What is a Brad Nail Gun?
A brad nailer is a tool that does finish carpentry. It is a highly versatile nail gun that can hold two pieces of wood together. It is a great tool for finishing works as well as home improvement projects. Brad nail guns are light-duty tools that fire 18-gauge nails that range from 5/8 inches to 2 inches long. They can be used for renovations and home improvement projects such as molding, upholstery, and fixing trims.
Brad nail guns are distinguished from finish nail guns because of the straight magazine rather than an angled magazine. Therefore, brad nail guns carry more nails per magazine. Also, it leaves a smaller hole compared to finish nail guns. These holes do not require filling because painting or staining is enough to cover them.
Best Brad Nail Guns Review
| Product Image | Product Name | Capacity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Numax S2-118G2 | Air-powered | Check Price |
 | Metabo HPT NT50AE2 | Corded-electric | Check Price |
 | Bostitch BT1855K | Air-powered | Check Price |
 | Porter-Cable PCC790LA | Battery-powered | Check Price |
 | Makita AF505N | Pneumatic | Check Price |
 | Craftsman CMCN618C1 | Battery-powered | Check Price |
 | Dewalt DCN680B | Battery-powered | Check Price |
 | KIMO Brad Nailer | Battery-powered | Check Price |
 | Senco (ProSeries) | Pneumatic | Check Price |
 | Bostitch BTFP12233 | Air-powered | Check Price |
1. Numax S2118G2
It is a pneumatic brad nail gun that can shoot both brad nails and narrow crown staples. The ability to shoot both staples and nails makes the Numax S2118G2 a versatile brad nail gun. It has a depth adjustment feature that ensures that you can use the tool for different applications. This brad nail gun has a no-mar nose tip to ensure that your work surface is not damaged. It accepts nail sizes ranging from 3/8 to 2 inches and staple sizes ranging from ½ to 1-5/8 inches. The only disadvantage of the Numax S2118G2 is that it is not ideal for heavy-duty use.
This brad nailer is made using a durable die-cast aluminum body and weighs 3.09 pounds. It is relatively affordable with a 360-degree adjustable exhaust, which ensures that you can direct compressed air away from you. It has a reload indicator that lights up when the nails are about to get finished in the magazine. This helps to prevent a dry fire that can damage your workpiece. Also, it has a comfortable grip that offers anti-vibration comfort. It performs well in window casing, decorative trim, and installation of shoe and crown molding.
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2. Metabo HPT NT50AE2
Metabo HPT NT50AE2 is a pneumatic brad nail gun that offers efficiency in a small frame. It has a lightweight aluminum body that ensures there is reduced fatigue as you can use it for a prolonged period. It has a selective actuation feature that helps you to easily change the type of trigger you want. You can move from sequential firing mode to bump firing mode by pressing a switch. This will be dependent on the type of project you are undertaking.
It comes with a 360-degree adjustable exhaust port to ensure that your projects remain clean because it will keep debris, oil, and dust off your finished work. Also, the exhaust ensures that the dust and debris are kept away from your face. It accepts an 18-gauge brad nail length of between 5/8 inches and 2 inches. The only disadvantage of the Metabo HTP NT50AE2 is that the decorative plastic accessories fall off.
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3. Bostitch BT1855K
It is an 18-gauge pneumatic brad nail gun that is lightweight and durable. It weighs 2.7 pounds and it is a great choice for finish and trim application. The weight and balance of Bostitch BT1855K are complemented by an ergonomic handle that helps to maximize comfort and reduce fatigue when used for longer periods. It has an ultra-quiet exhaust that directs debris and air away from you.
The magazine can hold up to 100 brad nails and accepts nails that range from 5/8 to 2-1/8 inches long. The oil-free designs enable you to get a clean work surface because there are no chances of staining. It features a selectable trigger system that offers easy switching between sequential and contact firing modes. Also, it has a dial-a-depth control for fast countersinking adjustments. It features a low fastener lockout to prevent dry fire and alerts you to reload.
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4. Porter-Cable PCC790LA
It is a cordless nail gun with good quality and performance. Porter-Cable PCC790LA has an ass rugged built body and rubberized ergonomic handle. It comes with a 1.5 Ah 20V max lithium-ion battery that powers the nail gun. Additionally, a charger is included. However, it does not come with a case.
It is equipped with a jam release lever to open the nose and remove jammed nails. The process of clearing the jammed nails is very easy for the Porter-Cable PCC790LA. Also, it has a depth of drove adjustment dial that allows you to adjust the depth of drive as per the thickness and hardness of the material.
It is one of the few brad nail guns that come with an LED light that helps in illumination when you are working. This feature is important especially when you want to be more precise like nailing inside the cabinets or any area that is not well illuminated. It weighs 5.9 pounds and thus you will not be tired when you work for long periods.
