Source: medium.com
Nailers have revolutionized the construction industry by making the process of joining two pieces of material together easier and faster. They do away with the necessity for hard physical labor and hours of time required to hammer nails manually while building houses and commercial property or repairing them.
With the help of a nailer, you can hold the material together with one hand and pull the trigger with the other making, what used to be a two-man job now, for one person. Have you ever wondered which could be the best framing nailer in the market? Here’s a detailed review to help you choose the best.
How To Choose The Best Framing Nailer – Buyer Guide
Source: medium.com
You can buy a framing nailer at any of your local hardware stores or home improvement stores. But if you want to get the best deals, you could visit online sites where there will be huge discounts by the dealers themselves.
A framing nailer is used mainly for larger jobs like framing, decking, fencing, etc. to drive nails quickly and more efficiently and there are many types of nailers to choose from the wide varieties available in the market. The choice of the best one depends on what it’s going to be used for. So, the points to be remembered before you buy are:
- The size and shape of the nailer will depend on the user’s comfort, but a lightweight nailer is easier to work with especially while working for long periods of time and for overhead usage.
- The nailer needs to be made of a durable and strong material to ensure that it lasts in a rough construction environment.
- A nailer with an easy to use depth adjustment mechanism, having an ability to use various sizes and types of nails and a jam clearance mechanism, is easier to use and more functional. Also, buy nailers that accommodate round headed nails as these are required in some states to satisfy building code regulations.
- The nailer should come with a protective guard to prevent injuries caused by flying debris.
- Some nailers also have built in debris cleaners.
See our reviews on the best UTV winches.
There are also choices to be made between
- Coil or Stick magazine loading guns: Stick magazines are nails stacked in a row, held together by plastic, wire or paper strips whereas coil magazines are wrapped in a roll. A coil magazine holds more nails at one time.
- Pneumatic or Cordless: A cordless nailer is powered by a battery, whereas a pneumatic nailer is powered by an air compressor connected to a power source. A cordless nailer is best for use in home projects and for getting into difficult places where a cord will not reach. But for a prolonged professional use, the pneumatic one is better. But remember for a pneumatic nailer you need to invest in an air compressor separately. Check the rating of your nailer for PSI (air pressure is measured in pounds per square inch) requirement before buying the compressor.
- You also have various degrees of nail penetration – 21 degrees, 28 degrees and 30-34 degrees being most common.
Top 3 Best Framing Nailers Comparison Table
Image | Model | Rating | Price |
 | Bostitch F21PL Framing Nailer | 8.8/10 | Check Price |
 | Paslode 902600 Framing Nailer | 9.4/10 | |
 | Hitachi NV75AG Framing Nailer | 9.2/10 |
Top 3 Best Framing Nailer Reviews
#1 – Bostitch F21PL Framing Nailer – The Best Value for Money
** Editor’s Choice – Best Framing Nailer **
BOSTITCH F21PL Round Head 1-1/2-Inch to 3-1/2-Inch Framing Nailer with Positive Placement Tip and Magnesium Housing
The Bostitch F21PL Positive Placement Magnesium Framing Nailer is made by Bostitch in the USA. It is one of the bestselling nailers.
Durability
It is made of magnesium which is durable and lightweight. It has rubber grips and rubber skid pads for more control and comfort for prolonged use. It is a powerful pneumatic nailer with a driving power of 1,050in./lbs which is the one of the highest in its weight class. It uses an air pressure of 80 to 120 pounds per square inch.
Versatility
It has a high capacity stick magazine loader which allows for up to 60 nails to be loaded at one go. It has a sequential and bump trigger for greater control over the nailing action. It also has a tool-less push button depth adjustment mechanism. It is very versatile, able to use nails from 1.5 to 3.5 inches. It uses 21-degree nails which are the most popular nails in framing. You can use both the plastic collator nails or metal connector nails.
It has been designed to be two nailers in one without losing power. It comes with 2 nose pieces to be able to work with metal connectors and framing applications. These nose pieces can be switched quickly and easily. It also can use round headed nails for those places where they are needed according to building code regulations.
Usability
It is a relatively compact tool with dimensions of 23 x 16 x 6 inches. Its weight of 8.1 pounds makes it lightweight and so easy to carry and use. It comes with a 16-inch layout indicator right to the magazine to ensure correct distances between nails.
Some users have complained that unless the nose is pressed at the correct angle, the gun does not fire. Another problem is that the manual has been designed with professionals in mind and all the technical jargon used makes it difficult for a first time user to understand.
Warranty
The 7-year warranty given by this company is one of the longest in the market.
