Best Framing Nailers are heavily used in everyday construction activities. This equipment increases the efficiency of a skilled worker by substituting mechanical work.
Nailers are best known for being essential household equipment too. The Majority of carpentry works that require fixing using nails can be done using these framing nailers. While choosing the best framing nailer for your purpose, prioritize your selection based on the level of portability possible, limitations with clip-headed nails, and additional features.
Here, we bring you a curated list of 5 best framing nailers that can you can purchase online and can be delivered to your doorstep. We have conducted a thorough review of each of these nailers to highlight their merits and pain points, as well.
How To Select The Best Framing Nailers?
#1 Choose Your Type of Nailer
When it comes to commercially available nailers, there are two kinds of them.
- Pneumatic framing nailers
- Cordless framing nailers
- Gas nailers
Pneumatic framing nailers tend to be heavier than cordless ones. Pneumatic nailers have a separate air compressor equipment attached to the piston, which is driven by the compressive action from the air compressor.
Cordless nailers offer the advantage of portability to multiple places of your work. Be it your everyday home, a weekend cabin, or a holiday camp. You are not constrained by the availability of electricity to operate your portable nailer. Air compressors seldom operate cordless nailers. Instead, they rely on rechargeable batteries and fuel pellets, as well.
Gas nailers are the costlier option among the three. They do not rely on air compressors to power. Gas-powered nailers are powered by fuel cells and batteries.
#2 Nail-type That Go with The Nailer
Some of the best framing nailers are compatible with specific types of nails. The number of nails each nailer can hold in its cartridge is a good guideline while selecting a nailer for your purpose. Few nailers offer a circular cartridge compared to the rest. This factor is more of a personal choice when it comes to completing your project with the best framing nailer. The local building bodies in your state control the use of typical nails such as round or clipped nails.
#3 Firing Action of The Nailer
This is one of the most important aspects to consider while selecting the best framing nailer. One should understand the need for it in their project, before choosing the nailer offering one or more firing methods. Bump firing and individual firing are the broad classifications of firing actions from nailers.
Bump firing allows one to shoot nails one after the other swiftly. In bump firing, the firing action is uncontrolled and quick, compared to the other. The level of accuracy with this firing action is less.
In individual firing, the pace is controlled, and it allows a single nail to be shot after performing a particular sequence on the equipment. This firing method prevents bump firing and offers an increased level of safety to the user.
Technically, there are two types of triggers. One type lets you shoot multiple nails. The other type shoots a single nail at a time. The contractors need to inspect the labels on the tool and manual for the specialized names firing methods. The chances are that they would match with the conventional trigger mechanisms.
#4 Degrees of Freedom
Knowledge of this factor, while selecting your nailer, plays a vital role in de-stressing your hands after prolonged use of a nailer. Usually, brands stick with a particular degree system in their whole products’ set. There are three types of degree system for nailers.
- 21 degree
- 28 degree
- 30/34 degree
Nailers offering 21 degrees of freedom are manufactured in tandem with the nail clip’s inclination. In such nailers, both the head as well as the clip is aligned using a plastic sheet. Nailers offering 28 degrees of freedom is suitable for people working in constrained spaces. They comprise a cable that ensures the correct position of the nail, thereby providing great accuracy with inclination.
The 30/34-degree nailers are lightweight and utilize a complete nail head.
#5 Safety Associated with Using Nailers
Research done by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the USA shows that thousands of nail-gun related injuries are reported every year. A careful perusal of the governance codes, usage instructions, observance of safety rules, and a prudent approach while handling nailers are paramount to reducing such cases year on year.
The use of bump mode for triggering is seldom welcome amongst the professionals as this mode is uncontrolled and elicits safety concerns to those who are present in the vicinity of the nail gun. It is recommended to utilize full-sequence fire mode in nailers when you are operating in your household for preventing injuries.
Sufficient training has to be taken before using a nail gun. Parents should curb unsupervised usage, especially by children and teenagers, as they are prone to careless use and possible, painful injuries. Each model would come with its instructions on usage. One should go through this paperwork before getting started on the usage.
It is an unsaid rule, in safety, to wear personal protective equipment such as protective glasses, rubber gloves, insulated clothing, and safety shoes while you are operating a framing nailer.
If an injury has occurred, one should seek medical help in the shortest time possible. Unwanted blood loss could be avoided. Those who are knowledgeable can administer first-aid measures.
#1 Bostitch F21PL
[earnist ref=”bostitch-framing-nailer-round-2″ id=”2487″]
Traditional powerhouse nailers used to be excruciatingly heavy for prolonged use. Compensating power meant you would get a lightweight nailer that delivered sub-optimal power output. With Bostitch F21PL, this trade-off is solved. Now you do not have to sacrifice your power requirement because of the excessive weight of your nailer. At 9 lbs., F21PL does not give you cramps after prolonged hours of usage. This nailer also satisfies the power requirement.
