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Buying Guide – Nailers and staplers
Buying Guide – Nailers and staplers
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Nailers and staplers:versatile and essential tools for your toolbox!
The first “modern” stapler was manufactured in 1934, and the first nail gun, 20 years later in 1954. Also known as nail guns and staple guns, nailers and staplers are utilized to fasten or hold parts or materials together. Here a little reminder on how they work: nails or staples, bought in strips or coils, are loaded into the stapler or nailer’s magazine. The hammering force comes from using either compressed air (pneumatic), a spring or an electromagnetic field (electric) to fire the staples and nails.
Being extremely useful and versatile, the nailers and staplers can make construction projects and craft significantly simpler and faster, thus, increasing the productivity with less strain and efforts.
If you are thinking about getting a brand new nailer or stapler, lookat our complete buying guide that will tell you everything you need to know about nailers and staplers.
What do I need a stapler or nailer for?
Nailers and staplers work with compressed air, electromagnetism, gas or a spring, to drive nails and staples, charged in coils and strips, for robust, high-speed fastening of materials.Nail guns and staple gunshaveone of these two types oftrigger mechanisms:
- Contact trip (or continuous firing):This mechanismallows the user to “bump fire” staples and nails simpleby pressing the nose of the tool against the surface while holding down the trigger. This technique is extremely useful forproduction-type work (such as shingling a roof). This "bump nailing" mechanism takes some time to get used to. Indeed,the tool candrive two fasteners if the user doesn’t life it fast enough. Also, accidental contact can end upin unintendednail discharge or ricochet.
- Sequential trip (or intermittent) firing: This mechanismrequires the user to first press the nose of the gun against the nailing surface and then pull the trigger. To drive a second nail, the user lifts the tool, releases the trigger, and then repeats the above sequence. This technique is the safer of the two
There are many models of nailers that come with both triggers. This approach allows the user to choose the one he finds the most appropriate for his project. Only a few models offer only one or the other mechanisms.
Staplers work mostly in the same way. However, somespecialized tools, such as the upholstery stapler, workjust like a standard hand stapler: squeezing the trigger fires the staple. However, aflooring staplerneedsa mallet or hammer to strike the firing pad and drive the staple in.
Stapler and nailer types
If you are not sure about the type of nailer or stapler that you need, here is an overview of the models available on the market in order to make an informed choice.
Type of tool | Description | Application |
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Stapler![]() |
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Stapler/Nailer![]() |
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Micro-Pin Nailer![]() |
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Framing Nailer![]() |
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Roofing Nailer![]() |
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Siding Nailer ![]() |
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Flooring Stapler![]() |
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Palm Nailer![]() |
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Refills
Nail and staple refills come in strips or coils.Here is an overview of the models available on the market in order to make an informed choice.
Strips
- Loading a nail strip is fast and easy.All you need to do it to slide the strip into the nail or staple gun’s magazine.
- A strip can vary in quantity depending on the nail’s type, e.g. 20 to 40 for framing nails and up to 120 for pin nails.
- The tool's housing is slimmer than a coil nail gun. A strip nailer works better in tightand confinedareas.
- Some models take only one strip at a timeandothers can be loaded with two strips.
- The cost per nail is higher than for coil nails.
Coils
- The coil must be threaded, that takes a little bit more time and handling for refills.
- The coil canister holdsbetween120 to 300 fasteners. Coil nailers need to be reloaded less often than strip nailers.
- More nails, however, make the tool heavier, and by extension, somewhat more unwieldy.The cost per nail is lower than for strip nails.
Generally, the nails are covered with a dual-function coating, for lubricating and strengthening. When the nail is hammered in the surfaceor material,the intense friction heats the coating to melting point and lubricates the nail as it slides through. When the coating cools, itallows the nail to bond to the nailing surface, thus, increasing the holding strength. Roofing nails do not have this coating.
Nail and Coil Types
Nail types | Angle | Features | Models |
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Brad Nails![]() |
90° |
Headless/finish nails (or staples) glued together to make a strip. |
Staplers, stapler/nailersStraight finish nailers |
Framing Nails![]() |
20° - 21° | Round-head nails held together by plastic. This type of strip holds fewer nails because they are widely spaced. | Framing nailers |
Paper Collated Framing Nails![]() |
28° - 34° |
Clipped-head nails (provide more nails per strip) held together by paper tape. This type of nails are the most economical alternative. |
Framing nailers(paper-collated framing nailers are the most popular) |
Wire Collated Nails![]() |
28° |
Clipped-head nails heldtogether by wire strips |
Framing nailers |
Coil Nails![]() |
15° - 16° |
Full round-head nails, held together by wire strips and rolled. |
Roofing nailers, framing nailers, siding nailers |
Staplers and Nailers’ power sources
Nailersand staplers use different power sources for different projects and purposes. Look at the chart below to learn about the power sources used by each of them, with their different uses and features.
Power Source | Portability | How it works | Features |
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CompressedAir (Pneumatic)![]() |
Poor |
The compressed air must drive the piston down to propel the nail out of the chamber. |
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Gas powered![]() |
Excellent |
With a gas-powered stapler or nailer, thegun's battery sends a charge to a spark plug. This ignites the gas, creating a small explosion. The resulting pressure propels the piston downward, so that the nail is shot from the gun. |
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Electromagnetic (Battery powered)![]() |
Good |
The battery powers a mechanism (solenoid) to produce an electromagnetic force (electromagnet) that pushes the piston out, thus, driving the nail out. |
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Corded Nailer and Stapler![]() |
Poor |
An electric motor compresses the spring, which drives the nail into the material |
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How to pick the right nailer and / or stapler for the job you need it for?
Applications | Stapler | Stapler/nailer | Finish nailer | Strip framing nailer | Coil framing nailer | Roofing nailer | Siding nailer |
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Craft work and small projects | Very good | Best | Good | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Attaching baseboards, mouldings, picture rails | N/A | Best | Very Good | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Building furniture | Very good (forhidden areas) | Very Good | Best | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Building house frames, decks, etc. | N/A | N/A | N/A | Best | Very good | N/A | N/A |
Building pallets, fences and other sturdy installations | N/A | N/A | N/A | Very good | Best | N/A | N/A |
Installing siding | N/A | Best(for finishing) | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Best (for installation) |
Laying asphalt shingles | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Best | N/A |
Questions?
If you have questions about nailers and staplesand their components, or if you can’t find the information that you have been looking for, you can contact us by phone or email, or come visit us to our hardware and tool shop at the address below. You can also buy you tools online and get fast shipping everywhere in Canada or free in-store pickup at our store location.
Federated Tool – Retail Store
(click on the address for directions)
Toll Free: 1-800-387-0608
Phone: (519) 451-0100
Fax: (519) 451-9376
Email: sales@federatedtool.com
Shop online at federatedtool.com !