Affordability
It is one of the lowest priced framing nailers, but it has most of the features of a high-end model and some feature which even the high-end models do not have. Its versatile design and powerful drive make this the best value for money framing nailer in the market today.
To see the current price of the Bostitch F21PL framing nailer click here
#2 – Paslode 902600 Framing Nailer – The Best Cordless Framing Nailer
Paslode 902600 CF325Li Lithium Ion Cordless Framing Nailer
The Paslode 902600 CF325Li Lithium Ion Cordless Framing Nailer is manufactured by Paslode, a division of Illinois Tool Works.
Durability
It is a cordless nailer which is powered by a Lithium Ion battery which has an average life of 5 hours. At full charge it can fire up to 6000 nails and even with a charge of 2 mins can fire 200 nails. This is 50% higher than any other cordless nailer in the market. So it can be used for both for a heavy duty job or for an occasional home improvement project. It takes about two hours for the battery to be fully charged. It has a speed of 2 nails per second. It is made of high-grade ABS plastic. It is a compact tool with dimensions of 17 x 17 x 5 inches
Versatility
It is cordless, therefore portable and so can be used in difficult conditions. It is especially useful when you have power issues at the construction site. It comes with a nose piece for toe- nailing at various angles. It has an easy to operate tool-less depth adjustment mechanism which does not require the use of a wrench. It comes with a wrench for clearing any jams.
Usability
Weighing in at 7.25 pounds with the battery, it is one of the lightest nailers in the market making it easier to carry around the job. It may have a lightweight, but it is a heavy duty nailer which can tolerate any construction environment. It comes in a blow molded case which has well-labeled compartments for easy transport and storage. It also comes with an adjustable hook for hanging it to your tool belt.
The one problem with the product is its smaller magazine size of only 48 nails and also allows for only one clip to be loaded at one time. This means a higher number of reloads while using in a professional situation. It is also one of the noisiest nailers in the market; you will need to invest in a good pair of ear defenders. You may need to order a spare battery for use in a professional setting.
Warranty
It comes with a one year warranty and a five-year limited warranty.
Affordability
The price is one of the more expensive in the market, but it is one of the best cordless framing nailers.
To see the current price of the Paslode 902600 framing nailer click here
#3 – Hitachi NV75AG Framing Nailer – The Best Professional Framing Nailer
Hitachi NV75AG Round Head 1-3/4-Inch to 3-Inch Coil Framing Nailer
The Hitachi NV75AG Round Head 1-3/4-Inch to 3-Inch Coil Framing Nailer is manufactured by Hitachi of Japan, one of the world’s foremost manufacturers of tools and machines. Hitachi is a leading name for quality and reliability. They are also the leaders in research and development of power tools.
Durability
It is made of lightweight aluminum which is more durable than plastic. It has a soft grip handle for greater control and comfort over long periods of use. Its many features have been designed keeping a professional operator’s comfort and safety in the forefront. It is a pneumatic framing nailer which works with an air compressor with an air pressure of 70 to 120 pounds per square inch. It has a 3/8-inch NPT thread air inlet.
Versatility
This model works with both wire and plastic sheet nails. It has a coil magazine loader and so can load up to 300 nails in one go making it one of the best nailers for professionals on construction projects who would like to avoid repeated reloads.
It is designed to drive 3-inch nails which are the most popular nails used for framing, decking, and siding. It has a side loading mechanism which makes for a quick and tool-less swap for clips. It has dual firing options of single and continuous firing with just a flick of a control button which is especially useful when there is a need for both speed and precision.
It has a button close to its nosepieces for a tool-less, depth adjustment mechanism. It comes with a modifiable air deflector that can rotate at a 360-degree angle to keep the work area clear of dirt and debris. It also has a plastic buffer to protect from injuries due to wire collation. It has a directional exhaust to keep the fumes away from the user. It has an open nose for easier jam clearing.
Usability
It is one of the more compact pneumatic nailers with dimensions of 15.3 x 13 x 6.1 inches. With a weight of only 5.5 pounds, it is one of the lightest pneumatic framing nailers in the market today. The only downside of this nailer is that it is under powered for use with engineered wood.
Warranty
It comes with only a five-year limited warranty.
Affordability
For the price, it may be one of the higher priced pneumatic framing nailers but thanks to its lightweight, high magazine capacity and a wide range of features it is the best framing nailer for a professional.
To see the current price of the Hitachi NV75AG framing nailer click here
Which One To Buy?
Whether you are a professional or a home user, you would look for a good framing nailer for your projects; reliable, lightweight, easy to use, powerful, and safe. If these are available at an affordable price, it is like icing on the cake. Bostitch F21PL Positive Placement Magnesium Framing Nailer is just that product. It is the best value for money framing nailer in the market today.
