You can use hammers to drive nails when tackling really small woodworking projects, but using a hammer for very large framing projects can take a huge toll on you. For projects that require driving hundreds, and maybe even thousands of nails, what you need is a framing nailer.
A good framing nailer can help you cut down hours of work laboring with a hammer.
Unlike swinging a hammer, you don’t need to exert or expend any manual force to sink the nail.
Just place the nailer tip on the wood, compress the tip, pull the trigger, and the nail will be driven into the wood in a split second.
No force exerted by you, no headache after the day’s job; the nailer does all the heavy lifting for you.
It allows you to sink several nails in minutes, cutting down the amount of time and effort you spend on your projects.
A framing nailer is just one of the different types of nail guns you can use to drive fasteners during your projects. There are also brad nailers, siding nailers, pin nailers and so on.
In this article however, we’re just focusing on framing nailers. Almost all the major tool brands and upcoming brands make their own models of framing nailers.
That’s why we’ve written this review to help you choose the right one.
Here, we’ve reviewed 9 of the best framing nailers out there so you can choose the right one for your projects.
Our Top Picks
BEST OVERALL: Bostitch F21PL
BEST CORDLESS BATTERY-POWERED UNIT: Dewalt DCN692B
BEST COIL FRAMING NAILER: Metabo HPT NV83A5
BUDGET PICK: Numax SFR2190
The Best Framing Nailers
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a framing nailer. You need to consider how easy each one is to adjust, the size of the magazine, overall weight of the nailer, firing modes, ergonomics and a whole lot more.
We’ve done all the testing and research for you, and we recommend the 9 listed below.
Bostitch F21PL Round Head Framing Nailer | Editor’s Pick
Manufactured by Stanley-Bostitch, the F21PL round head framing nailer is definitely one you need to consider if the best is truly what you’re after.
It’s one of the only framing nailers out there you can also use to drive metal connector nails. It comes with 2 nose pieces. One for plastic collated framing nails, and the other for metal connector nails.
Setting nail depth is very easy, and you have access to 2 firing modes. Both sequential and contact firing.
The build quality is what I really appreciate most about the Bostitch F21PL. It’s made with magnesium components, which makes it very lightweight but also very sturdy. If you take of it, it will last you for years.
Magazine can take up to 60 nails at once which is a lot, and helps you cover much ground in between reloads.
It also comes with a rafter hook so you don’t have to hold it on you all the time. When you done, just set it on any joist or rafter to free up your hands.
All in all, I’d say this is surely one of the best framing nailers you can get your hands on today. It’s two tools in one. With it, you can drive both plastic collated nails and metal connectors, just in this one tool.
Pros
- Can drive both plastic collated and metal connector nails
- Quality magnesium components
- It has a selective trigger for both sequential and contact firing
- Very good build quality
- It’s very lightweight when compared with similar units.
Cons
- It’s a bit pricey.
Related: 10 Best Brad Nailers For Trim Works And Projects
Numax SFR2190 – Budget Friendly
Talking about framing nailers, it will be very hard not to mention the Numax SFR2190 because it’s one of the most budget friendly options out there right now.
Even though it’s a bit cheap, the Numax SFR2190 is definitely one of the best framing nailers you can get for any job.
The body is made of magnesium just like the other top brands. Although, it’s not very lightweight. But the weight is okay (8.6 lbs.).
It features both firing modes, and there 2 different triggers, which you have to install separately for whatever firing mode you choose.
There is a black trigger for the single firing mode and a red trigger for the bump firing mode, and you can only use one trigger at a time. It comes with the black sequential firing trigger already assembled.
The magazine is designed to hold and fire 2 inch to 3-1/2 inch 21 degree framing nails, but you can also fire 20 or 22 degree nails.
One more important feature it has is anti-dry fire, which prevents the nailer from firing when there are very few nails in it, thus reducing any damage to its internal components.
Pros
- It’s budget friendly
- Quality magnesium construction.
