Cordless Finish Nailers: A Comprehensive Guide
Power Source
Cordless finish nailers are powered by either an 18-volt or 20-volt lithium-ion rechargeable battery. While voltage can indicate power levels for many cordless tools, it isn’t an issue for finish nailers, which require 18 volts of energy during their runtime, even if they have a 20-volt battery. However, battery amp hours is a number that you will want to pay attention to, as this is the most important factor determining the amount of runtime you’ll have before needing to recharge.
The higher the amp hours, the longer the runtime. You’ll find batteries with as little as 1.5 amp hours and batteries with as much as 6 amp hours, but the majority of finish nailers sold with a battery include a 2.0 amp-hour option. However, our best angled pick, the Metabo HPT NT1865DMAS, comes with an 18-volt, 3 amp-hour battery.
Generally, manufacturers don’t provide an estimated runtime in minutes for these tools but rather tell you how many nails you can expect to shoot before needing to recharge the battery. That number can be anywhere between a few hundred and over 1,000. Our best Straight choice, the Ryobi P326, can shoot up to 1,000 nails before needing a battery recharge.
Most battery nailers have some sort of battery life indicator, usually a light on the battery, which lets you know when it’s time for a recharge.
Nail Size and Type
Finish nailers by definition use either 15-gauge or 16-gauge nails. You cannot use 15-gauge nails in a 16-gauge nailer, and vice versa. Generally, 15-gauge nails, which are slightly thicker than 16-nails and have a slightly wider head, provide greater hold, but a 16-gauge finish nailer will be a little bit lighter and smaller than a 15-gauge finish nailer. Our choice for the best 15-gauge finish nailer is the Ryobi P330.
Most finish nailers can hold around 100 nails at a time. The nails for these tools come in strips, which are loaded into the magazine. There are finish nails as short as 1 inch and as long as 3 inches, but note that most finish nailers cannot hold that full range of sizes—many nailers have a maximum of 2.5-inch nails—so be sure to check your specific model before buying nails, which are normally sold separately from the finish nailer.
Magazine
The magazine of a nailer is the holder for the nails. There are two basic types of magazines: straight and angled.
Straight-magazine finish nailers, including our best budget pick, the Craftsman CMCN616B, have a magazine that is parallel to the surface being nailed. They are quick and easy to use, and generally, the nail heads aren’t as visible in the wood, as straight nailers generally only accept 16-gauge nails, which are a bit smaller than 15-gauge nails. Usually, straight-finish nailers are less costly than angled-finish nailers, but straight nailers are generally a little heavier and are not as easy to fit into corners or other awkward spaces.
Angled-magazine finish nailers, such as our best overall pick, the DEWALT DCN660D1, have a magazine that’s at either a 20-degree, 21-degree, or 34-degree angle to the nailer. The angle makes it much easier to fit the tool into a corner or other confined space, especially with a 34-degree angled nailer, including our best heavy-duty option, the Milwaukee 2839-20.
Also, angled nailers are available in both 15-gauge and 16-gauge models. You can, of course, also use these finish nailers parallel to the surface being nailed simply by adjusting your hand position. While angled finish nailers are more versatile overall and usually weigh slightly less than straight nailers, they are also more expensive.
It’s important to note that both types of finish nailers require nails specific to either straight or angled magazines, although the nails themselves are always straight. Nails for angled finish nailers are more expensive than nails for straight nailers.
Tool Compatibility
Note that as a general rule, each manufacturer’s lithium-ion batteries can be used to power any of their battery tools with the same voltage. So, for example, if you already own a DEWALT 20-volt drill or driver, you can use that same battery to power a DEWALT 20-volt finish nailer. However, you cannot swap batteries between different brands. For this reason, if you already own 18-volt or 20-volt power tools from a particular brand, you might want to choose a finish nailer from that same brand. Most manufacturers offer their cordless tools for sale both with a battery and without the battery (called tool-only or bare-tool), so you can save money by buying a tool-only finish nailer if you already have the right battery to run it.
Additional Features
In addition to the basic features discussed above, some cordless finish nailers have additional features that can be helpful for certain projects. These features include:
- Brushless motor: A brushless motor is more efficient and durable than a traditional brushed motor, and it can provide more power and runtime.
- LED work light: An LED work light can help you see your work area better, especially in low-light conditions.
- Tool-free depth adjustment: Tool-free depth adjustment allows you to quickly and easily adjust the depth to which the nails are driven.
- Tool-free jam release: A tool-free jam release allows you to quickly and easily clear any jams that may occur.
Choosing the Right Cordless Finish Nailer
When choosing a cordless finish nailer, you need to consider the following factors:
- Power: The power of a finish nailer is determined by its voltage and amp hours. The higher the voltage and amp hours, the more powerful the nailer will be.
- Nail size and type: Finish nailers can use either 15-gauge or 16-gauge nails. 15-gauge nails are thicker and stronger than 16-gauge nails, but 16-gauge nails are smaller and lighter.
- Magazine: Finish nailers have either straight or angled magazines. Straight magazines are less expensive and easier to use, but angled magazines are more versatile and can be used in tight spaces.
- Additional features: Some finish nailers have additional features, such as brushless motors, LED work lights, tool-free depth adjustment, and tool-free jam release.
FAQ
What are the different kinds of nailers?
There are several types of nail guns, each with a slightly different use.
- Framing nailers are powerful tools used to drive the large nails used for framing and other construction purposes.
- Finish nailers shoot either 15-gauge or 16-gauge nails, and are very useful for installing large trim pieces such as baseboards, crown molding, and chair rails.
- Brad nailers shoot 18-gauge nails, making them useful for installing thin trim pieces, as well as carrying out carpentry repairs and even doing crafts.
- Pin nailers use tiny 23-gauge nails, or pins, and are used for furniture or cabinet building, as well as other delicate carpentry projects.
What is a finish nailer used for?
Finish nailers are very versatile tools that are handy for a wide range of carpentry projects. They are mostly used for installing various types of interior or exterior trim, including window trims, crown moldings, and baseboards, but they are also useful for installing hardwood flooring, building or repairing furniture and cabinets, and building staircases. That makes them one of the most useful carpentry tools for your tool collection.
Is a finish nailer stronger than a brad nailer?
“A finish nailer uses 15- to 16-gauge nails to fasten larger pieces of trim work, such as window and door trim, crown molding, and baseboards, whereas a brad nailer uses 18-gauge or smaller nails to install delicate trim pieces like base shoe molding and for other woodworking applications,” says Deane Biermeier, a certified lead carpenter and former licensed contractor.
Because a finish nailer uses either 15-gauge or 16-gauge nails, in contrast to the thinner 18-gauge nails used by a brad nailer, a finish nailer can achieve a more secure fastening between two pieces of wood. Generally, finish nailers are used for heavier tasks than brad nailers, which are mostly used to install very thin trim or carry out delicate carpentry work.
What is better: 16-gauge or 15-gauge finish nailer?
While the differences are not extreme, as a rough guideline, a 15-gauge nailer is better if you need the best hold, as 15-gauge nails are a little bit thicker than 16-gauge nails. However, a 16-gauge nailer is usually a little lighter than a 15-gauge nailer and will leave behind a smaller nail hole to fill.
