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framing nailer is not one of the prettiest power tools in the world. It may look like an unholy lovechild of a praying mantis and the alien from Alien vs Predator franchise. But rest assured, these tough-lookin' devices have a soul, and our TopProducts team of experts suspects it may be positioned in its magazine along with the nails! While we’re interested to hear what you, the consumer, would have to say about this particular topic, we've actually ventured here to help you pick the perfect framing nailer for you, so that you can inspect its technical prowess and maybe even spirituality in the comfort of your own home. Before you've made the purchase, we'd like to present to you a couple of important consideration factors that make these devices what they are-
a nail-spewing contraption of overpower and utter building site domination! First of all, you want to look at the nailer's casing. The important qualities of a good casing would be durability and lightweight design.
A big and bulky nailer model may look like an attractive deal at first, but mind you, the art of creating the optimal power tool is much more sophisticated than just going for the
bigger means better motto. Typically, many manufacturers opt for magnesium as their material of choice as it's both tough and lightweight, so in other words, perfect for hand-operated utensils such as a framing nailer! When maneuverability is in question, about the only nail-striking piece of machinery that can surpass a framing nail would be
a traditional nail gun, of which we also have a review, if you're interested.
Further on, the design of the magazine can play an important role in organizing your working tempo, which may prove to be a more important aspect of using a framing nailer than you'd expect. The lightweight build is also quite important with magazines, as you'll be mounting and dismounting them quite often during your work day. Most manufacturers go with anodized aluminum as it’s easy to clean and un-jam should a nail get stuck in it- which happens every now and again, even with the best brands.
Depth adjustment is yet another important property of these remarkable nail-handling devices! Since a working man's or woman's daily routine may include several different working surfaces to stick nails into, knowing that you can quickly change the depth at which your nails will enter the material can be a major relief—it would suck to have the thing you’re fixing splinter instead!
Now, there's also a certain option that's available with some models which tackles the annoying inconveniences of using a framing nailer- in advance! Namely,
quick jam releases are mechanisms that allow you to quickly change a magazine when a jam happens without having to take the whole appliance apart and possibly call the tech support! Those kinds of situations can make you want to smash the thing to smithereens! (For this unpleasant activity we would advise you choose
any of the 5 hammers we've proposed in one of our other reviews.)
All in all, these would be the main factors to take into consideration when buying a framing nailer. (Oh yes, if you happen to be in search of a gas chainsaw, feel free to consult our
gas chainsaw review - you may find something interesting there.)
Price
As is the case with a vast variety of power tools, the price is probably the most unpopular part of owning one. Whether it's chainsaws or drill presses, you need to put in quite a few bucks if you want a good piece of equipment. Framing nailers are no exception to this. About the only way you'd be able to shave off a couple of bucks from your final receipt is to carefully take into consideration the properties of your dream nailer and then try to buy one that's closest to that in reality! Typically, a big and easy-to-change magazine, and a two-mode nailing mechanism are the most important features to look out for. Also, less expensive materials such as aluminum usually mean less money spent grand total—but it might impact quality. In conclusion, the most important thing is to ensure that the device at hand answers to your own needs, so choose carefully!
Features
Organizing your finances before purchasing a framing nailer is often a tough and unforgiving task, but if you take into account all the important things that make one of these devices a builder's best friend, you can really say you've made the right investment at the end of the day! Read on and find out what to pay attention to when treating yourself to a brand new framing nailer,
The list of the most common properties a top tier framing nailer may possess:
- Quick-Jam Release
- Durable Construction
- Ergonomic Grip
- The Magazine Capacity
- Anti-Dust Cap
- No-Sleep Teeth
- Interchangeable Trigger
- Carrying Case
- Warranty
Typically, most manufacturers offer a 1-year limited warranty on construction, but if you dig deep enough, you can also find some gems with
a glorious 7-year warranty! (As is the case with the Bostitch model occupying the third spot on our list.)
Construction and Design
In the world of power tools and other related technical appliances, framing nailers are the Ugly Betty type of utensil that other stuck-up appliances don't talk to. And yes, this is due to their mantis-like construction- let's get that out of the way. Similarly to Ugly Betty, though, framing nailers often have razor sharp non-slip teeth! And if we take into consideration the other plucky features these bad boys possess, such as sizeable magazines and two-mode triggers, it becomes obvious that your typical framing nailer is a tough predator beast which really doesn't require any justification or recognition from anyone (especially not some squishy utensils which can't drive a nail into any surface)! To protect the precious insides of their bodies, nailers typically come equipped with durable yet lightweight casings. Nowadays, manufacturers opt for magnesium as their material of choice for this sacred purpose. Other than that, it would be perhaps also worth noting that the only flaw of these otherwise brilliant nail-driving contraptions is that they can get stuck every now and then, but that's an issue more annoying in nature than actually troubling- so not a biggie, all in all.
Performance and Ease of Use
As complicated as they can get, framing nailers are a kind of power tool that are actually quite easy to use once you get a hang of it. What you do is- load the magazine, stick it up in the slot, and then just shoot away to your heart's content! Although jams will occur occasionally, they are an easy fix that won't really represent a major disturbance in your respectable workflow. Having said that, any kind of nailer or nail-shooting device, so to speak, is no toy, and you should always follow the instructions closely and make sure not to rush your task at hand while you're wielding it! Mishandling can cause serious injuries or even death, so before you start using one of these, take your time and get familiar with it. If you're careful and use it at a slow pace, a framing nailer can be your best workplace ally for years to come!
Stitching up a surface is only going to be as easy as your tools allow. Therefore, waste no time and get yourself a tough piece of nailin' machinery appropriately named- a framing nailer! These utensils can shoot a number of nails per minute so that no surface is left unstitched after a long day of work! Check out our top 5 picks for this category and make your choice!
