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What Is The Best Pin Nailer?
We have picked the Hitachi NP35A Pin Nailer as the top pin nailer as it is very delicate and thin. These nails are meant to be nearly invisible and are meant to help put the finishing touches on any woodworking project.
Quick Picks:
| Product Name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOSTITCH Pin Nailer 23 Gauge, 1/2-Inch to 1-3/16-Inch (HP118K) |  | |||||
| DEWALT Finish Nailer Kit, 18GA, 5/8-Inch to 2-Inch (DWFP12231) , Yellow |  | |||||
| PORTER-CABLE 20V MAX Crown Stapler, Narrow, 18GA, Tool Only (PCC791B) |  | |
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Top 5 Best Pin Nailers: Our Picks & Recommendations
- Overall: Hitachi NP35A 23 Gauge Pin Nailer
- Best Budget Pin Nailer: Freeman PP123 Pneumatic 23-Gauge 1″ Pin Nailer
- Best 23 Gauge Pin Nailers: Grex P635 23 Gauge Headless Pinner
- Best Cordless Pin Nailer: Makita TP03Z Lithium-Ion Cordless Nailer
- Best Headless Pin Nailer: Grex P650L 23 Gauge Headless Pin Nailer
When it comes to the overall process of choosing a pin nailer it is always best to consider what a pin nailer is and what you might use it for. A pin nailer is a nail gun that uses very small and very delicate nails that are 23 gauge.
These nails are meant to help finish a project and are very small and often invisible in the finished product. There are a few different things that you should be considering and taking the time to check out all the facts can help you choose the right pin nailer for your project.
What To Look For When Buying A Pin Nailer?
Fastener length
There are tons of different factors to keep in mind when you are looking for the right pin nailer. The first thing you want to consider is the nail itself.
This means looking at what fastener length is offered and what the pins themselves look like. The depth really does affect the overall quality of the project and does help you to figure out what you want in a nailer.
Some pin nailers are not able to use longer pin nails while others have enough power to drive longer fasteners. You should also be keeping the magazine in mind as well.
Magazine
It is always going to be a hassle to change out your magazine often because it does not hold enough to finish your project. You may want to look for a nailer that has a larger magazine or that also have the option to use a larger magazine with the nailer.
Rear Exhaust
Rear exhaust is another thing you might want to keep in mind. With any power tool that does use gas or other fuel, you are going to want to keep in mind that direct the exhaust away from you.
You want a nailer that is going to direct the exhaust out and away from you so that you are safe while using it and that you are not breathing in all that contamination.
Control Of Depth
Still another thing to keep in mind is the overall control of depth. You want to find a nailer that is going to be able to drive the pins as far as you want them and as deeply as they need to be driven in order to complete your project.
Most pin nailer kits are going to come with a guide that tells you just how deeply the pins can be driven and so on.
Warranty And Durability
Warranty and durability should also be front and center when choosing your pin nail gun.
With most electric pin nailer sets or pin nailers, in general, you are going to get some sort of a warranty from either the store that you purchase from or the company that makes the tool.
These warranties are going to help you to get your products replaced if they are destroyed or you are going to be able to get replacement parts as well.
Quality Versus Price
In terms of quality versus price, you may have to pay more for a nail gun or nail gun kit that has a better warranty, one that is a bit better made, or one that has more extras.
You should take the time to make sure you are looking for a pin nailer that is going to work well for you and for your particular project and what you might be going to use them for.
5 Best Pin Nailer Reviews
Here’s a list of the best pin nailers on the market today:
Best Overall
1. Hitachi NP35A 23 Gauge Pin Nailer
What You Will Love– small, easy to use, works well for a wide range of projects.
This is a great small nail gun that is only two pounds. This nail gun has great pin loading, offers a smooth driving and also offer a huge range.
You can use a variety of different fasteners from different brands with this nail gun which means you can get the best fastener for your project and can use it with this nail gun.
This option also offers an ergonomic handle that is easy and comfortable to hold, it offers a dual trigger safety to make sure that each drive is extra intentional, and it also has a rear exhaust so you can be sure that the gas, oil, and debris are all going to be put out the back and away from you and your project.
This kit also includes a depth adjuster so you can make sure your pins are driven at the correct depth and that they are also going to go all the way in. It comes with a five-year warranty from the manufacturer and it is well made and does have great impact.
This is a great nail gun for those that do want something that is small yet powerful and that does work for a huge range of different projects and can meet just about anyone’s needs.
Pros:
- Large fastener capacity
- Dual trigger
- Lightweight
- No jams
Cons:
- less powerful in some cases.
Best Budget
2. Freeman PP123 Pneumatic 23-Gauge 1″ Pin Nailer
What You Will Love– this nailer is perfect for those that are on a budget but that do not want to sacrifice quality.
This nailer is inexpensive and does offer a great bang for your buck. It has a lightweight and durable aluminum body and an ergonomic handle that is meant to help make handling and using it easy.
It has a great number of safety features including an anti-dust cap and air filter and it does take a wide range of pin sizes. This nailer can be used for just about any project that you have on hand and can also help with all your finishing needs around your home.
If you are looking for a dependable nailer that is not going to cost more than all the tools in your tool kit, this is the one you should consider. It has a great warranty and is designed to do more for less money and to really help you get the job done without having to spend hundreds of dollars to do it.