- Ergonomic design.
- It’s lightweight
- Very easy to use.
Cons
- You have to manually switch the triggers to change from single firing mode to bump firing.
Related: 40 Modern Tools For Woodworking And Carpentry
Metabo HPT NR90AES1
The Metabo HPT NR90AES1 framing nailer used to be the Hitachi NR90AES1. It’s a new brand name, but the tool remains the same.
If you’ve had or used it before, you’d know that it’s one of the best framing nailers out there, in every aspect.
First thing you need to know about this Metabo HPT NR90AES1 is that it makes use of 21 degree framing nails sized from 2 inches to 3-1/2 inches.
It’s a pneumatic framing nailer, so you’re going to need an air compressor to run one of these. It features a selective actuation switch which you can use to quickly change the firing mode from sequential to contact nailing and vice versa.
The Metabor HPT NR90AES1 features a very handy tool-less depth adjustment dial which makes it easier to adjust the nail depth without tinkering with the air compressor pressure.
Loading and reloading the magazine is very easy and straightforward, requiring just 2 steps.
First slide the nail clip through the back into the magazine, and then push back the slider at the side of the magazine and release it to hold the nails in place.
In terms of performance, the Metabo HPT NR90AES1 drives nails flush and rarely jams. But in case it does, the open nose design provides easy access to the jammed nail allowing the user to clear it up quickly.
Metabo made the NR90AES1 very ergonomic as it weighs only 7.5 lbs which is not that heavy, it’s well-balanced and the rubber wrapped handles makes it very easy to grip and use the nailer.
Overall, I really like it, and I’d happily recommend it to you if you’re looking for a top quality framing nailer you can use to tackle the most challenging framing jobs you’ll ever find.
Pros
- It’s very lightweight
- 2 step nail loading makes loading nails in the magazine very easy.
- Jams are rare and easy to clear if they occur.
- Sturdy build and design
- Adjust depth of drive without varying air compressor pressure
Cons
- Has no rafter hook.
Related: 7 Best Air Needle Scalers For Metal Surface Preparation
Makita AN924 Round Head Framing Nailer
The Makita AN924 comes equipped with all the important features found in the best framing nailers.
First of all, it’s very lightweight for easy handling and it features a selectable trigger switch so you can quickly change between firing modes.
It also features a tool-less depth adjustment dial and a rafter hook to keep it close by when not in use.
There are rubber bumpers sticked to the sides of it which absorbs any impact in case you drop it mistakenly, thus preventing any severe damage to it.
It drives 21 degree plastic collated nails from 2 inches to 3-1/2 inches in length, and .113 to .148 inches in diameter.
The driver blade of the Makita AN924 is made with heat treated S7 steel, and the top-loading magazine is crafted out of a solid piece of aluminum, which not only makes it durable, but helps keeps it shape for a very long time.
Weighing just 8.3 lbs. it’s a bit heavy, but overall, the Makita AN924 ticks all the other bells and whistles when it comes to framing nailers.
Pros
- Very powerful. Sinks all nails flush.
- Lightweight and easy to handle
- It comes with a rafter hook for easy handling.
- Overall highly durable construction.
- Built-in air filter prevents minimizes entry of dust inside the nailer mechanism.
Cons
- It’s a bit heavy on the wrist.
Paslode 501000 F-350S PowerMaster Plus
The Paslode 501000 is called the PowerMaster Plus for a reason. It drives nails flush into any type of wood, whether hard or soft. It’s very powerful.
Paslode makes all types of framing nailers, but this particular one is my personal favorite. It’s not too big, and it’s not too small.
It’s a compact unit designed to be very easy to hold, and it’s not too heavy. You can fit it in between 16 inch studs and joists easily without any issue.
It’s surely one of the best units in this list I truly recommend for all types of framing projects.
The Paslode PowerMaster Plus fires 2 inch to 3-1/2 inch 30 degree framing nails, and it’s got a large magazine capacity, holding up to 84 nails in one go.
