* If you click a link on this page and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Framing nailers have a wide range of types and collations, just as they have a wide range of uses. Framing nailers are by far the most flexible type of nail gun because they have an exclusive feature: angles.
However, the framing nailer’s angle doesn’t only mean the inclination at which the nail is driven, it also refers to nail collation.
Framing nailers also fire the nails straight or perpendicularly. The degree of angle in framing nailers determines the kind of nail collation used, whether it is stick collation or coil collation.
There is one difference between the two types; it is the number of nails each has. Stick collations have fewer nails than coiled collations. Therefore, when loading the nailer, it requires a fewer number of stick nails.
Moreover, the framing nailer degree depends on the type of your project, whether it is sticking joists or tightening nails, or construction work.
From these two types, there are four types of framing nailer angles from which you can choose:
Table of Contents
highly recommended Framing Nailer
Freeman P4FRFNCB
READ NEXT:
1. 15- Degree Framing Nailers
15- degree nailers have coil collated nails that are held by wire trips and inclined at a 15-degree angle. They are used for their ability to access floor joists, wall studs, and tight corners found in framing applications.
However, they are not very popular among professionals and construction workers because they are extremely heavy.
2. 21-Degree Framing Nailers
The 21-degree nailer’s magazine is designed to be at the same level as the angle of nails’ clip. The nails are held together with a plastic strip.
They can handle nails of lengths 2 to 3-1/4 inches. Therefore, these nails are more likely to be used in construction work and house redecorating jobs.
The advantage of these nailers is their high-speed ejection. However, unlike the 15-degree nailer, their nails are not coil collated nails. The plastic strip holding their nails is loose.
It breaks into fine pieces when the nail is fired.
Its main disadvantage is its low capacity per clip. If you are using it for high-frequency work, you must reload it when frequency increases.
READ NEXT:
3. 28-Degree Framing Nailers
The 28-degree are similar to the 30 to 34-degree. They can reach tight places with no problems.
They are similar to 15-degree nailers in their collation of nails. In the 28-degree nailer, nails are held together using wires. These wires allow more nails to be spaced out.
So, nail magazines become longer in 28-degree than in 15-degree. Therefore, they are capable of firing three different styles of nails; the fully round head is the most suitable one.
It can also fire offset head and the clipped head nails.
READ NEXT:
- Flooring Nailer
- Roofing Nailer
- Electric Brad Nailer
- Nail Guns Work
- Use A Framing Nailer
- Types of Nails Guns
- Use a Brad Nailer
- Finishing Nails For Baseboards
4. 30 to 34-Degree Framing Nailers
Even though the 30 to 34-degree framing nailers are better than the 21-degree regarding handling and feasibility, they use the same head nails. However, their nails are held together with paper rather than with plastic. This gives them the ability to create a longer nail magazine to go with it.
So, why are they better than 21-degree nailers?
This is due to a couple of extra advantages they hold; they are much lighter in weight. They are easy to carry and don’t take much space. Another advantage is that they can fit into tight spaces that the 21-degree nailer can never reach.
Although, both the 28-degree nails and 30-degree nails can reach tight places, they differ in the collation of their nails. 30-degree nailers hold their nails together with a paper strip that allows great consequence in nailing.
On the other hand, the nails in 28-degree nailers are further apart due to the space the wire takes. This means that the magazine must be longer to hold two or more clips.
So, this difference means that 30-degree nails have better performance than 28-degree ones.
highly recommended Framing Nailer
Metabo HPT
FAQs
Can I use 28 degree nails in a 21 degree nailer?
No. If you are going to be using your pneumatic tools for any length of time, it is recommended that you always keep the same type and size nails in them as this will help prevent jams from occurring.
The most common cause of air tool jamming is due to inappropriate or incompatible fasteners used in different types of equipment.
Which framing nailer angle is suitable for trim work?
A framing nailer is used in a variety of construction projects, but when the tool isn’t being used for wider applications such as flooring and siding, it typically has an 18 degree angle.
A trim work framer usually needs to have less power so that fitting nails into tight spaces don’t cause any issues with jamming or misfires.
It’s best to use a 15 degree nail gun- as this will give you more control over your line while still giving you enough power to drive home tough-topping nails without extra effort on your part.
Can you use 21 degree nails in a 22 degree nail gun?
21 degree nails will work in a 22 nail gun, but they are not recommended. The reason for this is because the 21-degree angle of the framing nailer makes it more difficult to drive the nails into wooden joints and frames with ease. When using a 20° framer, you can drive nails much easier until they hit their mark.
What nails should I use for baseboards?
Nails for baseboards should be a little wider than the width of your nailer to give you more surface area. For example, if you are using an 18 gauge air compressor with 20° framing nails, use 16-gauge nails that will have twice as much contact and coverage on your board.
The best way to make sure your nailing job is done right is by investing in one of these four popular brands: Paslode Guns, Hitachi Nailers, Senco Gun, or Bostitch Air Compressors.
If safety matters most then try out the Paslode guns which are designed without any moving parts so they can’t fail under pressure during job sites where accidents happen often most often.
If you are looking for an air compressor that is convenient, then the Hitachi nailers and Senco guns have digital gauges which allow quick adjustments of your tool pressure to match different job sites with varying material thicknesses.
If durability means a lot to you then consider one of these best sellers – the Paslode Bostitch or the Senco gun.
These guns can withstand pressures up to 900 pounds per square inch (psi) and won’t wear out during long job sites where they may be used all day by many people who need them on site.
With their heavy-duty design, these two brands will last longer than any other brand available today on the market.
Do you need a nail gun for a trim?
The Paslode Bostitch nail guns are the best choice for trim work. They are lightweight and easy to handle, which is what makes them a great option when you need to go upstairs or lug around an air compressor all day long.
Paslode has also developed its own 18-gauge finishing nails that will provide your finish with better protection against moisture damage.
A woodworker may want something heavier duty though if they do not have to walk so far between projects as these guns cannot withstand high pressures like some of the other models on this list can.
What is the best nail gun for crafts?
The best nail gun for crafts is a compressor-less finish nailer.
Pneumatic air compressors are used with pneumatic tools, such as the power saw and drill, to reduce the amount of effort needed to operate them by supplying pressurized air at an adequate flow rate (volume).
Air compressors vary in size from units that can be carried around easily to large industrial machines.
Conclusion
These various angles shouldn’t confuse you. The best degree of framing nailer to professionals is the 30-degree nailer.
This is because of its large capacity, great performance, and ability to work in tight places. And the best degree for construction work is the 28-degree nailer. This is due to its capability to use different nails.
But this doesn’t mean that any of those nailers should be the best for you. Choosing the best degree nailer should be based on your personal preference, what kind you can work with, and what do you need it for.
The inclination of angles doesn’t constitute a great difference as a framing nailer’s basic structure is to fire straight forward through the workpiece. So, when choosing the best degree of framing nailer, always consider what you want to do with it.
If you are a beginner and you want to build something from scratch, try and use the 15-degree nailer because the wire holding the nails allows you to fire one nail by one.
