Just been pondering buying myself a nail gun for generic DIY jobs (attaching fence panels just to give one example).
What's a good all-round nail gun?
Do most guns take different length (and width) of nails?
Are they expensive to run ? (ie are the nails, etc particularly expensive)?
I don't want to spend a fortune for something that I'll only use occasionally, so the cheaper the better. :)
thanks
No such thing.
I have a range of them from a small 22gauge pin nailer which is used for temporarily attaching small pieces of wood during gluing, through brad and finish nailers of
18, 16 and 15ga sizes used for more substantial temporary fixing to permanent fixing of small to mid sized components, and finally a framing nailer which would be more the range for fixing fence panels.Each has a small range of applications and others will be too small or too large for the job.
Most take a single nail gauge, although there are a few which take a range over a small variation. For example, a number of framing nailers will take 2.8 and 3.1mm nails.
Range of length varies by nailer type and manufacturer, but a 2:1 or
3:1 range is typical.
The nails are not expensive unless you go for more specialised ones like stainless steel which are relatively more expensive anyway.
Decent ones are not cheap.
Forget about the electric ones which are generally fairly useless.
The pneumatic ones are generally quite good, but you do need a compressor - although they are not that expensive.
In the construction industry, Paslode is a well respected product. This one is cordless and uses a small explosive mechanism from a gas cartridge. You have to buy these as a consumable item with their nails. The nailer costs around £350
Many thanks for the info and advice. :)
Do tell where you get your nails cheap,Andy because I've found them very dear at Screwfix.
Do you mean Paslode or in general?
I have entirely pneumatic nailers.
There are various places for nails, but I've found a good selection at
They will obtain others to order, although may have minimum quantity if it's a special type.
For example I needed some specific stainless steel ones and min qty was
2000 IIRC.
Agreed. I'm on my forth different one.
I've tried various makes for two specific jobs; fixing the backs on flat pack furniture & fixing laminate floor edge strip. Nothing heavy.
Ended up with an SIP 18v jobby which is OK. Rapesco are completely useless and have terrible after sales service & a Stanley one I bought developed the nasty habit of firing brads sideways.
For fencing? have you got a compressor?
Legth yes, width, depends on the type of gun.
Pnumatic ones are dirt cheap to run, but tether you to a compressor. Electic ones are also cheap but usually of limited power. Gas and cartridge nailers are more expensive to run but work anywhere.
Think carefully if you want to be handling a cheap firearm.
Have a read of the FAQ for background info on the different types:
I've got both the 1st fix and 2nd fix Paslodes asnd they are mustard. I use the second fix for flooring and the backs of kitchen units, very good bits of kit
What Andy said.
I've used the Paslode gas chappy and found it very usefull...I can't recall the exact length of nails but it accepted two sizes, one was approx 90mm, the other may have been around 75-80mm...it was used to erect some studding (very quick) and to affix roof and ceiling joists to each other and to the wallplate, this is where it comes into it's own because it's nailed down from both sides before it's got a chance to move! - IE a 6 X 2 timber stood upright being stitched through the bottom on an angle, tends to bounce all over the place using a claw hammer, and then again when stitching from the other side, with the paslode it's bang-bang, finished, move onto the next one
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.