It’s got both sequential and bump firing modes, so you can use it at whatever mode you’re comfortable.
As for weight, it weighs about 8.4 lbs, which is a bit heavy, but not too heavy, and it pretty much makes up for that in terms of its compact size.
Pros
- Large magazine capacity saves time in between reloads
- It’s very powerful – drive nails even into hard engineered lumber.
- Very compact.
- Well balanced when held in the hand.
- Low recoil when nail is fired.
Cons
- Adjusting depth of drive requires the use of an allen wrench.
Craftsman CMCN621PLB Cordless Framing Nailer
This Craftsman CMCN621PLB is one of the best units I’d recommend for you if you’re looking for a cordless framing nailer.
There are so many reasons why I’d recommend it. Number 1 reasons is that it’s fully cordless. You don’t need hoses or gas cartridges to go with this one. Just a Craftsman compatible battery, and that’s it.
Second reason why I like it is because of its build quality. Framing nailers take a lot of abuse on the job, and they’ve got to be built strong to be able to withstand it. I can tell you, this Craftsman CMCN621PLB is top notch in terms of build quality.
Every other feature is great and works really well. Depth of drive adjustment works seamlessly.
As for power, it uses a brushless motor, and it’s powered by a 20V battery.
The magazine takes 21 degree plastic collated nails, and you can drive nails from 2 inches to 3-1/2 inches in size.
However, it weighs about 10.8 lbs, which is quite a lot. It’s way heavier than most pneumatic framing nailers. But that’s the only downside I’ve seen from it so far. In terms of performance, it really works great. It’s very easy to adjust, it rarely jams, and it’s well-built.
Pros
- It’s fully cordless. No air need for air compressors or gas cartridges required to use it
- Very good build quality
Cons
- It’s quite heavy
Metabo NR83A5 Framing Nailer
Whether you’re framing, sheathing or installing subfloors, this new Metabo NR83A5 has all the firepower you need to drive nails all day.
The first thing I noticed about it is the new design which is quite different from past Hitachi/Metabo nail guns.
It’s a bit heavy though compared to the previous NR90AES1. This is heavier. So, you need to take note of that if you’re going for this one.
In terms of firepower though, it will drive all your nails flush with ease. It has toolless depth adjustment as well, so you can adjust the nail depth depending on what you’re working with.
It’s a 21 degree framing nailer, feated with an aluminum magazine, and capable of firing nail sizes of 2 inches to 3-1/4 inches in length.
The handle with its rubber overmold feels nice and comfortable to hold. As for firing modes, it has a selective trigger. Which means you can choose between sequential and contact firing when working with it.
Finally, it comes with a rafter hook so you can store it safely when not in use.
Overall, the Metabo HPT NR83A5 is a very good and solid nail gun. Looks well built and will stand the test of time, if you ask me. The only drawback is that it’s quite heavy to carry around.
Pros
- High capacity magazine increases time in between reloads, thus reducing downtime.
- Coil magazine is side-loaded, making reloading very easy.
- Comfortable grip.
- Easily change between firing modes.
Cons
- No rafter hook.
Dewalt DCN692B Cordless Framing Nailer
The Dewalt DCN692B is another cordless framing nailer that gives you the option to escape the use of air compressors and air hoses for your nailer.
Unlike the Paslode 905600 cordless framing nailer we talked about above, which uses both battery and fuel cell, the Dewalt DCN692B is 100 percent powered by battery. All you need is Dewalts 20 Volts Max batteries, nothing else, and you can get the nailer firing as you wish.
It’s equipped with an engine consisting of a brushless motor which provides the power to drive nails ranging from 2 inch nails to 3-1/2 inch framing nails flush into any wood.
The nailer is designed to fire nails at two different speeds, one to increase the amount of nails you can fire by using less charge, while another one to fire the nails more aggressively but at the expense of using more battery juice.