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5. Makita AF505N
Makita AF505Nis a pneumatic brad nail gun that is built to stand the test of time. It has an exhaust port that can be rotated 360 degrees to ensure that released compressed air after firing a nail will not be directed towards your face. It has a narrow nose that is very important for precision. You will be able to get too tight corners with this nail gun. The nose is also non-marring, which ensures that the nail gun does not damage your trim or your workpiece.
Makita AF505N has little recoil on the nail gun when firing brads. The little recoil of this tool helps with precision when placing nails as well as protects the surface of your workpiece from damage. It has a quick-release cam-lock close to the nose that helps in the easy release of jammed nails.
It has a red nail reload indicator that lights up when there are few nails in the magazine. Therefore, you can reload nails to avoid dry fires. The magazine can hold up to 100 nails, and this increases your work time before the need to reload.
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6. Craftsman CMCN618C1
It is an 18-gauge cordless brad nail gun that offers consistent firing power for different materials. It features a tool-free depth setting that helps you to choose between bump firing modes and sequential firing modes. Also, it has a tool-free jam and stalls setting to ensure that you can easily remove jammed nails and thus improve efficiency. It is lightweight with a good center of gravity that offers good balance and comfort when you use it for longer hours.
The magazine can hold a capacity of 100 nails. Craftsman CMCN618C1 accepts adhesive collated 18-gauge nails that range from 5/8 inches to 2 inches. It has a no-mar pad that protects your work surface from damage when you are nailing. It has a contoured over-mold handle that offers you the maximum comfort when working on your projects.
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7. Dewalt DCN680B
Dewalt DCN680B is a cordless brad nail gun with a narrow nose design that increases your line of sight. It also ensures that you can sink brads or nails accurately in the wood without damaging your material. This brad nailer fires 18-gauge nails that range from 5/8 inches to 2-1/8 inches long.
It is an ideal nail for window trims, kitchen crowns, fastening decorative moldings, shoe moldings, and casings. This brad nail gun comes with a brushless motor that is energy efficient and can be powered using any Dewalt’s 20V Max Lithium-ion batteries. It features a tool-free selectable trigger that helps you to choose between bump and sequential firing modes.
Using the tool-free depth adjustment dials, you can countersink nails at the right depth. The tool-free jam release will help you clear jams easily, even though you are likely to get few to no jams with this tool. In the case of no nails in the magazine, it cannot fire when actuated. It has a nail lockout that prevents any dry firing that can damage your projects. It comes with a rafter that helps in storage when you are not using it.
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8. KIMO Brad Nailer
It is a 2-in-1 cordless brad nail gun that allows you to use both staples and nails. This nail gun accepts an 18-gauge nail that ranges from 3/4 inches to 2 inches long and an 18-gauge staple length ranging from 3/4 inches to 1-5/8 inches. It allows you to easily alternate between bump and sequential firing modes, owing to the presence of the dual-mode toggle switch. You will also be able to adjust the firing depth using a rotation knob at the top of the nail gun.
It has a KIMO Li-ion technology that ensures that the battery is powerful and lives longer. With the 2.0 Ah battery, you can fire 700 brads into your material. It is lightweight and weighs about 6 pounds. This helps to ensure that you will not get arm and hand fatigue when you work for longer hours. It also has a pair of LED lights that are positioned in front of the nail gun, which ensures that there is illumination when you work in dark places.
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9. Senco (ProSeries)
Senco FinishPro is a user-friendly, powerful, and versatile pneumatic brad nail gun. It has an adjustable operating pressure that ranges from 70 to 160 psi, and this can be used with many portable air compressors. The tool is fairly portable and can easily drive nails through hardwood and softwood. It accepts 18-gauge brad nails of 2-1/8 inches long.
This brad nailer is a great choice if you are working on cabinetry, paneling installation, woodwork jobs, and casing. It is not only lightweight and weighs 2.5 pounds, but it also has a magnesium body, making it durable and compact as well. It features a very narrow nose that offers you great precision as you work on your projects.
The magazine allows 110 nails and can be adjusted to either sequential or bump firing modes. However, with this tool, you cannot easily tell if the nails are about to run out. Therefore, you should be careful to avoid dry firing as this can damage your projects.
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10. Bostitch BTFP12233
It comes with a Smart Point Technology where you will not need to compress the contact tip to actuate the tool. Therefore, no damage will be caused to your project. Also, it makes it easy to accurately place nails in the right position because it has a smaller nose compared to other brad nails.
It does not use oil for functionality and thus there is no risk of staining on your workpiece. Bostitch BTFP12233 has little to no jam because of the tool-free jam release mechanism. The brads and nails sink well in the wood when using the tool. The mechanism makes it easy to remove nails easily in case of any jamming.
It is lightweight with a weight of 3.1 pounds. This is important because you can use the tool for longer hours without getting tired. The magazine is very easy to load and the chances of misfire are very minimal with this tool.