It comes with a safety that does prevent accidental firing. It can handle from ½ inch to one-inch nailers and is a great option for those that want a great nailer that is not going to cost a ton of money.
Pros:
- lightweight tool
- comfort grip
- durable aluminum body
- ergonomic grip handle
- reversible belt hook
Cons:
- Shoots double nails
- Jams too often
Best 23 Gauge Pin Nailers
3. Grex P635 23 Gauge 1-3/8-Inch Length Headless Pinner
What you will love– this nail gun is small and versatile and does offer a powerful motor.
This is a great nail gun if you want something that is truly going to help you get your money’s worth.
This is a small nail gun, but that does not mean that it is not powerful. It has a reversible belt hook included with the kit so you can wear it on your belt if you are carrying it around.
It comes with a 4-year warranty from the manufacturer so you can get it repaired or replaced. It works with fasteners all the way up to 1-3/8 inch and does work well with all wood types, even hardwoods.
It has a narrow head so it can fit into tight spaces that are going to be tough for larger nail guns. It has a patented design that eliminates the need to adjust to accommodate the different fastener sizes and also has a powerful motor that is going to go through just about any wood.
Pros:
- good warranty
- great pin size selector
- powerful motor
Cons:
- Jams frequently
- Pretty expensive
Best Cordless Pin Nailer
4. Makita TP03Z Lithium-Ion Cordless Nailer
What you will love– this is a compact nail gun that is powerful and cordless so you can move it around your worksite with great ease.
This is a nail gun that is perfect for those that might be doing work out of the shop or that are not near a readily available power outlet. This pin nailer offers six different lengths of pins from 5/8 to 1-3/8.
It has an anti dry fire mechanism that does help to reduce driving blanks and potentially damaging the surface you are working on. It also has a tool-less depth adjustment so that you can countersink your pins with ease and without having to adjust to compensate.
The refined firing mechanism works to help reduce recoil and helps to keep you moving so that you are not going to have to stop and readjust with each firing on your work surface. This is a great wireless pin nailer for those that want high quality and high power.
Pros:
- six different lengths of pins
- Good magazine capacity
- anti-dry fire mechanism
- longer run time
Cons:
- Less battery power
- Expensive
Best Headless Pin Nailer
5. Grex P650L 23 Gauge Headless Pin Nailer
What you will love- it has plenty of features like a lockout that prevents dry firing and also uses fasteners up to 2 inches in length.
This is a fantastic nailer that does work with a huge range of different fastener lengths all the way up to two inches even in hardwoods, a feat that is not easy. This nailer does have a lockout mechanism that keeps it from dry firing and damaging whatever project you are working on.
It also comes with a patented magazine that eliminates the need to adjust depending on the size of the fastener so you can move quickly and can get all the pins you need without having to stop and adjust with every new pin size.
It has a powerful motor that is going to be able to drive your fasteners through just about any woods and it does have a narrow nose to help reach into very narrow spaces for the most accurate nailing.
It has a sleek design that is easy to hold and easy to use and does have a range of safety features to help protect you and the work that you have been doing.
This is a great all-around nail gun if you are looking for something that is going to work for a huge range of projects and that is going to be easy to use and easy to work with as well.
Pros:
- great warranty
- different pin sizes
- innovative magazine
Cons:
- harder to use for very softwoods
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Pin nails are generally used as finishing nails. They may be used after the glue has set in woodworking projects, or they may also be used to help finish a project in such a way that it does not show and they do not detract from the final look.
Pin nails are very small and very delicate so they are likely not going to be visible when you do use them and they are going to be used to secure the final pieces in place on your project.
You would not use pin nails to hold larger pieces together, to keep things in place, or to do any major structural work but rather mainly for finishing purposes.
A headless pin nailer is a nailer that uses headless pins or headless nails. These are straight little pieces of metal that have no head on them and look a great deal like a nail that has simply had the head snipped off.
These are used for finishing projects. These are used to do things like put on the baseboard, do detail work, and to finish projects in such a way that they are not going to be seen.
These nailers are designed so that they can both hold and drive the pin nails easily so that you do not have to worry about them being driven too far or too short. You can set how deeply you want the pin to be driven and can also use different lengths of pins.
Pin nailers are almost exclusively going to be used for finishing projects. This might mean things like putting on baseboards, putting on small detail pieces, and working to make things very detailed and you want the nails to be invisible.
You would not use a pin nailer for any sort of structural work but could use it to put on little pieces, to put on extra parts, or to secure smaller detail finishes that really need to be intricately attached and that the nails do not need to show.
These are not a terribly common nail type and if you are not doing work that really needs to be precise and delicate, you may be able to get away with a normal nail gun.
This is a question that is best answered with some research. What might be the perfect nail gun for you may not be right for others?
You should be looking for a nail gun that is high quality but that fits into your budget, a nail gun that offers a good warranty and that does what you want it to, and one that you can work with.
A great option is the Hitachi NP35A. This is a fantastic all-around nail gun that is going to offer you a great range with a great product. This is a small nailer that is still powerful and that does offer a great bang for your buck.
When it comes down to it, however, you can really only determine what the best nail gun is for you.
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing the best pin nailer it is always going to be best to look at a few different options. If you are looking for a great all-around nailer the Hitachi is a great choice.
You can also take any of the others on the list that was chosen for their various benefits. A great nail gun really does depend on what you are looking for and taking the time to determine that can help you get the best option possible.
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