So, in case you buy the Dewalt DCN692B, try the two speeds to see which one works to your taste. If the speed 1 is not driving the nails flush, then use speed 2 which drives the nails more aggressively. If speed setting 2 is too aggressive and sinks the nail too deep into the wood, use the depth adjustment dial to adjust the nailer until it fires the nail flush with the wood.
The Dewalt DCN692B is also designed to use the two firing modes, which are sequential and bump fire modes. Use sequential firing to have more control over the nailer to sink nails more accurately. Use bump or contact firing to fire away and speed up your work.
If by any chance you get any jams, you can easily remove it through the nose cap. For safety, the Dewalt DCN692B is equipped with a trigger lock mechanism to lock the trigger and prevent it from firing accidentally when it’s not in use.
Overall, I’ll simply say the Dewalt DCN692B is surely one of the best framing nailers you can acquire today. The fact that it’s not only cordless, but 100 percent powered by battery ensures that you’ll not have to spend any more money buying fuel cells to get it running.
Pros
- It’s very portable.
- No need for air compressors are hoses.
- Doesn’t use fuel cells. Only battery.
- It’s equipped with a brushless motor which is very powerful and very efficient.
Cons
- It’s selective with nails. Will not fire some nail brands. For instance, it doesn’t fire Grip-rite nails properly, but fires Paslode nails without any problem.
Metabo HPT NV83A5 Coil Framing Nailer
Coil framing nailers are great for one thing. They hold lots of nails. In fact, this particulr Metabo HPT NV83A5 holds about 300 nails in it’s magazine. That means, you get to work a long time, and you get so much done in between reloads.
But that’s not the only reason I like this Metabo NV83A5. This is not just any coil framing nailer. It’s a workhorse with everything you need to handle all types of framing projects from roof decking to subflooring projects. This will get the job done.
It’s very powerful and it’s got both trigger modes so you can work at your own pace. The magazine takes 15 degree 2 inch to 3-1/2 coil nails, and reloads can be done through the side of the magazine and it takes no time.
You can adjust the drive depth without using any tools, and jam clearing is even easier.
Overall, this Metabo HPT NV83A5 ticks all the boxes for me. If you’re looking for a coil framing nailer for your projects, you should definitely consider this one.
Pros
- Magazine holds lots of nails
- Superior build quality
- It’s very powerful. You can drive nails into all types of wood, including engineered lumber
- Has both trigger options
Cons
- It’s a bit heavy
Types Of Framing Nailers
There are two main types of framing nailers. They are pneumatic and cordless.
Pneumatic
Pneumatic framing nailers are those that uses compressed air from an air compressor as source of power. That means, if you want to get one, you also need to get a suitable air compressor machine to go along with it, unless you already have one in your workshop.
A pneumatic framing nailer works by connecting it to an air compressor using an air hose and couplings. Once connected, a pull of the trigger will cause the compressed air to drive a piston inside the nailer, which in turn, drives the nail into the wood all within a split second.
Pros
- They’re very lightweight
- Less expensive if you already have an air compressor
- No downtime – No batteries that will run down – it will continue working as long as there’s compressed air.
- Simple design
- The better choice for more heavy-duty framing application.
Cons
- Might be inconvenient to use due to long air compressor hoses you have to drag around.
- You have to spend extra money to buy an air compressor machine, if you don’t already have one.
- Requires some kind of assembly every time you need to use it – you need to connect the hose to the nailer and then to the air compressor.
Cordless Battery-Powered
Cordless or battery-powered framing nailers are operated without the use of an air compressor. Instead of compressed air, the latest cordless framing nailers typically make use of a combination of gas springs, brushless motors and batteries for power.
How does it work? Well, the major idea here is to use spring force produced by powerful gas springs. When gas is compressed, it produces a spring force which can be used to do work. This has many applications such as lifting your office chair, opening your car trunk, and driving a nail into wood.
When you press the trigger of a battery-powered nailer, the motor pushes the piston of a gas spring, which then compresses the gas (usually nitrogen) in a small cylinder. The stored energy in the compressed gas releases, producing a powerful spring force that drives the nail into the wood. All this happens within a split second.
