Which pneumatic nail gun to buy? How to choose a nail gun. Gas nailer - how to work with this device

It just so happens that nail guns are not very common in our country, at least they are far from competing with a regular hammer. However, the choice of various nailers (as a nail gun is called) is quite wide, and it is very difficult to buy the right model. But once you have found your way to our portal, there is no need to worry - we will help you choose exactly the nailer that you need.

What is a nailer

So, what is a nailer ( nail gun, electric hammer, mounting gun, nail gun, etc.)? In Western countries, nailer is very common; it can be found, perhaps, in any home. But in Russia and in the countries of the former Soviet Union, it is almost impossible to find such a miracle of technology. A hammer, an ax - please, but a nail gun, despite the widespread use of wooden construction, remains exotic.

Of course, nailers were also produced in the Soviet Union, for example nail guns IP 4402, but they never gained distribution. Although how can I say, because powder guns for driving dowels into concrete have been and are actively used on domestic construction sites, and this is also a type of nailer.

Modern construction companies involved in the construction of wooden houses have begun to actively use nail guns along with hammer drills and screwdrivers. Ordinary homeowners have also flocked to professional builders. All this created a demand for nailers, in response to which manufacturing companies significantly increased their range.

Scope of application of the nailer

The use of a nail gun is quite extensive: building houses, renovating premises, assembling furniture and wherever nails are needed. Nailers can be used to drive small studs and strong dowels that are driven into brick or concrete walls. The list of jobs that a nail hammer can perform is quite extensive, here are just a few:

insulation fastening;
installation of roofing materials, such as tiles, roll and bitumen coatings;
assembly and installation of frames for wooden buildings;
covering frames with siding, plasterboard, plywood, chipboard;
fastening of various types of floor coverings and bases for them - piece parquet, solid boards, etc.;
installation of suspended ceilings and fastening of carpet floor coverings;
arrangement of the rafter system of the house;
furniture manufacture.

And much more, simply put, wherever you need to connect wooden parts, a nailer is useful.

Working with a nailer is a pleasure: you just need to pull the trigger, or just touch the tip of the nose, and the piston drives the nail into the wood up to the head. Then the piston moves back to its original position, a new nail from the drum or clip is fed into the barrel, and the gun is ready to “fire” again. Thus, you can drive 1-3 nails per second - a speed unattainable when using a conventional hammer.

The source of energy for the operation of a nailer (and you need a lot of it) can be different: gas, gunpowder, electricity or compressed air. Let's talk about everything in order.

Pneumatic nailers are considered the most popular among builders. Manufacturers have done their best by presenting a range of models designed both for driving small studs during finishing, and for driving large nails up to 22 cm long and 4-5 mm in diameter.

For any pneumatic tool to operate, a compressor is required, but don’t be afraid of it - the vast majority of pneumatic guns require a pressure of 4 to 8 bar, and these are indicators for an inexpensive device. It is not difficult to calculate the required pressure, since almost all nailer manufacturers indicate the required compressor characteristics, and, of course, indicate the air flow per shot. In addition, pneumatics provide for constant connection of the device with the compressor using a hose. This somewhat limits the scope of action of the builder, but modern hoses are light and very elastic, which significantly compensates for this disadvantage.

The compressor will also need a source of electricity. But these are, perhaps, all the disadvantages of a pneumatic nail gun.

But the advantages can be listed for a long time: reliability and extreme simplicity of the device, light weight (1-3 kg), power (up to 100 J), low cost (3-6 thousand rubles). In addition, the equipment does not require expensive maintenance, there is no need for permits, and the air gun can be used in closed or explosive areas.

This is a powerful tool that allows you to drive dowels into concrete. The gas nail gun works thanks to micro-explosions of the gas-air mixture. The mixture is ignited by a spark generated from the battery. The mixture, exploding, acts on the piston, which drives the nail into the surface. To operate such a device, you need gas cartridges, and, of course, the nails themselves. The cans are also marked with the number of shots, but usually one is enough for more than a thousand shots, and the same goes for the battery.

