Brad nailers are ideal for precise and minute wood works like molding, trimming, paneling, and cabinetry purposes. Brad nailers are nothing but nail guns that use brads (thin gauged nails) for lightweight woodworks. Usually, brads don’t come with a large head, so that firing them will not create any visible holes. This makes brad nailers the exemplary tool for finely detailed projects. With this tool, there is no need to fill the holes with wood putty which usually makes the wood look darker at the applied spots.
Working with detailed trims is quite a task. If you use a thicker gauge, there are higher probabilities of wastage of wood and the precision might miss. Whereas a brad nailer can help you get the work done flawlessly with its thin gauge, and also there is no compromise on the timber because of its potential to make smaller holes. Brad nailer is the perfect replacement for a hammer. Hammering is a tedious process that may be faulty and it can also hurt your hand. Especially when it comes to binding thin nails, using a hammer is a nightmare.
To ease your process of binding light timbers and to bring in the flawless details, it is advisable to make use of a brad nailer. The market is filled with a variety of brad nailers. Some are electric nailers while some require hoses and gas cartridges to operate. There are also multiple gauges to select from and the price range is something to focus on. While there are numerous parameters to consider it is common to feel a choice paradox. To make your brad nailer selection process less daunting, we have formulated the best 10 brad nailers along with a buying guide.
Table of Contents
Best Brad Nailers
1. DEWALT DWFP12231 Brad Nailer : Best Brad Nailer Overall
DEWALT DWFP12231 is one of the best brad nailers. It is an 18 gauge brad nailer that comes with a 100 nail capacity cartridge. You will be able to bind nails to a depth of ⅝ inches to 2 inches. It is the best because of its low maintenance and high performance. The motor of DEWALT DWFP12231 is claimed to last longer and stronger. This brad nailer also requires no oil therefore there are no chances of stains or drips on the timber.
Another noticeable advantage of this nailer is that it requires no tools to release the jammed nails. You don’t have to stop in the middle of your work to release the jam, replace the pusher, and continue. The material of the grip is so soft that it enables you to work with it for a longer period without any strain. There is a rear exhaust in the brad nailer that keeps away any wood or sawdust from the work area, making it seamless. You will also be able to keep the nailer with you easily with the help of an adjustable hook.
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2. Porter-Cable BN200C : Best Alternative to DEWALT DWFP12231
A porter cable brad nailer is one of its kind. It comes with an oil-free motor. It means that you are free from oiling the nailer frequently to keep it up and running. Since the nailer is oil-free you are good to escape from any leaks or stains that damage your workspace. This makes the porter cable brad nailer win the crowd.You will require a compressor to apply pressure on the nails to fire it. The pressure range can be somewhere between 70 to 120 PSI. It also drives the nail to a depth of ⅝ inches to 2 inches.
The porter cable brad nailer is made up of magnesium. This feature makes the nailer light and easy to carry. This also comes with an adjustable hook to hang on your tool belt so that your brad nailer is always within your reach. BNC200C brad nailer comes with a singular firing mode. That is, you will only be able to bind the nails in sequential order. If you are looking for a brad nailer for contact or bump fire, then porter-cable isn’t the choice.
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3. Grex H850LX : Best Premium Pick
With a 21 gauge brad nailer, you will be able to work precisely than ever before. It has an edge guide that enables you to work faster with great accuracy. This edge guide is easy to set, use, and adjust. Another amazing feature of H850LX is that it has a single button that can aid you in the rapid completion of a project using 7 reserve pins. It also has an auto-lock feature that prevents your nailer from dry firing. It comes with high precision tolerance making it convenient for you to do detailed work.
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4. Hitachi NT65M2S : Best 16 Gauge Brad Nailer
Hitachi NT65M23 is one of the top picks among the 16 gauge brad nailer. It has a tool-free nail release feature along with an exhaust at the rear of the tool. It also comes with a dust button that clears the dust on the workpiece with just a blow of air.
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5. NuMax SFN64 : Best 3-in-1 Brad Nailer
NuMax SFN64 stands out for its budget-friendliness and sheer quality. Another imperative attribute of this type of brad nailer is that it is a 3 in 1 unit. It can inculcate brads, nails, and staples. It has a stupendous design with an easy-grip that won’t hurt your hand if held for a long time.
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6. Bostitch BTFP12233 : No Separate Tool Required for Removing Jam nails
This is an electrically powered brad nailer that assists in doing your work with great precision. The nail placement and actuation of the tool are seamless with a Bostich BTFP12233.
It comes with a low maintenance oil-free motor making it, even more, easier for you. No tools are required to release the jam nails so that you no need to pause your work every time to release a nail.
This type of brad nailer has a selective firing mode. You have the option to choose between a sequential or a contact fire. A rear exhaust in the tool helps you clear away the debris.
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7. WEN 61720 : Best Budget Pick
WEN stands out for its cost-effectiveness. Even though it is just a basic model, it does not compromise on the quality. This type of brad nailer is made up of lightweight material making it easy to handle. It also comes with a rubber grip so that you can work longer hours without getting exhausted. It has a magazine reloader and a tool-free jam release. An air compressor is required to pressurize the nails to fire. However, WEN is compatible with any type of air compressor available. Note that you will have to maintain the tool properly and carefully.
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8. SENCO FinishPro : Made of Magnesium and Lightweight
It is a flexible and durable tool that possesses high-grade quality. SENCO FinishPro brad Nailer is made up of magnesium and hence it is so lightweight and easy to use. You can fire nails up to 2 inches deep. It also comes with a selective trigger option so you can choose your mode of firing. The tool is also equipped with a magazine reload indicator.
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How to choose the brad nailer according to your convenience by knowing the types of brad nailers?
Even before knowing the criteria to be considered while buying a product, we should first be aware of the major varieties of that product available in the market. So that we can distill our ideas for the better.
How to choose a brad nailer depending upon your usage:
The size of the gauge will decide the penetration and the size of the hole a brad nailer makes and also other factors like nails and staples will also influence the role it plays.
Conclusion
It is high time that we spend more time researching products well before buying the best brad nailer. This process can save much of your time, money, and energy. Instead of blindly trusting a few reviews and investing your money, get a distilled wisdom about the product you are going to purchase by knowing its features, working, and so on.
In the case of brad nailers, it is quite an uncommon tool in most houses unless they have their purpose. So, referring to more guides like this and also trying the products yourself if possible can rule out many inconveniences in the future. It is also important to consider your safety while using sharp tools like this. So, inspect the status of your tool before beginning the work and also protect yourself with goggles.
