The Best Framing Nailers (Electric, Air and Battery Powered): Buying Guide and Reviews

Woodworking projects sometimes inevitably require a lot of nails, especially large wood framing or projects such as deck building, house framing, fence building, and other major carpentry work. Before, you would only find a framing nailer in the hands of woodworking professionals.  However, with the surge in DIY enthusiasts, people from all walks of life are making good use of these nail guns.

If you are reading this, you are probably among the many looking for the best framing nailer on the market. We'll walk you through our choices for both pneumatic and cordless models and the knowledge you’ll need to purchase the one right for you.

Best Pneumatic Framing Nailers. Our Top Picks

What is a framing nail gun and who is it for?

Framing nail guns are powerful tools designed to make a carpenter’s job easier by nailing large pieces of wood faster and accurately. They also are handy tools that help in completing several home DIY projects. With such importance, this is not an investment to make carelessly. You may want to ensure that you get the most of every dollar spent

It’s gradually replacing the need for a hammer in woodwork projects. Although I’ve seen some veteran carpenters trying to frame a building and they literally hammered 16d nails in just one swing or two swings. Amazing right? How many years of experience do you think I need before I will be able to hammer like them?

Get me a framing nailer and I will match them in minutes. I’ll be firing my third nail before they think of swinging their hammer. It can save your muscles some unnecessary stress and take hours off your project.

So, it is for you if you want to move from being a rookie framer to a pro in a matter of minutes.

There are two types: cordless and pneumatic framing nailers. The first one operates solely on battery power. It’s similar to how pneumatic nailers work except that it uses a sealed compressed air cylinder to fire nails, unlike pneumatic nailers that use external air compressors.

Basically, anytime you pull the trigger, the compressed air drives the piston to fire the nail into the wood. Some other models use a flywheel system in which the motor stays at a high speed to drive the nail into the wood.

How to choose a good framing nail gun

Understanding the various features and specifications is essential before settling on the best one:

Magazine angle  

This refers to the angle the nailer’s magazine makes in relation to the ground when the nailer is held upright. The greater the angle, the easier it is for users to access places that are hard to reach. Similarly, as the angle increases, so does the cost of operating the machine as the nails become more expensive.

A 21-degree angle is perfect if you work with the machine in an upright position. However, for those who frequently work within tight spaces, consider a machine with a 30-angle magazine. This is also a great advice when choosing the best finish nailer 15ga.

Magazine type 

Nail guns for framing come in two different magazine styles. They are the stick and coil:

• Stick magazines use long striped nails. Besides, the capacity of stick models is lower compared to coil magazines due to their arrangement. Nonetheless, it is due to this arrangement that stick models have an even weight distribution thus balances better compared to coil nail guns.
• Coil magazines take nails joined together with wires, arranged in flexible strings. They hold more nails compared to stick models and their design makes them to fit tight spaces compared to guns with stick magazines easily.

Actuation mode

This is what sets the guide for firing nails. There are two common actuation modes; the sequential and bump modes:

• Sequential actuation mode allows the nail to fire one nail every time the trigger is pressed.
• The bump mode, on the other hand, allows users to fire several nails in succession. 

You can get both by going for a machine that allows switching between the two modes. This switching system is very common in most of the nail guns like the best brad nailers on the market. 

Drive depth 

As the name suggests, this determines how deep the tool drives the nails. This mechanism varies from one framing nailer to another. Consider getting a framing nailer that provides for a deep drive adjustment.

Jam clearing

In some instances, the nail may derail from its alignment jamming the nailer. When such happens, you will need to clear the machine before using it again.

This process requires a lot of tools and can be sometimes daunting. Amidst this, you can find nail framers that have tool-less clearing.

Anti-dry fire 

A dry fire is a term used when a machine fires without nails. This occasionally damages the machine and working surface. Having a nail gun that has an anti-dry fire mechanism that prevents the framer from actuating is of immense importance.

Nail selection

Understanding the parameters that relate to nail selection should be among the first considerations when searching for a nail for a framing nail gun. Of most importance, you must look into the three vital aspects of a nail, the nail length, type of collation and type of nail head.

• Nail length, check the size of nails that the nailer will accommodate. Carpenters prefer a cordless frame nailer that accommodates 3.5-inch nails. 
• The nail head type is the second aspect. Two main head types determine your nailer selection. They include round head nails and clipped heads nails. Both types require different firing mechanisms. Clipped type occupy less space and its cartridges carry more nails per inch compared to round head cartridges. This increases the carrying capacity and saves on cost. However, clipped head nails aren’t as strong as round head nails.
• Nail collation. This refers to the way manufacturers use to hold nails in a cartridge. There are three common methods, namely paper, plastic and wire weld.

OUR TOP PICKS

Hitachi NR90AES1 Framing Nailer, 2-Inch...

$480.98

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BOSTITCH Framing Nailer, Round Head,...

$239.99

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Paslode, Cordless XP Framing Nailer,...

$499.00

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Cordless or Pneumatic?