The advantages of a gas nailer include its autonomy, the absence of hoses and electrical cords, high power, which makes it easy to drive dowels into concrete, and the low weight of the gun - 2.5-4 kg. In addition, some models allow you to use the gun as a drill or hammer drill, and simple and inexpensive maintenance makes the gas gun, which, by the way, does not require a permit, is quite attractive for purchase.

The main disadvantages of a gas nail gun include the rather high cost of the device ($700-1000) and an expensive shot. In addition, exhaust gases require operation only in ventilated areas; the combustion chamber will have to be regularly cleaned of soot.

Everything is simple here, the piston receives energy, considerable energy, from the ignition of gunpowder in the cartridge, the primer of which is hit by the firing pin. Some experts doubt whether powder pistols should be classified as nailers, but most still think they should.

Actually, the principle of operation of a powder pistol is similar to firearms. The force of driving a nail depends on the cartridges, which are marked for convenience in different colors. The cartridges can be fed either automatically or semi-automatically.

The advantages of powder pistols mainly lie in its power - the dowel enters concrete under pressure from 300 to 550 J. In addition, autonomy and low weight are also advantages.

The powder nailer also has many disadvantages: a permit is required for operation, only direct installation is possible, exhausts and periodic cleaning of the device, the cost of a shot and some difficulty in use (holding with two hands, strong pressure and selection of cartridges according to power). Cannot be used in flammable areas.

Electric nailers are used mainly for finishing surfaces, and instead of dowels and nails, pins and studs are driven in. Nailers of this type can operate both from the mains - using a cord, and from a battery. The latter option is more preferable, since it gives the device maximum mobility.

Their light weight and dimensions have made electric nailers popular and in demand among builders. Also, the advantages of the devices include simplicity and low cost of use, and the absence of exhaust gases.

But there are also disadvantages: the shot power is very low - the size of the nail (consumables) cannot be more than 65 mm, the rate of fire is noticeably lower than competitors - 1 shot per second, the inability to work in high humidity and the threat of explosion. In addition, the power grid must be nearby.

Choosing a nailer for its intended purpose

Basically, nailers differ from each other in purpose, that is, in the type of work.

Sheathing nailers are designed for attaching siding, plywood, OSB and other sheet materials to wood frames. For such work, it is important to have a lot of consumables, so the drums of the device must accommodate as many nails as possible.

Roofing nailers are used for fastening roofing felt and bitumen shingles. The length of galvanized rough nails with a wide head usually does not exceed 50 mm.

Finishing nailers are usually used for finishing - installation of baseboards, trim, moldings, etc. For this purpose, short nails without heads are used, which are not noticeable at the fastening points. Studs and pins are packed in a cassette.

Guns for fastening floor coverings can drive special nails at a certain angle, and special attachments allow you to accurately position the device. Modified pistols are also produced, which first knock out the parquet board and then drive the crutch.

Nailers for installing insulation, which is usually used to insulate facades, have the necessary capabilities to use a special washer that fixes the insulation material, preventing it from being damaged when fired.
Frame nailers are designed for fastening rough structures, as well as fastening floors, lathing and frames. Such guns work with large nails, from 50 to 220 mm. Consumables are packaged in drums or special magazines.

Mounting guns for fastening plasterboard sheets work with galvanized nails up to 50 mm long and with a wide head. Basically, such nailers are suitable for working with a wooden frame, but there are also universal models that allow you to attach sheets to both a wooden and a metal frame.

Finally, mounting guns for direct mounting. These devices are used for driving (shooting) dowels into concrete, brick and steel, and less often into wood. These are primarily powder, gas (not all models) and pneumatic nailers. Due to the high temperatures arising from the frictional force at the moment the nail enters the surface, a strong adhesion is ensured.

In principle, this is all you need to know when choosing nail guns, also known as nailers. The main thing is to understand the purpose of your purchase, the cost of the shot and the possibility of repair in the event of a breakdown. Good luck with your construction and renovation!

