I need a good nail gun.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Do you want pneumatic, cordless, or corded?

R has a pneumatic one that is freaking awesome, but he's currently drooling over a cordless one by DeWalt.

[simpsongal]

I haven't used it yet but DH got me a Dewalt finishing nailer for my birthday. I ened to buy an air compressor to use it. I'd be hesitant to buy a nail gun that's battery powered - probably hard to use on anything but pine. I think this one was like $200. I generally go Dewalt for power tools.

Check consumer reports - or google - I remember finding a whole comparison page on nailers.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Pneumatic is powered by an air compressor. Great if you already have a compressor or if your H is wanting one anyway. The downside is that if you do that route, you have to get a portable compressor - those big ones that stay in the garage only work on projects being completed in the garage, or else you have to buy the worlds longest pneumatic hose.

The battery powered ones are pretty neat, but there's a reloading time in between, so that's the downside of those.
The corded ones, of course, tie you to the electrical sockets.

[FoxInFiji]

May 23, 2013 11:32:29 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I haven't used it yet but DH got me a Dewalt finishing nailer for my birthday. I ened to buy an air compressor to use it. I'd be hesitant to buy a nail gun that's battery powered - probably hard to use on anything but pine. I think this one was like $200. I generally go Dewalt for power tools.

Check consumer reports - or google - I remember finding a whole comparison page on nailers.

I agree stick with pnuematic and buy a small "pancake" air compressor.  Cordless nail guns are only good for small finish nails.  Even then you can only shoot so many nails before you need to buy more fuel canisters and recharge the battery.  They are nice because they are small, easy to move around (get one with a handle), and don't tip over if your using the full length of your tubing. 



Also the coiled pnuematic tubing is nice because it doesn't get all tangled up and stays out of your way while you work. 

You really need to know what you want to use the nail gun for before you buy one though.  There are brad nailers, finish nail guns, framing nail guns, roofing nail guns, staple nail guns, and HW floor nailers.  No one can do more than one of those jobs because they are all different types of nails/staples/brads.  Here's a site that reviews some of those categories:
www.galttech.com/research/household-diy-tools/best-nail-gun.php

Stick with a well known brand like DeWalt, Bostitch, Stanley, or Porter-Cable and you'll be fine.  This blog does a lot of good tool reviews:
www.oneprojectcloser.com/topics/tools/

[ktzmoh]

Definitely would recommend the set up I have - Porter Cable set from HD - comes with the compressor, plus 18 and 16 gauge nail gun attachments. It's not too expensive (~250 if i recall) and it's been solidly awesome for the type of projects I do - not crazy involved carpentry: baseboards, shelving, planters, etc.

[FoxInFiji]

OK well both of those projects would need a finish nailer. In that case you can consider a cordless but they will be more expensive and need fuel canisters as I noted above. Here's a cordless finish nailer review that might help direct you at what to consider:
www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/power-tools/cordless-nail-gun-comparison-test?click=main_sr

Personally I'd stick with a pnuematic. The nail guns are cheaper and you'll be half way there for any other nail gun you want to buy in the future. Air compressors are very versatile and can be used with lots of other tools both inside and out (like power washers). We got our pancake style as a Christmas present but they are often on sale for less than $100.

[wawa]

May 23, 2013 12:36:44 GMT -5 FoxInFiji said:

OK well both of those projects would need a finish nailer. In that case you can consider a cordless but they will be more expensive and need fuel canisters as I noted above. Here's a cordless finish nailer review that might help direct you at what to consider:
www.popularmechanics.com/home/reviews/power-tools/cordless-nail-gun-comparison-test?click=main_sr

Personally I'd stick with a pnuematic. The nail guns are cheaper and you'll be half way there for any other nail gun you want to buy in the future. Air compressors are very versatile and can be used with lots of other tools both inside and out (like power washers). We got our pancake style as a Christmas present but they are often on sale for less than $100.

All of this.  Including the christmas present.  (beats the time MH asked his parents for a ladder and a wheelbarrow..)

Just go ahead and get a compressor. I think we might have the same porter cable set from HD that ktzmoh has.  Works great.  Has everything we need to do all the work we've done.  Framing, trim...even random "hey honey, can you fix that drawer on my dresser that keeps falling apart?"  

Compressor with the staple gun will also come in handy when I pick back up with my reupholstery projects.  My electric staple gun struggles with some of the really HARD old wood in the furniture frames.  

And it's nice to have a compressor for just random stuff...blowing up tires, blasting drywall dust or sawdust off myself after sanding things above my head.