Crafting is much more fun when you are equipped with tools that make your work lighter and faster. A nail gun is one such tool that shouldn’t be missing from your arsenal especially if you frequently drive nails.
What are the best nail guns for crafts? The best nail gun for crafts is lightweight, accurate, and versatile enough for a range of craft materials. Brad nailers are the most popular nail guns for crafts.
Whether giving your good old hammer (and biceps) a deserved break or looking to upgrade your old nail gun, we’ve got you covered. Read on for a detailed buying guide and recommendations for the best nail guns for crafts.
How To Choose The Best Nail Gun For Crafts
The nail gun market is overwhelmingly huge to not shop without a strategy or guidance. To find the best nail gun that suits your crafting needs, a few factors must be taken into consideration.
Type Of Nail Gun
There are various types of nail guns like siding, framing, flooring, and roofing nail guns. As their names suggest, these are project-specific guns, and for that matter heavy duty. They would be overkill for the everyday crafter and will likely split and crack thin wood.
A Brad nail gun would be the best nail gun for crafts. It is small and easy to maneuver and performs optimally for light and medium-duty tasks that do not require anything more than 18ga 2″ (or less) brad nails.
But if you want a nail gun for heavier projects like wood building and construction, a finishing nail gun is the better option.
Power Source
Nail guns can be corded (Electric), cordless (battery operated), or pneumatic. As with many other power tools, corded versions have proven to be more powerful than their battery-run counterparts.
Cordless nail guns on the other hand have the advantage of mobility. They are highly portable enabling you to work from anywhere and not be constrained by a plug. If that’s your preference, ensure the battery is powerful and provides acceptable run time before needing to recharge.
Lastly are pneumatic powered nail guns. These are powered by air compressors and are super powerful. They are ideal if you already possess an air compressor -you’ll spend less.
But for quick crafts, you wouldn’t want to be bothered bringing out hoses and canisters for such a small job.
The Best Nail Guns For Crafts
The following are the best nail guns for crafting purposes.
| Rank | Product | Product |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Electric Brad Nailer, NEU MASTER NTC0040 Electric Nail Gun | Electric, lightweight, sturdy construction, outstanding nail drive, adjustable power, comfy ergonomic grip, and non-marring nose |
| 2. | PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Cordless Brad Nailer Kit | Cordless, excellent firing power, long battery run time, LED lights, easy-adjust depth, and anti-marring tip |
| 3. | NuMax S2-118G2 Pneumatic 2-In-1 18-Gauge 2" Brad Nailer | Pneumatic, superior driving power, light aluminum body, knob depth adjustment, anti-vibration soft grip, 100 magazine capacity, and a 360° rotating vent |
| 4. | KIMO 20V 18 Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer/Stapler Kit | Cordless, dual firing modes, LED lights, easy knob depth adjustments, battery, a carrying bag, and starter nails |
| 5. | Ryobi P320 Airstrike 18 Volt One+ Lithium-Ion Cordless Brad Nailer | Cordless, compact, sturdy, powerful, LED light, low nail indicator, and adjustable firing depth |
| 6. | DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Brad Nailer Kit | Cordless, multi-angle firing, precision nose tip, jam indicator, dry firing lock, dual firing modes, and tool-free jam release |
| 7. | STANLEY Electric Nail and Staple Gun | Electric, compact, lightweight, two power modes, nail reload indicator, flush nose tip, and an extra-long cord |
1. Electric Brad Nailer, NEU MASTER NTC0040 Electric Nail Gun
For an electric brad nailer, your search ends with NEU MASTER because trust us, you won’t get anything of more outstanding value.
For starters, it is a high-quality electric nail gun that is affordable and gets all your small projects done.
If you already did a little digging of your own, you should know that an electric nail gun is hard to come by, especially a good-quality one.
With NEU MASTER NTC0040, you can ditch air compressors and forget about the buying or constant charging and finally the replacement of batteries.
Just plug it in and get to work. It has plenty of power for excellent performance on a range of crafts and random household jobs. It sends your 1 ¼ inch nails or shorter, all the way in, and doubles up as a staple gun too.
The power setting is adjustable allowing you to switch depending on your skill level or type of job. The unit is relatively light with a comfy molded grip and ergonomically designed handle for a fatigue-free time.
We also loved that it has a non-marring nose and unlike typical nail guns, won’t leave unwanted indentations on your crafts. This rare super convenient electric gem is a must-have tool in every DIYer’s kit.
2. PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Cordless Brad Nailer Kit
If you are for tools that get you crafting on the go, the PORTER-CABLE will give you a run for your money. Unlike many battery-run devices that seem to struggle with consistent firing power, PORTER-CABLE is a powerhouse.
It provides swift precise nail shooting at the pull of a trigger. The battery gives you about 1000 nails worth of shots which is above average for most cordless nail guns.