A nail gun is a device designed for driving in fasteners without any physical effort on the part of a person.

Its other names are nailer, nailer, nailer or mounting gun.

This device is used for construction and finishing work (including installation of floor coverings and ceilings), furniture assembly and repair.

It is not suitable for driving ordinary nails; special fastener clips must be purchased for the nailer.

Advantages of using mounting guns:

significant reduction in time spent on work
saving human labor costs
serious reduction in costs (if we are talking about large objects)

Nayler - effective method simplification for builders and furniture makers.

The nailer consists of:

housing
trigger handles
nail store
piston

Depending on the type of magazine for fasteners, nailers are:

drum - nails are fastened with wire and wound into a roll hidden in a drum
slatted - nails are fastened into a straight clip-slat with paper or plastic

The disadvantage of a rack nail magazine is the small number of fasteners, no more than 100 pieces per rack. The disadvantage of drum magazines is their greater weight.

Gas cartridges for nail guns are designed, on average, for a thousand shots (the exact number is indicated on the cylinder).

Advantages:

autonomous operation
high power
low maintenance costs
weight 3-4 kg
possibility (for some modifications) to perform the functions of a hammer drill

Flaws:

high price of the device
formation of exhaust gases during operation, which means impossibility of use indoors
the need for periodic cleaning of soot from the compartment in which the interaction of gases and sparks occurs

Despite the disadvantages, a gas nailer effectively helps solve time-consuming tasks.

Powder mounting guns

A powder nailer has even more shot power than a gas nailer. Due to the ignition of gunpowder located in special cartridges, an impulse is created, which sets the piston in motion.

The force of the impact also allows the use of a powder gun for direct installation of fasteners into or metal. Nailers of this type operate in two modes - automatic and semi-automatic.

Depending on the selected mode, the dowels are fed with at different speeds. This type of mounting gun is suitable for a large volume of work.

The disadvantages are the same as those of gas devices, but the advantages include high power and autonomy.

The heap nailer is the most powerful type of construction gun.

Pneumatic nailers

A pneumatic nail gun works thanks to the energy of compressed air coming from a compressor, which is connected to the gun using a flexible hose. The pneumatic air gun is used primarily for working with, including in furniture production.

Advantages:

relatively low cost
high speed (3 - 5 shots per second, regardless of surface strength and type of fastener)
ease of operation
does not require maintenance costs
suitable for use in any premises, including explosive atmospheres

Flaws:

power requirement
the presence of a hose for air supply, which creates some inconvenience during operation

A pneumatic nailer is a fairly safe and effective device for performing fastening work.

How to choose the right nailer (main characteristics)

When choosing a nail gun, you need to consider the following factors:

material of the surface into which the fasteners will be driven
workload
shot type
type, diameter and length of fasteners to be worked with

Table 1. Selection of nail gun based on surface material

The choice in favor of a household or more powerful professional tool depends on the amount of work. For comparison: if a pressure of 5-7 bar is sufficient for a household pneumatic nailer, then a professional one will require at least 18.

The price of a shot depends on the cost of consumables (gas, electricity, cost of cartridges for powder nailers, etc.).

Certain models of guns are designed to work with fasteners of each specific diameter and length. For example, devices from one manufacturer are available in modifications designed to work with nails of length:

up to 45 mm
up to 64 mm
up to 90 mm
up to 130 mm
up to 160 mm, etc.

When choosing a nailer, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics and additional functions:

beats per minute
impact force adjustment
double strike capability
suitcase or case for storage and carrying
complete set (battery, gas cartridge, charger, etc. included)

Conclusion: to do right choice suitable device for hammering nails, you need to carefully study all the characteristics of the construction gun.

Using a nail gun is one of the simple ways saving effort and time during repairs or construction. A correctly selected device will make life easier for its owner for a long time.