Unlike pneumatic framing nailers that rely on compressed air, cordless nailers rely solely on batteries as their power source.

Gas powered framing nail guns, which are not very common, can also be classified as cordless frame nailers as they don’t have a cord linking them to power source.

Cordless framing nail guns bring about utmost convenience as users can take them anywhere provided that batteries have some charge in them. Besides, you don't have to drag weighty air compressors around as well as the worries of tripping over a cord.

Additionally, since there are no air compressors, you won’t suffer the additional costs incurred with corded framing nailers. However, cordless models are more expensive than pneumatic models.

Generally, the cordless models require less maintenance. Note that the presence of a battery makes them quite heavy and results in more downtimes as you recharge them.

That said, cordless nailers are appropriate for those looking for a portable nail gun for use in different work sites. All woodworkers who hate dragging air compressors around can also find this tool perfect. If you don't mind using compressors, then pneumatic models are right for you as they are cheaper.

A quick note here, depending on the type of work you are doing, especially interior work such as crown molding, working on your cabinet and furniture, etc... it can be very handy using a nail gun air-powered like the best 23 gauge pin nailers on the market. However this is the subject of a different conversation.

Safety 

You can never be too safe when handling or operating a framing nailer. Any slight error could result in serious injury. Below are some tips to ensure your safety while using your tool.

• Read your tool’s instruction manual: Reading instruction manuals could be very boring right? Spending some time to read it will not hurt rather, you’ll learn about the tool’s applications, limitations, and possible hazards.
• Take care of your work area: Don’t work in areas that are cluttered, slippery or filled with dust. Also ensure the area is well lit so to avoid mistakes when nailing because driving a nail into another nail might cause a spark.
• Keep children, pets and untrained persons out of work area especially when the tool is operating. If you’re working in a workshop, always lock up when you’re leaving.
• Use Personal Protective Equipment: Everyone in the work area including visitors should wear safety goggles, ear protection, and safety gloves.
• Always dress properly when operating the tool. Loose clothing, jewelry or long hair can be caught in moving parts.
• Be alert! Don’t operate the tool when you’re tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol or any other substance that may affect your ability to use the tool properly
• Safe Operation of your tool: Use your framing nailer only for applicable uses. Using it for other purposes might damage the tool or cause serious injury
• Don’t carry the nailer with your finger resting on the trigger.  Use your dominant hand to operate the framing nailer

Care & maintenance

In order to keep your framing nailer in top working condition, you need to take proper care of it and service it regularly. Below are some tips to ensure that your tool is in good working condition.

• Wipe the external part of your framing nailer clean with a soft clean cloth to remove dirt, dust, oil, and grease before and after use. You can use mild solvents to aid the cleaning. Most plastics are prone to damage by commercial solvents.
• Never soak your framing nailer in cleaning solutions, it can damage the internal parts of the tool.
• Lubricate any moving parts of your tool periodically to reduce wear and tear of the machine’s parts.
• Don’t store your framing nailer in temperatures below freezing, doing this might lead to premature tool failure.
• Don’t allow petroleum-based products, penetrating or harmful chemicals to come in contact with plastic parts of your framing nailer. Harmful chemicals can weaken or damage plastic and might result in personal injury.
• Always inspect your tool from time to time to check for damaged parts, misalignment of moving parts and for loose parts. A lot of accidents are caused by badly maintained tools.

Tips for how to use an Air or Battery Powered Framing Nailer

A framing nailer can help you frame a house or repair your wood project quickly. It’s not just about shooting nails into wood blocks, there are some instructions you have to follow to be able to complete your woodwork easily and in no time.

You’ll need a framing nailer (of course), framing nails, personal protection equipment and the wood you want to nail.

Safety first

Put on your safety gear which include safety goggles, ear protection, and hand gloves. A dusk mask might also be necessary if you’re going to be working in a dusty environment. Ensure you’re within a safe working environment free from children and pets before you start.

A framing nailer is not the kind of tool you play with so you have to be extra vigilant when using it. Engage safety anytime you’re taking a break or away from the tool for any reason.

Select firing method

​There are different firing methods such as bump nailing and trigger nailing.

• Bump Firing: This involves holding the trigger down continuously while you push the safety contact down against the surface of the wood. A nail is fired every time the nozzle comes back in contact with the wood after recoiling.  To ensure the effectiveness of this method, you need a nailing line to guide you. This method of firing is very fast but it does not offer much control over firing function. You could accidentally push the nozzle against the wrong place on the timber. When using this firing method, make sure the nailer is not mistakenly dropped, a nail might be fired and could hit someone or something.
• Trigger Firing: This method of firing is safer than bump firing. The nailer fires a nail only when you pull the trigger. With this level of control, it’s very unlikely you drive a nail into the wrong place. However, the first method earlier discussed is a little faster than the trigger firing method.

Toe Nailing

This is a type of nailing in which a nail diagonally between two pieces of wood that meet at a 90-degree angle.

