind of job. So, there is a thumb rule – choose the nail gun by taking it into consideration the application and nail size. As different nail guns designed to shoot different lengths of nails. For example, brad nailers can shot 3/8 to 1¼ inches nails which most suitable for interior woodworking jobs. On the other side, a framing nailer typically can shot 2 to 3½ inches nails which makes it ideal for framing as well as other hefty carpentry jobs.

Nail Diameter Range

Similar to the length, the diameter of the nails also depends on the job nature. If you want to do interior carpentry work, the long or fat nail may split the wood. Likewise, for framing works thin and short length nail would not be a good solution. The available framing nail guns on the market usually support 0.113 to 0.148 diameter nails (that is 16D, 12D, 8D, and 6D) to drive smoothly

Nail Angle

Nail angle, framing nailer angle or magazine angle, are all the same and describe as a degree between the nails and the horizontal surface of a workpiece. Usually, we see four different angles of nails – 21, 28, 30, and 34-degree on the market. The most used nail angle is 21 degrees. However, check the magazine angle of your framing nailer before purchase nails.

 Nail Head Type

The head is the top part of a nail where we hit with a hammer or in case of framing nailer, the driver stocks on this part. Though, there found many types of nail heads, the most common are the round-head and clipped-head among those.

• Clipped head nails – comes with little-trimmed head and always collated with a stick. It allows the shank of the nail to attaches each other tightly. Thus, it can load up to 30% more nails than the round head.
  Building codes of many states do not support to use clipped head nails, because there is a perception that the fastening capacity is not as strong as like round head. However, there is no significant difference in holding power between round-head and clipped-head as the shank of the nail covers the maximum task.
• Roundhead nails – comes with a circular head design and looks like an ordinary one that you see in most of the hardware stores nearer you. In the arena of framing nailers, all coil nails must be round head nails, but all stick nails are not necessarily round head.

Plastic Collated Nails

Plastic Collated Nails are the budget variant option among collated nails. Usually, the manufacturer uses the most inexpensive quality plastic to make them. When pressing the trigger, bits of plastic fly around the job site or into the framing nail gun user.

• Pros: Generally used for 20 – 22 degree and 15-degree collations, most economical type of collated nail
• Cons: Easily breakable and the most prone to damage, more susceptible to jamming nail guns, holds fewer nails than other collations.

Wire-weld Collated Nails

Wire-weld Collated Nails are collated together with a thin wire to the side of each nail by tack-welding. The benefit of this process is to keep the nails in proper alignment and make them impervious with the impact of weather and job-site abuse. This collation mostly used in case of coiled nails.

• Pros: No chance of getting wet and damaged by moisture, there is no effect of hot or cold temperature; very durable in stick form as well as in coil form
• Cons: Prone to dwindling; rebounding bits of metal chips are dangerous; expensive than plastic

How To Oil A Framing Nailer?

A framing nailer is a combination of many small parts like piston ring assembly. During running, they are come in contact with each other and create friction. Proper lubrication will act as a cushion between them and increase the part’s efficiency as well as save from quick wear out. Thus, it helps to improve the life of a nailer.

To keep your framing nailer working smoothly, you have to oil it daily, if possible twice a day. Apply oil regularly will also reduce the chances of a misfire. Fortunately, lubricating the tool is a breeze. Here’s what to do:

Tips

• Don’t use car oil or other machine oil – there is specific pneumatic oil available on the market for a framing nailer. There are two versions of pneumatic oils, one for the winter season and another for regular use segregated based on viscosity. Always use specific oil recommended for the pneumatic tools.
• Preferably apply it daily – once before starting the job in the morning and secondly in the afternoon to keep your cylinder lubricated to moving smoothly.