The video shows how you can use a nail gun in carpentry:

If we are talking about the construction of wooden houses, repairs and decoration of premises, about any work where it is necessary to connect surfaces with nails, then no one will deny the need for such a tool as a nail gun, or in other words, a nailer. Among the variety of nailers on the construction tools market, a nail gun with a pneumatic drive is considered the most popular among builders and ordinary homeowners.

Advantages and disadvantages of an air gun

To choose the right gun, you need to know all its positive and negative sides. The principle of operation of any nail gun is to supply energy to a piston, which drives the nail into the substrate. In the case of a pneumatically driven nailer, the energy is provided by compressed air, which is supplied by a compressor through a hose connected to the air gun.

This device has become the most popular for construction work due to such qualities as:

ease of operation and maintenance;
light weight (from 1 to 3 kg);
high rate of fire (up to 3 shots per second);
Possibility of use in rooms with high humidity;
no need for special permits to work;
low price (from 3000 to 6000 rubles).

The disadvantages of a pneumatic gun are much smaller than the advantages and they are mainly associated with preparing the tool for operation.

A compressor is required to supply pressurized air. In order to choose the right compressor, you need to read the instructions for the selected nailer to know the operating pressure. Sometimes you can get by with a compressor, which, as a rule, is available in any private home and provides a pressure of 4 to 8 bar.
The air gun must be connected to the compressor through a hose, and also needs a source of electricity. These two additions limit the mobility of the nailer and require preliminary preparation of the workplace. Some manufacturers produce compressors equipped with rechargeable batteries.

What to look for when buying a nail gun

Manufacturers of air nailers have developed various models for a wide range of applications: from finishing work with small pins and staplers to driving nails 220 mm long and 5 mm in diameter into hard surfaces such as concrete and brick.

Therefore, the first important characteristic when choosing a nailer is the purpose, which is based on the type of consumable. First you need to understand what work the device is required for:

frame, related to the arrangement of floors, lathing, etc. using large nails;
sheathing for fastening plywood, OSB, siding with nails from 25 to 75 mm long with a wide head;
roofing using rough nails with a head diameter of up to 10 mm and a length of 25 to 50 mm;
for installation of insulation with a special washer securing the material;
Special compact palm nailers have been produced for working in hard-to-reach places.

After choosing a pneumatic gun according to the purpose of use, you need to pay attention to the additional functionality of the models, which will undoubtedly improve the operation of the device:

adjustment of the depth of driving a nail can be done with a wheel, lever, button and is necessary for sheathing and finishing work;
the presence of a fuse will protect against an accidental shot: there are manual and automatic, when the shot fires only upon close contact with the base;
which bandolier is more convenient: the drum should be selected for working with a large number of nails, the magazine is more compact and more convenient if the work is small;
switching the “single shot/series” mode;
structural elements for ease of use: hanging hook, attached leg on the body.

Choosing the right air gun will help you ensure high-quality installation and assembly work is completed quickly.

In the process of constructing various objects, builders have to perform many different operations, among which the most common is hammering nails. It has to be performed not only by professional builders, but also by many home craftsmen who want to maintain the technical well-being of their home.

And if in everyday conditions an ordinary hammer is enough to perform this work, then specialized carpentry industries, which have to carry out fastening operations on a large scale, require a special tool that will reduce the time required to complete them to a minimum. For them, manufacturers produce such a high-performance device as a nail gun. This device is offered in different modifications, which differ in operating principle, design and performance characteristics.

Description of Pneumatic Nailer

An air gun is a construction tool that is powered by compressed air. The air in it is under pressure of 4-6 atmospheres, which is enough to drive the crepe on almost any surface.

Pneumatic nailing tools use the same operating principle as nail guns. Although pneumatic nailers are usually classified as driving tools, it is believed that pneumatic nailers are loaded with staples rather than nails.

Principle of operation

The operation of pneumatic nailing tools, including nailers and staple guns, is based on a fairly simple principle: the handle of the tool is filled with compressed air, and when the trigger is pressed, a piston is activated, which begins to push it forward. During movement, the piston pushes out the fastener, giving it a certain acceleration, as a result of which the latter is driven into the surface. After the master releases the trigger, the handle is filled with air again.

