Different Types of Nail Guns

Nail guns are essential tools for those who are consistently doing home improvement and DIY projects. These tools have that potential to make your life a lot easier than you think. 

There are many types of nail guns are available in the market, and all of them made for different tasks, but all are essential tools for your home improvement projects.

In this article, we talked about different types of nail guns and their uses.

At first, you need to know that there are two main types of nail guns are available.  They are Battery and air powered. Battery powered nail guns are an example of the latest development, and the reason is they have lithium-ion batteries and updated technology.

But commonly the higher powered and most demanding nailer guns don't have any batteries.  And the reason is, they require massive power for the battery design to do the tasks.  An air compressor is essential to complete most framing and construction related works.

Some of the framing nailers such as Paslode which use a replaceable fuel cell.  This can be your right choice if you need a cordless framing nail gun.  For battery powered nailer, Dewalt could be your right choice.

Now let's know the different types of nail guns and their uses and necessity.

Framing Nailers

A framing nailer used for more significant wood projects such as home construction and as well as deck building.  It uses nails that are 2½" – 3½" long and can either have a round or a clipped head.

These are usually very powerful nailer that built for the industrial type of work.  If you work with heavy duty lumber and making the frames of your house, then you should buy a framing nail gun.

Roofing Nailers

 As its name is Roofing Nailers, so apparently they used for nailing on roofs.   This nail gun consists of nailing down asphalt shingles.

The important thing is we can control the depth at which the roofing gun shoots the nail into the shingle. It called depth-drive adjustment.  

This is very essential, and the reason is shingles are usually soft, and massive power will go through the shingle.  For a reason, the nails have a large flat head by themselves.

These type nailer guns usually come with a coil instead of a straight clip of nails. This will allow you to carry more in one go.

Read Best Roofing Nailer Reviews. 

Finishing Nailers

Finish nailers used for trim, moulding, door jams, cabinetry, and plenty of other light duty woodworking projects.  You can use finishing nailer to make cabinets. Why is it finishing nailer?  Type of nail that it usually uses:

14-16 gauge

1″ to 2½" nails

These nails are smaller than framing nail gun uses typically, but it is small beefier than the brad nailer. This gives the finishing nail gun a little bit more holding power for something like crown moulding which is usually heavy.

These nailers are nowadays available in the market as cordless power tools. Lithium-ion finish nailers are quite popular as the improvements in the technology. So this is great because if you are a DIYer like us, you don't need a nail gun but for a few minutes or seconds out of the whole day. 

From our point of view, finish nailers are not perfect for the beginner woodworker; we would recommend using a brad nailer.

Brad Nailers

We found that Brad Nailers are perfect for beginner woodworkers. They can help you to complete a vast number of woodworking projects along with trim work and as well as general repairing of your sweet homes.  

The nailers provide an excellent holding power.

They have some differences from the finish nail gun in a few other aspects.  Brad Nailers nail rails not angled like the finishing nailers.  The other differences are:

18 gauge nails

½" – 2″ lengths of nail

Pin Nailers

Pin Nailers is the right tool for those who are interested in small woodworking crafts and upholstery. 

Pin Nailer is a step up from small staple guns.

Although this is small in size and it has the less power. Pin Nailer will come in very handy if you have a plan to do a lot of DIY projects for your home.

Pin Nailers are 22 or 23 gauge nails that come with or without a head.  This type of nail gun is the right choice for light woodwork such as making a birdhouse or if you want to make trim or a small crate with panels.

It is an undoubtedly an excellent nail gun to have in anyone's tool repertoire.

Read the Reviews of Best Pin Nail Gun.

The last words

Nails guns are necessary and essential power tools. It will make your life quite easier if you have a plan to do work around your house.

As a new woodworker, I started with the brad nailer before I bought any of the other nail guns. If you don't have a plan for doing some significant and severe roofing or framing out your, then you don't need roofing or framing nail guns.

After buying the brad nailer, you can get the finish and pin nailers as per your need.  You may never need all the nailers, of course, isn't it? 

We hope you have got a smart idea about the different types of nail guns and their uses. Now it's time to choose the best nailers for your projects. Happy shopping.