How to Choose the Right Nail Gun For Your Project – Love & Renovations (2024)

It’s been a while since we talked about power tools basics! Today, I’m walking you through the different types of nail guns. This post goes hand in hand with my post about how to use a nail gun. So, if you’ve been wanting to learn, I recommend starting here and then heading over there for more details!

Nail guns are a tool that’s really easy to use, but they can be confusing. There are so many different types! If you don’t know what you’re looking for, it can be really overwhelming. So, I’m going to walk you through the types of nail guns, talk about nail gauges, and help you determine which nail gun is the best fit for you.

This post is mostly targeted at beginner DIYers and homeowners. So, I’m not going to cover every type of nail gun – because you probably don’t need them all! I’m specifically focusing on brad nail guns, finish nailers, and pin nail guns. But, a few other types of nail guns include…

• Framing Nailer (great for fence and deck building)
• Siding Nailer (for installing siding on home exteriors)
• Roofing Nail Gun (obviously, for roof shingles)
• Hardwood Nailer (also referred to as a flooring nailer, for installing hardwood flooring)
• Staple Gun (used for things like upholstery projects)

Many of these are for much more heavy-duty projects than most of us will be taking on. So, we’ll focus on the three types I think most DIYers can benefit from.

What Do I Use a Nail Gun For?

Let’s start with the obvious first question – what in the world do you need a nail gun for? Nail guns are tools that use power (like electricity or compressed air) to drive a nail at a high speed. Nailers drive fasteners into the wood deep enough to be largely invisible without denting the wood or causing damage. They’re much faster than using a hammer, and they’re great for projects where you don’t want any visible hardware (like you’d have with a screw).

From left to right, they’re a finish nailer, a brad nailer, and a pin nailer.

What does all that mean?

Well, in order to fully understand it, you first need to understand nail gauges. The most commonly used gauges for nails are 15, 16, and 18. The higher the gauge number, the thinner the nail.

So, a 15-gauge nail is going to be thicker (and larger) than an 18-gauge nail. And, of course, should be used for different things. If you’re working with delicate trim work, too thick of a nail could possibly split the wood. So, you’ll want to use 18-gauge nails. But, for thicker lumber where you really need some more staying power, you can use 15- or 16-gauge nails.

Now that you have a basic understanding of nail gauges, it’ll be a lot easier to understand the various nailers:

Finish Nailer

A finish nailer shoots 15- or 16-gauge nails. It should be used for projects where you aren’t worried about splitting the wood or where you need a little more staying power.

Here’s the finish nailer we use.

The thicker nails used in a finish nailer have larger, more visible nail heads. It can need a little extra work to cover them up completely. However, these nailers create a much stronger hold and can be used for more heavy duty projects.

Projects you might want a finish nailer for include…

• Baseboard
• Crown molding
• Assembling furniture or cabinetry
• Adding exterior trim or siding
• Attaching flooring
• Adding door or window casings

Brad Nailer

A brad nailer shoots 18-gauge nails and is used for more delicate projects.

This is the brad nailer we use.

You’ll want to use this type of nailer on any project where there’s a potential the nail could split the wood. So, things like thinner trim or smaller pieces of wood. The head of the nail is also smaller here, and therefore easier to cover with wood putty when you’re finishing your project.

Brad nailers should be used for projects like…

• Paneling (including beadboard!)
• Trim work
• Decorative molding
• Baseboards

Pin Nailer

And finally, we’ve got the pin nailer. Pin nails are generally 23-gauge and they have no head. This means there’s virtually no hole at all for you to cover up when you’re done! Here’s the pin nailer we use.

These are used for very specific projects, and aren’t quite as versatile as the other two. Specifically, pin nails are generally used with very thin or delicate trim. They have very little holding power on their own. When using a pin nailer, you’ll almost always also be working with wood glue and just using the nails to hold things in place while the glue dries.

So, Which One Should I Get?

The bottom line is, it all depends on what projects you’re wanting to do. We’ve constantly got something going on in our house and so all three of our nailers get regular use. However, if you’re just starting out and want something versatile that can handle most simple DIY projects, I’d recommend a brad nailer. It can handle most projects that a casual DIYer would want to try. It’s a great way to get your feet wet and learn a little more about how to use nail guns!

Do I Need An Air Compressor?

Some nail guns do require an air compressor. However, Corey and I have really fallen in love with using battery-powered tools for all of our handheld power tools, and if you’re new to using power tools I’d highly recommend you do the same!

A nail gun that requires a compressor is called a pneumatic nail gun, and a battery-powered nailer is referred to as cordless.

What’s the difference?

• Pneumatic nailers are generally cheaper, if you already have an air compressor. However, once you add in the cost of the compressor, a cordless nailer quickly becomes much cheaper.
• Pneumatic nail guns are generally smaller and lighter – the cordless models typically have quite a bit of extra weight to them thanks to the battery.
• However, on the flip side, a cordless nailer doesn’t have a hose or any attachments to worry about. You can move wherever you want without pulling an air compressor around or searching for a power source, and there’s no cords to get in your way as you work.
• Cordless nail guns are much quieter since you don’t have the air compressor noise running in the background. If you’re working with kids in the house (especially ones who nap), the cordless model is much less likely to disrupt rest time!

I think that, generally speaking, pneumatic nail guns are considered the more “advanced” option that is preferred by more intense DIYers and professionals. But, as someone who considers myself a beginner-level woodworker, I love my cordless nail guns and can’t imagine wanting to switch anytime soon!

And that’s just about everything a beginner DIYer needs to know about the types of nail guns! Need more help with power tools? Browse the posts below for tons more info!