PORTER-CABLE is sturdily built which contributes to some extra heft but is still very comfortable and durable. A rubber tip is provided for the nose to prevent surface marring and LED lights to brighten dark areas.
It’s easy to load, use, and adjust depth, and is quiet too. This is a high high-quality with a solid feel that you’ll enjoy working with effectively and jam-free for the longest time.
3. NuMax S2-118G2 Pneumatic 2-In-1 18-Gauge 2″ Brad Nailer
Nothing beats the power of an air compressor. So if you’ve tested the battery or electric versions and they just don’t seem to cut it for you, you can try the NuMax pneumatic brad nailer.
While modestly priced, it doesn’t skimp on quality. The 2-in-1 nailer and staple gun will provide you the most powerful drive for brad nails of up to 2 inches in all kinds of crafts material, even hardwood.
The NuMax magazine’s capacity is 100 and its aluminum frame makes it very light in weight. A soft grip padding with vibration resistance provides superior comfort when operational.
The firing depth adjustment requires no tools. It is fitted with a knob that turns clockwise for that.
Like other pneumatics, it can be a bit noisy which may be irritating. But at least the air or debris will not be a nuisance to your face because the vent rotates at 360° and you can push it to whatever angle away from you.
Remember you have to buy an air compressor to go with this model which will seriously inflate your budget. However, if you already have an air compressor that you use with other pneumatic tools, NuMax is the deal.
4. KIMO 20V 18 Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer/Stapler Kit
Another fantastic yet modestly priced cordless brad nailer is KIMO. The 2-in-1 nail gun cum staple gun ticks all the right boxes.
The cordless nail gun comes ready with a battery that provides all-day nail firing power when fully charged. Compactly designed and lightweight, it fits well even in tight spaces and overhead jobs will be equally a breeze.
It is packed full of features which goes to show that the manufacturer had the users’ needs in mind. There is LED lighting to assist with visibility in poorly lit areas and a battery drain/nail run out/jamming indicator.
Both single and sequential firing modes are available and there’s an easy-access switch for that. Also, depth adjustment is as simple as the turning of a knob located on the top.
The KIMO has so much to offer for the price and comes ready to use out of the box with brad nails and a storage bag.
The one common issue with the unit as some users reported is how tedious it is to clear nail jamming and disrupts workflow. Other than that it is a little great tool for occasional light building.
5. Ryobi P320 Airstrike 18 Volt One+ Lithium-Ion Cordless Brad Nailer
Another solid investment for burying your nails perfectly would be the Ryobi p320.
It is a small and light yet sturdily built unit that tackles a range of crafts and projects like molding, cabinetry, and trim work effectively.
Ryobi brings you the convenience of a cordless nailer but with the performance of an air compressor-powered one. This is a rare combination of qualities to find in a cordless brad nailer.
Among its many features are a low nail indicator, LED lights for illuminating your workspace, and adjustable settings for different firing depths.
Unfortunately, the purchase doesn’t include the battery which is a bummer. You have to spend extra and can’t use it right out of the box. But the good news is all Ryobi devices use the same battery so that won’t be hard to find especially if you already own a Ryobi tool.
6. DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Brad Nailer Kit
DeWalt brand needs no introduction to the tool-savvy folks and this nailer matches up to that hype.
The cordless brad nailer offers smooth firing from any angle. The nose is designed with a precise tip for improved linear accuracy.
There’s no lag between fires and a jam indicator signals you when there’s an issue.
Its construction is rugged enough to withstand day-to-day abuse and a single charge can fire over 700 brad nails.
There’s really nothing negative about this tool except that it is very large compared to KIMO and Ryobi above thus slightly cumbersome.
7. STANLEY Electric Nail and Staple Gun
Another nailer option for everyday small crafts is the Stanley nail gun. It is comparatively cheap and makes an excellent entry-level nailer.
The electric model is ideal for beginners as it is easy to use without the added pressure for additional hose, canisters, charging, etc.
It is pretty compact and lightweight providing effortless maneuverability backed by an extra-long 8-foot cord.
The nail gun has two power modes. You can toggle between high and low depending on the softness or hardness of the item making it versatile for a range of materials e.g. laminate, wood, etc.
It has a handful of other perks such as a nail reload indicator, anti-jam mechanism, and contoured grip for comfort.
This Stanley is compatible only with brad nails under an inch, you know those tiny ones that would be practically impossible to hammer without striking your finger.
The Stanley is a perfect budget-friendly nail cum staple gun with sufficient power drive for light projects like putting up signs, upholstering, etc. But for bulky labor-intensive crafts or hardwood, you may want to look elsewhere as the power would be underwhelming.
Its build also feels plasticky so definitely not for tradesmen as it won’t hold up to professional use, but again ideal for the occasional DIYers.
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