When working with pneumatic tools, you can be sure that the fasteners will not pass through the surface. Since the staple does not have kinetic energy, the moment the impact of the striker stops on it, it stops.

Manufacturers equip many pneumatic tools with additional mechanisms to reduce the effort that craftsmen spend working with them. Thus, in some models, special spikes may be used to prevent the tool from slipping from the hands, or there may be mechanisms to protect against repeated shots.

Application area

Pneumatic tools can be used in a wide variety of applications. But here it is necessary to remember that these devices are inferior in power to gas and electric tools. It follows that it is undesirable to use them for working with particularly hard surfaces. Although a number of manufacturers produce special types of pneumatic tools that support working with iron sheets.

In everyday life, pneumatic tools are mainly used for working with wood. They are most widespread in the manufacture of cornices and wooden frames, baguettes, the construction of frame structures and simple household objects, as well as the construction of hedges and fences.

Advantages

Pneumatic nail guns are among the most popular tools among construction workers. Manufacturers today offer several varieties of such hammers, differing in the type of supported fastener, which can have a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 22 cm.

When planning to use a pneumatic hammer to perform installation work, you need to remember the compressor. For average models to work effectively, a small pressure (about 4-9 bar) is enough, at which they can hammer nails in a continuous mode. Before using the tool, be sure to read the instructions, in which the manufacturer always indicates the recommended operating pressure for a specific device.

Another important point, which should be pay attention- the pneumatic hammer must be connected to the compressor using a special rubber hose. However, this solution limits the work of builders, since the working area depends on the length of the hose. However, today many models are produced with hoses made of elastic and durable materials, which make it possible to eliminate this drawback as much as possible. Also Pneumatic guns They also have another significant disadvantage - the presence of a source of electrical energy.

If we talk about the advantages of construction nail guns, then they have much more:

Basic selection options

When choosing this tool, it is important not to forget that they all differ in purpose. Therefore, in order not to make a mistake in choosing the appropriate model, you need to pay attention when comparing different options. and the following characteristics:

Features of pneumatic models

Often craftsmen have to make a choice between electric hammers for driving nails and pneumatic models. To make this task easier, they should become more aware of the features of each option. Speaking of pneumatics, it should be noted that these devices do not use a full-fledged engine, since the impact action is provided by compressed air.

Thus, the air nailer is the lightest type of tool in this class, which makes it most convenient to work with. This becomes especially true in cases where you have to perform serial operations and keep your hand suspended for a long time to re-activate the blow.

At the same time, a tool that uses compressed air to drive in fasteners needs to be connected to a compressor unit. This means additional costs and creates certain inconveniences for carrying out the planned work.

Classification by consumables

Any type of nailing tool is available in certain modifications, some of which support work only with nails or staples, while others are universal. However, the use of the latter type is strongly not recommended, since it has a shorter working life, which is why it fails faster during active use.

If we talk about specialized models, then such guns are used for furniture upholstery, stitching thin facing materials, and fastening panels. Electric nailers are more productive and can Easily hammer in fasteners in plywood sheets, boards, and thick durable film. They are commonly called nailers and are often used in professional construction. So, they are often resorted to when it is necessary to carry out work on installing lining, finishing walls and ceilings.

When choosing a tool from a consumable material, you need to pay attention to the size of the nails used for the pneumatic gun. Stapling devices support work with staples of the entire available range, but pneumatic nailing guns may have limitations in this regard, which are determined by their design.

Most of these tools are designed to work with 8-10 mm nails. Professional models in this regard they are slightly different - for them you can use fasteners with a length of 15 to 30 mm.

It is difficult to name the most common construction and installation procedure than driving nails. Almost any business owner who is concerned about the technical well-being of his own home is faced with the need to fulfill it. And this is not to mention the special carpentry industries, where work with fasteners is put on stream. One way or another, in order to save time on its implementation, tool manufacturers have long been producing nail guns in various variations.