Pros
- Softer grip for handling
- Wider magazines for storage of nails
- Accurate control of the depth
- Interchangeable nose parts
- Economical option
Cons
- Few nails seem to go out of the target
- Chances of misfiring
- The nails seem to get stuck once in a while
#2. Max CN890F2
[earnist ref=”max-cn890f2superframer-framing” id=”2085″]
Max CN890F2 is a pretty-useful nailing gun and even works wonders in nailing concrete or steel. This model offers bang for the buck spent and is lightweight to aid prolonged usage. They are particularly efficient for bump triggering and have a reasonable strike rate. The framing nailer is the best when it comes to household applications such as nailing wood or plywood.
Pros
- The lightest nailer from the list
- Made of lightweight alloys
- Provides a maintenance-free cap filter
- Well written manuals
- Has single fire mode and bump fire mode
- Includes an air shield to prevent the air from blowing on your face, and the air blows towards the front. This lets you clear a few sawdust from the work area
- Less recoil
Cons
- Costly option
- Few user reviews say the nailer broke down after six months
- Being lightweight, the nailer could be prone to rough use
#3 NuMax SFR2190
[earnist ref=”numax-sfr2190-pneumatic-21-deg” id=”2088″]
SFR2190 is a no-nonsense nailer that can be used for household applications, plywood, wooden plates, fencing, and placement of flooring sheets. Numax’s offering provides dual modes of triggering. It has a special function to adjust the depth for the application of nails. This can come in handy while building foam-work that needs to be taken apart after some time.
This nailer may be used for stopping the cover-up of heads of lightweight nails. The nailer provides a safe adjustment to achieve this, which is tricky at times. The nailer works like a charm for most of the household applications. Care has to be taken to utilize the appropriate air compressor for the job, along with the correct type of nails.
Pros
- Value for your Money
- Easy to use
- Sturdy performance
- The cheapest nailer which offers excellent value
- Aggressively priced
Cons
- Not a heavy-duty nailer
- Has an only 1-year limited warranty
- A chance for nails to get stuck
- Getting the adjustment for burying nail heads is difficult for a beginner
#4 Hitachi NR90AES1
[earnist ref=”hitachi-nr90aes1-framing-naile” id=”2090″]
The NR90AES1 sports Hitachi’s generation 2.0 design element. The nailer is adequate for power-hungry applications, and heavy-duty projects. Its air compression strength is between 75 and 125 PSI. The nailer can hold close to 65 nails in its arsenal. It is easier to do maintenance on this nailer as it, now, comes with a detachable head. The nailer does not use a tool for measuring the depth accurately.
Being a pneumatic powerhouse, the NR90AES1 does not use batteries or fuel cells. The nailer has a rubberized handle for excellent grip and a 21 degree angled cartridge. The nailer also provides for bump and single firing modes.
Pros
- One of the best nailers money can buy
- Well-thought safety aspects
- Powerful performance
- Handles heavy-duty applications with excellent precision and finishing
- Offers multiple firing modes
- A huge number of nails can be stored in magazines
- Provides a modular design approach
Cons
- Expensive
- Comparatively heavy
- Not portable for practical reasons
- Plastic collated nails
- Absence of a rafter hook
#5 Paslode – 905600
[earnist ref=”paslode-905600-cordless-xp-fra” id=”2092″]
Paslode is an American company, originated in Illinois, making pneumatic and cordless nailers. This nailer is super portable and affordably lightweight. It is not a pneumatic nailer. The 905600 was released in the market as an early bird that adopted the cordless technology. Li-ion batteries and fuel cells power the nailer.
Contrary to pneumatic variants, there is a slight delay in triggering this model. It is not a deal-breaker, considering the sufficient power output and the level of convenience offered by the nailer. Compared to the latter model, each magazine can hold about 1100 nails.
Paslode does not give a bump-firing mode in its nailer. This is one of its demerits. However, it is mind-blowingly lightweight for a nailer. But it does not compromise on the power or function. It does not get beaten by any other similar grade conventional, pneumatic framing nailer. The nailer offers better angling for nailing on to the wood surface.
Pros
- Good build quality
- Good trigger power
- God accuracy while nailing
- Perfect for toenailing
- Good control on recoil
- Portable
Cons
- The most expensive among the lot
- Needs an additional power source
- Bump fire mode is absent
- Gas emission would be a deal-breaker for some
Conclusion
The use of framing nailers becomes prominent in both the household carpentry work and large-scale assignments such as cutting timber, siding, making sheaths, and making furniture. Heavy-duty nailers are used in industrial applications that include ceramic sheets, steel plates, and hardwood. As a rule of thumb, the maximum length of nails that a normal framing nailer would accommodate is 3.5 inches.
Several manufacturers offer custom head framing nailers. Most of the nailers need to adhere to the local building codes. If you want to circumvent the codes for your building needs, you can use circular head framing nailers instead of clipped ones.
Safety is of paramount importance while operating nail guns. Unforeseen nail shoot can inadvertently lead to workplace fire. The shot nails can protrude from the logs of wood and can prove fatal to the personnel.