So, with this type of nailers, all you need is a charged battery.
In the past, cordless framing nailers such as the ones produced by Paslode (shown below) make use of a combination of battery and fuel cells or cartridges as source of power.
The way it works is similar to the way normal car engines work. A pull of the trigger causes a small amount of fuel from the fuel cartridge to mix with a small volume of air. At the same time, a spark ignites the mixture which expands rapidly and provides the required force to push the piston, which in turn propels and drives the nail into the wood.
This happens so fast that you can drive up to 3 nails in just a second.
The issue with the ones that use fuel cartridges is that you have to replace the fuel cartridge continuously, which results in several expenses even after purchasing the nail gun.
On the other hand, the modern ones mentioned above which make use of gas springs does not require any other expenses on your part. All you need is to charge the batteries.
PROS
- Flexibility to use it anywhere without being limited by compressor hose. Very convenient to use.
- No assembly needed before use – you don’t need to connect hoses and couplings – just plug and play.
- Very portable
- Requires little to no maintenance.
- No need to buy an air compressor machine
- Power is not an issue – Drives nails into any type of wood
CONS
- It’s more expensive than pneumatic units
- It can be quite heavy compared with a pneumatic unit
- You need to have multiple batteries when working on a large project to avoid downtime
- If you buy the ones that require fuel cartridges operate, you continue spending money on the fuel cartridges
How To Choose The Right Framing Nailer
Whether you decide to get a pneumatic framing nailer or a cordless one, there’re some factors you need to consider when making your choice. Considering these factors or features will ensure you get the best bang for your buck, not only to save you added expense when a bad one fails, but also to provide you with more comfort and ease associated with a more ergonomic one.
Here’s what you need to consider.
Weight
If you carry out a lot of construction work and home renovation, you’d definitely want to consider the weight of a framing nailer before purchasing it. The reason for this is not hard to explain. This is something you have to carry around with you, sometimes throughout the day.
Sometimes you have to carry out overhead framing jobs which will require you to raise it up above you and nail stuff above you. If yours is too heavy, then it’s going to be a problem after some time. So, try to consider the weight of the nailer you’re going for.
Framing nailers have undergone a lot of upgrades in recent years. Hence, many today are now constructed with magnesium which is the lightest metal on earth. It’s not only the lightest, but it’s also very strong and resistant to corrosion.
Most tool manufacturing brands make use of magnesium for manufacturing tools like nailers to ensure that the tool is not too heavy for the user.
So, one easy way to check for quality and weight of the framing nailer you’re about to purchase is to check if it has magnesium components.
Size
We have to talk about size differently from weight, because a material can be very big, but can be lightweight. Something like your matrass can be very big like your sitting room, but it’s certainly lighter than the engine in your car. The weight of a material is determined by the density of the material, while size is determined by the volume it occupies.
Now, the question is why should the size of your framing nailer matter? It matters because the size determines how well it fits into tight spaces. Choosing one with a small size will allow you to use it even in tight spaces. It will go in between studs and joists easily. Whereas a big one, even if it is lightweight will not allow you to work in such space.
Pneumatic framing nailers are usually smaller than cordless units, and can fit into tighter spaces. They’re also lighter as well. So, if you really need something small, then you might want to go pneumatic.
Nail Type
Framing nailers can fire different sizes of nails from 2-inch nails to 3 ½ inch nails. Note however, that there are different types of framing nails.
There are round head nails and the clipped head nails, and one nailer cannot fire both type of nails.
Some area building codes does not allow the use of clipped head nails in building. So, it will be advisable for you to go for a framing nailer that fires full round head nails.
If your area building code allows the use of clipped head nails, then you can go ahead and get one that fires clipped head nails. Some people prefer clipped-head nails because it allows you to fit more nails into the magazine, so you can sink more nails before having to reload the magazine.
