A nail gun, also known as a nailer, is a power tool that drives nails into wood or other materials quickly and efficiently, using compressed air, electricity, or even gas as a power source.
In this reading, we’ll explore what a nail gun is, its function, diagram, types, and benefits.
Let’s get started!
What Is A Nail Gun?
A nail gun is a power tool that shoots nails into a target material instead of using a hammer swing. Typically, it is powered by electromagnetism, butane or propane, a small explosive charge for powder-actuated instruments, or compressed air (pneumatic). It could hold 400 to 600 nails.
In many ways, nail guns have taken the role of hammers as a preferred tool for builders. The nail gun was created by Morris Pynoos, who had a background in civil engineering and had previously worked on Howard Hughes’ Hughes H-4 Hercules, also known as the Spruce Goose. They nailed and glued the wooden fuselage together, then took the nails out.
In 1950, the first nail gun was released into the market, using air pressure to speed up the installation of subfloors and sheathing for home floors. An operator could stand and use the original nail gun to drive 40 to 60 nails per minute.
Function Of A Nail Gun
The function of the nail gun, often called a nailer, is to allow you to quickly and effectively drive brads or nails into different materials and objects. A nail gun essentially allows you to complete tasks faster than a hammer.
Roofing contractors find them particularly useful because they drive nails through roofing shingles much faster and with less fatigue and strain than hammers. Carpenters also use nail guns frequently when framing or laying subfloors.
Diagram Of A Nail Gun
Related: What is a Drilling Machine? Its Diagram, Types and Specifications
Types Of Nail Guns
It is important to understand more about various types of nail guns and when to use them because not all of them are suitable for every task. You can better grasp the situations that each type of nail gun is ideal for by grasping the differences between them. Here are the common types of nail guns:
Framing Nail Gun
A framing nail gun is a powerful tool that carpenters use mostly for joining big wooden pieces to create frames for walls. The framing nail gun is commonly used with 2x4s or 2x6s for a variety of carpentry tasks, and it can drive nails up to 3.5 inches long.
When it comes to building drywall framework, hanging fence boards, or installing a deck in the yard, framing nail guns are an excellent tool. Choose the framing nail gun that is most suited to your needs—a corded model, a cordless one, or a pneumatic one. If using a pneumatic nail gun is more your style, just make sure you have an air compressor.
Staple Nail Gun
The staple gun is a type of nail gun that is designed to drive heavy-duty staples rather than nails. These nailers are ideal for upholstery repair or carpet installation because a standard nail gun nail may slip or tear through the material.
You can also use these staple guns for light-duty carpentry tasks, such as installing wood paneling or constructing a birdhouse. Additionally, you can use these tools to safely attach electrical wires to baseboards, walls, or ceilings using the proper staples.
Siding Nail Gun
A siding nail gun is used to attach pieces of siding, as the name suggests. When installing siding, the nailer uses nails that are 1.5 to 2.5 inches long. While you can apply siding with a framing nail gun, a siding nailer is a better tool because of its smaller magazine and smaller nails.
Furthermore, siding nailers are lighter than framing nail guns, which means that you will not get tired of them as quickly. You should think about the potential uses of a siding nail gun before deciding whether a corded, cordless, or pneumatic model would be more effective.
Hardwood Nail Gun
Hardwood nail guns use special nails called cleats. The L-shaped or T-shaped head of a cleat makes it easy to identify it. Pneumatic or manual hardwood nail guns use air pressure to push the cleats through the hard hardwood.
When putting a cleat into a hardwood nailer, the user must strike the driver head, in contrast to other nail guns. The force needed is based on the length of the cleat and the density of the hardwood being installed. It should come as no surprise that driving longer cleats or working with denser wood requires more force.
Brad Nail Gun
Brad nail guns are similar to finish nailers in that they are usually used for installing molding and trim inside, but the fine 18-gauge nails are not appropriate for larger molding pieces. You can use a brad nailer to attach thin wood panels to the back of cabinets or use these tiny nails for lightweight trim.
Having one of these lightweight nail guns on hand is a lifesaver, particularly when you are painting the house and need to reinstall the baseboards and trim instead of hammering in 18-gauge nails by hand. Compared to the holes made by a finish nailer, the tiny nails hardly leave any hole at all, making them more straightforward to cover.
Finish Nail Gun
Finish nail guns can use 15 and 16 gauge nails to secure larger finishing pieces, such as molding, baseboards, window trim, and door trim, because they are slightly larger than brad nailers. Like other nail guns on this list, finish nailers come in a range of alternatives depending on personal preference. These options include corded, cordless, and pneumatic.