Modifications differ in characteristics, design, operating principle and other performance qualities.

Which unit is better to choose?

Electric, cordless nailer is a practical device for quickly hammering large number nails in any material. You can find it on the market at a reasonable price different kinds devices, for example, a pneumatic or electric wood gun, a wireless device on a battery, and including a gas unit. The various installations differ mainly in speed of operation and convenience. In case you are going to purchase favorable price nail gun, in this article you will find the recommendations you need. You will learn what to look for when choosing and purchasing this necessary device for your home workshop.

In order to correctly select the type of construction nail gun, you should first install where it will be used most often. For those who will work with this device in places with access to an electrical network or to a compressor, it is appropriate to choose a pneumatic option. It uses compressed air, therefore must be connected to a compressor. It stands out for its strength and durability, and also for its sufficient power.

An electric nailer, as its name suggests, operates on electrical power from an outlet or battery. Under the influence of current flowing into the solenoid coil, the core penetrates it and strikes a nail or staple, driving it into wood, plastic, drywall and similar not very rigid materials.

The main areas of their use are:

finishing cladding work - fastening skirting boards, platbands, thin panels;
furniture manufacturing - furniture upholstery with fabric, fastening the back walls of wardrobes and bedside tables;
roofing work - fastening tiles, roofing felt, vapor barrier films;
laying parquet and flooring.

Electric guns are usually equipped with a cassette magazine that can hold up to 5 hundred nails with a diameter of 1.6 millimeters. The low rate of fire of electric guns is determined by the charging time of the capacitor and is about one shot per second. This is not as fast as air guns can hammer nails (3 nails in one second), but it is completely worthy. Still, finishing often requires accuracy and haste is especially unnecessary.

Additional considerations for choosing a device

Before you buy a Dewalt, Rapid, Makita or other nailer, Please note the following characteristics of the device:

the length of nails that can be used in the modification of the nail gun you are interested in;
device magazine capacity. Of course, a larger magazine capacity will mean a larger weight of the device.

An important parameter that you need to know about before purchasing is shock absorption of nailer efficiency. This is very important, since the lower the efficiency, the less the builder’s hand will get tired when using the device. The fastening of your products will also be implemented more smoothly. If the shopping center gives you the opportunity to test the nailer, see how well the nail gun is balanced.

Check the presence of a hook in the Dewalt, Rapid, Makita or other nailer, with which you can fix it on the waist belt, and the presence of a handle made of non-slip material. Certain manufacturers include small details in their products that make the installer’s work much easier, for example, they equip the mechanism with an LED, which warns the user that the battery will soon be discharged, or with a special sign indicating the need to carry out industrial maintenance of the device.

Features of using a nail gun

Depending on power There are more powerful modifications and low-power ones; they are needed to work with different materials. Roofing guns, due to their high power, make it possible to drive nails into, among other things, asphalt shingles, but they are heavy and inconvenient. Modifications for wood have significantly lower productivity, however, they weigh much lighter, and their structure ensures practical operation.

In addition, you can find convenient modifications on the market with low power and energy consumption, which will be convenient when making furniture or working with wooden parts. Another aspect is the appearance of the store. The drum magazine requires special nails connected with plastic tape or wire. Modifications also differ in the method of firing the shot. The trigger concept requires you to pull the trigger. There are also sensor systems.

What else needs to be taken into account?

One of the more significant characteristics of the device is nail length, which is supported by the drum magazine. Of course, the larger the size and reservoir of the device, the larger and heavier it will be. Efficiency damping and balancing of the entire device are also very important. The type of mechanism must be additionally equipped with a non-slip handle so that it does not slip out of your hands during operation, and a hook, which makes it possible to attach it to your belt.

A convenient addition will be a battery charging status LED and a symbol indicating that the device requires servicing. In the case of gas appliances, you also need to focus on the cost of a container with propane-butane. A carefully selected type of mechanism will help improve the speed and quality of repair work, and, in addition, will serve for a long period.