A pneumatic framing nailer gun can do a great range of jobs, from stud work to joists. You can nail down sub-flooring and even build trusses. You can fasten sheathing, nail decking, construct fences, and more. With a framing nail gun you can do all the rough wood work and more on just about any residential building. It's a very important part of constructing a wood structure.

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There are many different framing nailers on the market, from popular brands like Hitachi, Senco, Max, Bostitch, Paslode, Porter Cable, and Dewalt. How are you going to choose the best one for your needs? Since you're not intending to buy all the pneumatic framing nailers out there, you need to educate yourself on what each nail gun has to offer.

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I put this short guide together to help you do just that: choose the right nailer for your needs.

Questions to ask before you buy:

Weight - Are you concerned about the weight of the nail gun? Some builders look for the lightest framing nailer because they can work longer with less arm fatigue. That's the benefit of a light-weight nailer. Other framers don't really mind the extra 1 or so pounds. I have personally used guns as heavy as 9 pounds and as light as 7 pounds and can work just about as fast with either one.

Size - Size is also an important factor to some contractors and DIYers. A more compact sized framing nail gun can fit into tighter spaces to shoot the nails in the right spot. Some framing nailers can fit between studs and joists as narrow as 12 inches. Others are more bulky and you'll have a hard time with tight areas.

Power - Pneumatic framing nailers range quite a bit in the power to drive nails. Some nail guns can shoot nails up to 3-1/4 inches long. Others can easily drive the larger 3-1/2 inch nails. Many framers don't need to shoot nails any larger than 3-1/4 inches long. Others, on the other hand, prefer to have the extra power to drive larger nails when the need arises.

Features - What feature do you need in a nail gun? The modern guns have a vast array of features available. Some have selective triggers, where you can switch between contact nailing and sequential actuation nailing with the push of a button. Tool-free nail depth adjustment is also available on some framing nailers. A few are approved for use with specialty nails. It all depends on what you need (or want).

Choosing the Best Framing Nailer - Pneumatic Air Nail Guns

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