Finish nail guns are used because the 15 and 16 gauge nails are more resistant to withdrawal and have greater holding power than brad nails. But these nails also create more noticeable holes in the trim, so it takes more work to fill them up.
Roofing Nail Gun
Roofing nail guns are versatile tools for driving 0.75-inch to 1.75-inch nails through roofing shingles and securing them to the roof. These nailers are also suitable for waterproof tar paper, fiber cement, vinyl, insulation boards, and some thin siding.
Roofing nailers typically come with a coil or canister magazine that can hold more nails, allowing you to spend more time working on the roof and less time reloading, unlike many nail guns that use a magazine that arranges the nails in a straight line.
Palm Nail Gun
A palm nailer is a unique kind of nail gun designed especially for driving nails in tight areas that are inaccessible to hammers or even other nail guns. As the name suggests, palm nailers are rounded and fit into the palm of your hand rather than having a straight handle that protrudes vertically from the nailer’s tip.
They can fit in small spaces because they are so short, but the nail gun does not have a magazine to hold more than one nail, so the user has to put in one nail at a time. It is important to note, however, that this is a specialized tool and might not be required for your tasks.
Pin Nail Gun
Small pin nailers use 23-gauge nails, which look like pins. These tiny nails limit the amount of pressure applied to delicate wood pieces and virtually leave no trace, making them ideal for furniture and cabinetry construction.
If you need to install narrow molding or trim and are concerned about splitting the wood with a larger gauge of nail, consider using a pin nail gun. You should only use these pins for lightweight materials because they are very tiny and have little gripping strength or resistance to withdrawal.
Benefits Of A Nail Gun
A nail gun offers several benefits in several applications it is being used for:
Speed Up Work
A nail gun is the best option if you want to finish the task more quickly. Even the most skilled construction workers can not match the speed of a nail gun when it comes to driving nails into wood. When all the wood is in position, a nail gun can drive three nails in the time it takes a professional to manually hammer one. Therefore, nothing compares to the speed and accuracy of a nail gun if you want to accelerate the building process.
Complete Tasks Efficiently
Accurate nailing is crucial when working on a construction project and, if done incorrectly, can seriously compromise the strength of a structure. The ability of nail guns to complete tasks with accuracy and precision is arguably their most significant benefit. This not only improves an object’s structural integrity but also significantly increases the level of one’s craftsmanship.
More power
A nail gun will always generate a lot of power as long as the nail tip is positioned correctly because it operates on pressurized force. It usually takes two or three hits to get the nail in when nailing by hand into wood or other materials. But with the strength and power that a nail gun offers, a nail can pierce the material with a single blow.
Improved Safety
It makes sense that a lot of people are worried about the safety risks associated with using nail guns on construction sites. While it is necessary to adhere to safety procedures when using a nail gun, it is very unlikely that you will sustain an injury. You do not need to use your fingers to hold the nails in place, which is one reason why these tools are considered to be safe.
Durability
If you’re looking for a durable tool, a nail gun is the perfect choice. Nail guns are made to last and can handle most conditions, like being left outside in the rain or being dropped from a roof. One of the many benefits that make nail guns so well-liked is their durability.
Nail-Free
Carrying everything required to complete a task can be challenging, whether you are working on a construction site or a do-it-yourself project at home. But you do not need to bring nails with you if you have a nail gun. This not only helps you finish the task more quickly, but it also makes your job a little bit easier and lightens your tool belt.
FAQs
What are 5 safety rules for nail guns?
- Check Before Shooting.
- Put on your PPE
- Regularly inspect compressor air pressure and drain.
- Point carefully, avoid triggers, and unplug when not in use.
- Avoid Interfering with Safety Features.
What are some interesting facts about the nail gun?
The first air-pressure nail gun was introduced in 1950 to speed up housing floor sheathing and subfloor construction. The original nail gun allowed the user to nail 40 to 60 nails per minute while standing. It could hold between 400 and 600 nails.
How often should you check your nail gun?
Constant use can cause vibration, which can cause a nail gun’s bolts and screws to come loose. It is advised that you perform these kinds of inspections roughly once per month because these will need to be tightened on a regular basis.
Why do nail guns stop working?
Jam or Obstruction: Check the nail magazine and the hammer’s path for any stuck nails or things that could get in the way. Perhaps clearing away any debris or stuck nails will fix the issue.
How many nails can a nail gun hold?
They can typically hold two complete nail strips, each with up to 80 nails. The strong paper tape holding these clips together reduces job site mess and makes working in tight corners safer.