A nail gun is an electrical tool that uses compressed air to fire nails into wood, metal, or other materials. If you work on a woodworking project, you must be familiar with nail guns. We need this tool for various tasks.
You will see various types of nailers; Some are suitable for professional specific work, some for amateur use. To understand which one will be suitable for your type of work, you must understand how does a nail gun works. As all nailer doesn’t work following the exact mechanism.
Here we have compiled a guide on how different nail guns work. By understanding the working procedure, you can choose the right one for your work according to your requirement.
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Last update on 2023-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How Do Different Nail Guns Work?
Whatever it is an air-powered finish nailer or roofing nailer, or other types, it follows a simple mechanism. At first glance, it may seem all tools follow the same mechanism, insert a nail into the targeted surface, and pushes the next pin from the magazine forward.
However, slight differences depend on the types of nail guns. Below, we briefly explain the working mechanism of the popular nail gun.
1. See How Pneumatic Nail Gun Works
Pneumatic nail guns are the most common type of nailer. They use air pressure to operate. You need to attach an air compressor in addition to a hose. It gets the force to put the nail inside any wooden surface from the power generated from the air compressor and hose.
You will see a lot of Air Compressors for Nail Guns available in the market.
Air enters from the hose to create air pressure. The tube inside the handle gets filled with air. However, the air does not just enter and hammer down nails. There are also some safety features involved.
A valve you used in the nail gun in between the air chamber and the tube. It blocks the air from entering the return air chamber. Once you pull the trigger, the valve allows air pressure to enter the chamber.
The air pressure forces the piston and the blade forward. As a result, the piston pushes the nail in front of it and goes inside the wooden surface. Some models of pneumatic nail guns do have a hole to let the air out as the piston moves forward to push the nail.
However, another safety mechanism takes place in the process. You cannot put nails only by pressing the trigger. You also need to press the head of the nail gun on the surface. Otherwise, the nail will not come out. This feature also reduces accidents by a pneumatic air tool.
Only when you press the firing head on a hard surface, the backward force opens up ways to enter air into the air chamber.
Note: If you are searching for a powerful nailer to insert nails on a hard surface like Hardie Siding Board, check this article where we reviewed the 5 best nail guns for Hardie siding.
Another essential role of the blade is to separate one nail from another. Once a pin is pushed out, the blade acts as a barrier for the next one. So that the next nail does not come out without pressing the tip and the trigger.
Last update on 2023-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2. Combustion Powered Nail Guns Working Process
As the name suggests, combustion nail guns get their power from combustion. The internal explosion of the framing nailer creates a force to push the nails inside different wooden surfaces.
The combustion nail gun has a combustion chamber. In that chamber, gas comes from a canister. On the other hand, some sort of power is inserted in the chamber to create a spark. The power could come from a battery or electric power outlet. The power will only enter the chamber when the trigger is pulled. Otherwise, there will be no force created to hammer the nails.
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Last update on 2023-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Nonetheless, when both the gas and spark come into contact, the ignition takes place. As the combustion creates force, it makes the piston with the blade move forward. Then, with high force, the blade pushes a nail into the surface.
Similar to the pneumatic nail gun, combustion-powered nail guns also have safety features. You need to press the firing head to a hard surface to fire a nail properly.
Furthermore, the blade also works as same as the pneumatic tools. It prevents the next nail from shooting unintentionally.
3. How an Electric Powered Nail Gun Work
Unlike pneumatic or combustion nail guns with a chamber for creating force, electric-powered nail guns use spring. Therefore, there is no hollow space for air in the electric nail gun.
Instead, it has a powerful spring installed there. Electric-powered nail guns have simpler mechanisms compared to pneumatic and combustion-powered nail guns.
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| 1 |  | KIMO 18 Gauge Nail Gun Battery Powered 2 in 1... | 2,531 Reviews | $179.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Last update on 2023-03-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Moreover, inside an electric nail gun, a rotating motor is placed. The motor uses electric power to hold the spring in its place. The motor stops holding the spring back as the user pushes the trigger and presses the firing head to a surface. Therefore, the spring gets released, and with immense force, it causes the hammer.
Afterward, with such power, the hammer pushes the nail into the surface. After that, the spring comes back to its initial position.
These are the most 3 popular nailing tools. Besides these, you will see many other nail guns.
Read More
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- How To Use A Framing Nailer
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To Conclude
All these three types of nail guns work differently and work better for different purposes. Generally, professionals prefer to use pneumatic nail guns as they are more powerful and can handle heavier tasks. Combustion-powered nail guns are equally good. However, they require more care.
Lastly, electric-powered nail guns are lighter and easy to work with but not so powerful. Therefore, electric-powered nail guns are better for smaller DIY projects.
Now you know how these tools work and what is the key difference in performing the procedure. Hopefully, it will be much easier for you to choose a suitable nailgun for yourself.
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