To achieve this with a framing nailer, you need to:

• Load up your framing nailer with suitable nails into your nailer’s magazine.
• Place your studs according to your layout marks
• Place the nailer’s nozzle at a 45-degree angle against the studs and fire the nail.
• You need to line up the nail with the studs so the nail goes through both without the nail shaft bulging out.
• The studs might shift slightly so you need to use a hammer to align them back
• Add another nail to the opposite side to further strengthen the joint

Through Nailing

​In this type of nailing, you have to align two studs side by side and fire a nail straight from one side of the studs at a 90-degree angle. Repeat the process on the other side of the stud to make a strong connection.

Hand Placement

​Never point the framing nailer at yourself or anyone around you even if it’s not loaded. Also, don’t place your hand too close to the board you’re nailing because you can mistakenly injure yourself.

Q: When to use framing nailer?

A: Use a framing nailer for large wood framing or projects such as deck building, room construction, house framing, fence building, and other major carpentry work.

Don’t use it to nail light wood or perform light wood tasks such as baseboard or quarter round installation. It might split up and destroy the wood

Q: Cordless or pneumatic framing nailer?

A: Pneumatic framing nailers use an external attached compressed air cylinder to drive nails while cordless brad nailers use either a spinning flying wheel or a sealed compressed air cylinder to drive nails.

If you don’t like a hose being attached to your tool all the tie, then you should opt for a cordless framing nailer. However, cordless framing nailers are usually costlier and heavier than the pneumatic ones.

Q: Why are framing nailers angled

A: Framing nailers with higher angles allow reach into tighter spaces/ angles when you are framing.

There are three major framing nailer angles which includes 21-degree Framing Nailers, 30-degree to 34-degree Framing Nailers and 28-degree Framing Nailers.

The 30-degree to 34-degree Framing Nailers can reach into tighter spaces than the 21 and 28-degree Framing Nailers.

Q: Can a framing nailer be used for siding

A: Yes. It’s possible if your framing nails are long enough to attach the siding tightly to the wood sheathing.

Q: Can a framing nailer be used for roofing

A: It’s better you get a roofing nailer for the job because framing nail’s heads aren't as wide as a typical roofing nail’s head but they can still be used to hold down roofing sheet.

Q: Can I use a framing nailer for fencing

A: Absolutely! A framing nailer is a good choice for your fencing job because it was designed to nail large pieces of wood together.

Q: What gauge is a framing nailer

A: A typical framing nailer should be able to accommodate 14 to 16 gauges from 1-1/4 inches to 3-1/2 inches

Q: What is a coil framing nailer

A: A Coil framing nailer sometimes known as a roofing nailer is also a pistol-shaped tool that helps you drive nails into pieces of wood. They don’t use regular roofing nails rather they use special coil nails.

Q: How to oil a framing nailer

• Switch off the framing nailer before oiling to prevent cases of accidental startups.
• Check to see if your framing nailer is loaded and remove any nails found in the magazine
• Turn the nailer so the air hose coupling points are facing up
• Put the oil bottle directly over the air nipple and apply two to three drops
• Then pull the trigger so the oil can cycle through
• Reload your nails back into the magazine and continue your work.
• Oil your nailer every five to eight hours to keep it in good working condition

Q: Framing nailer Coil vs. Stick

A: A typical stick nailer can accommodate two sticks carrying between 25 and 45 nails each while coil nailers have an adjustable magazine that can accommodate up to 200 framing nails at a time.

On the other hand, Coil nailers are not as popular as stick nailers and a fully-loaded coil nailer can be very heavy especially if you’re using it for overhead works.

Some building codes and regulation already specified the type of nails you can use for different building types, so you have to bear that in mind when selecting a framing nailer

According to our research the Best Pneumatic Framing Nailer is the Hitachi NR90AES1 Framing Nailer, 2-Inch...​. It's a good choice for the price besides the powerful nail framing ability.

Our top pick for the best electric battery powered nail gung is the Paslode, Cordless XP Framing Nailer,.... Besides being cordless, it comes with a tool-less depth adjustment, adjustable nosepiece and a one-year warranty. You will also like its quick charging time with a durable battery for lengthy usage period.

That said, whereas pneumatic framing nailers are powerful, the cordless models comes with the benefit of convenience and portability.

Resources & Further Reading

1. Nail Gun Safety A Guide for Construction Contractors by OSHA(PDF)
2. How to Use a Framing Nailer Safely and Effectively by Chris Baylor
3. Nickel cadmium battery. Wikipedia
4. Li-ion Cordless Tools (Nailing) – Hikoki Power Tools
5. Pneumatic 21 Degree 3-1/2″ Full Round Head Framing Nailer - NuMax Tools
6. 21 DEGREE PLASTIC COLLATED FRAMING NAILER - Bostitch
7. POWERMASTER PLUS™ 30° FRAMING NAILER - Paslode
8. Pneumatic 21 Degree 3-1/2″ Full Round Head Framing Nailer – Freeman Tools