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Buyer’s Guide
Nose Design: It is the nose of the brad nail gun that makes contact with your workpiece when you use it. The nose tip is also known as the tip. The nose design that you choose is important because it affects the precision of sinking nails.
Narrow noses allow more precision because it allows you to reach a tighter space with the tip. It is important to ensure that the nail gun is on the spot when you work. A narrow nose allows for a better line of sight to place your brads at the exact spot intended.
Toll-Free Jam Release: Even a good nail gun may jam when you work with it. A brad or a nail will be stuck in the nose of the nail gun and you are required to remove it fast to ensure that you continue working. Therefore, ensure that you choose a brad nail gun that has a tool-free jam or nail clearing mechanism for you to easily remove a jammed nail.
It is necessary to get an additional tool to remove the jammed nails. Brad nail guns have a tool-free jam clearing mechanism in the form of a lever that you can flip open right at the nose of the nail gun. It helps in the removal of a jammed nail. Ensure that you look for this feature before purchasing a brad nail gun. Do not gravitate towards a brad nail gun that will require an Allen wrench for it to remove a stuck nail.
Adjustment of depth: This is a very important feature for a brad nail gun. You may be required to adjust the depth that the nail gun will sink the nails into the wood, depending on the size of the nail and the thickness of the material. Most nail guns have a dial or a wheel close to the nose of the tool. Turning the dial to either side will either reduce or increase the depth.
Therefore, ensure that you have checked the depth of drive adjustment before you buy a brad nail gun as this will offer you room to adjust the depth of the nail. It also makes sure that you will not sink the nails too shallow or too deep into the material.
Anti-dry fire: This feature ensures that there is the prevention of the brad nail gun from firing when there are no nails in it. Dry fire refers to when a nail gun fires when there are no nails in the magazine. This is not good because the force of the piston going down leaves an impression on the workpiece, which is not good when working on a delicate project.
The main reason why brad nail guns are used is to ensure they achieve a delicate trim. Thus, dry fire may cause damage or may dent your project. Additionally, dry fire is not good for the tool since the continuation of dry fire damages the nail gun.
Ensure that you have prevented dry fire at all costs. This can be done by buying a nail gun with an anti-dry fire mechanism. The mechanism detects the lack of nails in the magazine and thus will not allow you to fire the nail gun.
Exhaust air control: Pneumatic nail guns are powered with compressed air from a compressor. The air gets in the nail gun and powers the mechanism that drives the nails in the material. The used air will not remain in the nail gun or will not go back to the compressor through the hose pipe. It needs to go out of the nail gun through an exhaust for you to fire another nail.
Therefore, ensure that you purchase a nail gun that has an exhaust. The exhaust should be at the rear of the nail gun and not at the nose or the front of the nail gun. This is because the air that goes into the nail gun from the compressor is not pure when it comes out through the exhaust. It is contaminated.
Therefore, if the air comes through the front, it can stain your workpiece. Choose a brad nail gun that has an air exhaust at the rear of the tool. You should also ensure that you can control the direction of the rear exhaust to ensure that it does not blow towards your face when nailing.
Nailing mode control: It is an impressive feature because you can choose how you want to nail. The two nailing modes are bump and sequential nailing. Bump nailing increases productivity. All you need to do is pull the trigger and each bump will fire. You can go as fast as you can and a nail or brad will be fired each time.
On the other hand, sequential firing mode is geared towards safety. It requires compressing the nose on the workpiece and then pulling the trigger with the nose still compressed, then a brad or nail will be fired. You cannot fire another nail when the nose is still compressed, even if you release and pull the trigger again.
When you want to fire another nail using sequential nailing mode, you are required to lift the nail gun from the workpiece and recompress the nose of the brad nail gun. Then you are required to pull the trigger again. It is a slow process but very safe, and allows for precision when firing a nail. Ensure that you buy a brad nail gun that you can easily switch between the two types of firing modes.
Ergonomics: Your work may demand you use a brad nail gun for a long period. You may feel tired or sweaty when you hold your nail gun for a long time. Therefore, ensure that you have chosen a brad nail gun that has a well-designed ergonomic handle. A rubberized handle or wraps around the handle will help you get a better grip on the nail gun. It also helps to prevent it from slipping if you get sweaty hands.
You should also ensure that the brad nail gun that you choose has a rubberized trigger. This is because you will constantly be pulling on it and thus should not be made of metal. Ergonomics is an important feature because it can easily affect your productivity and efficiency. A rubberized trigger and handle offer a soft grip on the tool and make working comfortable.
Conclusion
A brad nail gun is a very useful tool whether you are working on home improvement projects or a professional level. However, it is important to make sure that you have the best brad nail gun since it will guarantee a great and long service.
The best brad nail gun reviews above and the buyer’s guide will help you as you go for a brad nail gun hunt. These are detailed and will greatly help you choose the best brand and model.
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