A best nail gun for crafts is a must-have tool for driving nails to the right depth for the strongest connection without leaving marks that are easy to see. Also, it can do a wide range of projects accurately and easily, such as fencing, woodworking, finishing, or framing.
But nail guns come in different styles and are used for different things, making it hard to choose the right one. So, after doing a lot of research, we’ve come up with a list of the top 5 nail guns for crafts.
The nail guns we looked at can do a lot of different things and are good for both home and business use. Even though they do different things and look different, they are all very easy to use, load the nail, and keep from jamming on their own, making them a must-have for any hobbyist’s toolbox.
Table of Contents
Best Nail Gun for Crafts
Even so, the guide has some helpful tips on how to use the nail gun for the first time, clear jams, buy a guide, and keep it in good shape. So it’s a lot of useful information about nail guns that you need to check out to make the purchase worth it.
5. NEU MASTER: Best Electric Nail Gun for Crafts
- This two-in-one nail gun and staple gun can be used for a wide range of craft projects without a compressor or hose.
- It’s the best nail gun for a shiplap project because the nose is made of a rubber that doesn’t leave marks, so the job will look great.
- With a soft grip handle, this ergonomic nail gun won’t make you tired after using it for a long time.
- This inexpensive nail gun has a power setting that lets you drive nails precisely, no matter what surface you are working on.
Our top pick for the best nail gun for crafts and upholstery is the NEU MASTER Brad Nailer and Staple Gun combo. It’s especially hard to find a nail gun that can fire brad nails that are larger than 5/8″ and up to 1-1/4″. If you follow the instructions from the manufacturer, not even a 1″ brad nail will get stuck in any woodworking or carpentry project.
It’s an electric nail gun with a lot of power, but it won’t be very flexible. But you should still use a short extension cord if you care more about power than flexibility. The fact that the manufacturer replaced the broken nail gun instead of fixing it is also impressive.
What we like
- The nail gun costs a fair amount and comes with 800 brad nails and 200 staples. Even though the nail gun is built to last and has features that make it easy to use, such as a soft-grip handle and adjustable power, the customer service is also very good.
What we didn’t like
- This nail gun isn’t good for use on roofs or floors. Also, a long extension cord can make the nail gun less powerful.
4. NuMax: Best Framing Nailer for Crafting
- The framing nailer can be used with 16-gauge straight finish nails to do a lot of different jobs.
- The quick jam release feature on the small nail gun for crafts makes it easy to get the stuck fastener out quickly.
- With a body made of die-cast aluminum and a handle that is easy to hold, it is more durable and can be used with comfort and accuracy.
- This pneumatic nail gun has a safety tip that won’t leave marks and a hardened steel drive blade to keep it from breaking and make it last longer.
This NuMax Pneumatic Finish Nailer has an unbeatable price that’s almost the same as renting from a home improvement store. If you have an air compressor and want a Finish Nailer that is easy to use and doesn’t weigh much, you might want to look into one of the best nail guns.
More importantly, it’s a solidly built nail gun that requires little maintenance and is easy to use for precise tasks like framing, flooring, roofing, and siding. This makes it a good tool for both occasional DIYers and professional contractors.
What we like
- The Air tool oil and adjustment tools that come with this pneumatic nail gun make it easier to keep it in good shape and work precisely on a variety of surfaces. The gun is also strong, easy to use, and light. It comes with a 1 year limited warranty.
What we didn’t like
- The nail gun might stop firing all of a sudden, and it might be hard to fire it when it’s on its side.
3. Hitachi: Best small Nail Gun for Crafts
- This pin nailer has two tips that don’t leave marks and a large plastic housing shield that makes it easy to use and keeps accidents from happening.
- This nail gun has a depth adjustment that lets you drive the nail into the work surface in the safest way possible.
- It’s the best nail gun for crafts, and it has a handy reload indicator on the magazine so it won’t dry fire.
- It’s easy to use and comfortable to hold. It has a dual trigger and a nose plate that you can take off so you can place nails safely and accurately and easily clear jams.
Want a high-quality pin nailer that can nail with the most accuracy and leave marks that are almost impossible to see? You will make the right choice if you buy this Hitachi NP35A Pin Nailer. With its depth adjustment, reload indicator, and no-mar tips, this pin nailer lets you drive nails accurately into a wide range of surfaces without leaving a mark that’s easy to see. One important feature is that the fasteners can hold up to 100 nails.
So, if you have the best nip nailer, you won’t have to release nails as often, which will make driving tasks more consistent and help you get more done. This nail gun works with 5/8 to 1-3/8 Pin Nails, so you can use it for a variety of nailing projects for up to 5 years.
What we like
- This nailer comes with a safety glass, a bar wrench, and a 5-year warranty. Even so, the gun had some impressive features, like a big capacity for fasteners, two triggers, depth adjustment, a nose plate that could be taken off, and a big housing shield.
What we didn’t like
- To get the jamb tool out, you will need a tool. The case it comes in is also a little bit bigger.
2. DEWALT: Best Nail Gun for Crafting
- This lightweight nail gun’s magazine can be loaded from the bottom, which speeds up the process of putting nails in.
- It works with five different types of staples and brads so it can be used for a wide range of tasks.
- This cheap nail gun is made of metal, so it can handle rough conditions on the job site.
- With its ergonomic handle, this nail gun will keep your hands from getting tired during long projects.
DeWalt is one of the oldest companies that makes power tools, and it is a well-known name among do-it-yourselfers because of how reliable it is. So, if a DIYer wants to use this DEWALT 5-in-1 multi-tasker at home for light-duty nailing jobs at a low price, it will exceed their expectations.
It’s the best and cheapest nail gun, and it works with a variety of staples and brads, so it can be used for a lot of different things, like attaching light trim and putting in carpet. It has a metal body, but even though it weighs only 3 pounds, it is a very light brad nailer. So this nail gun will last for years without making your hands tired.
What we like
- This nail gun is very cheap, has a strong metal body, and can be used with 5 different types of staples and brads. The nail gun also makes it easy to load nails and change the depth so that you can drive nails accurately.
What we didn’t like
- The nail gun’s instructions are hard to read, and it doesn’t have much power to drive nails through pine boards.
1. Freeman: Pneumatic Nail Gun for Crafts
- This pneumatic nail gun makes a hole in solid wood that is almost impossible to see.
- The handle is made to be easy to hold so that your hands don’t get tired and you can place the pins accurately.
- Its trigger has a safety feature to keep it from firing by accident.
- The body of the pneumatic nail gun is made of strong aluminum to make it last longer.
The Freeman Pneumatic Nail Gun is the last best nail gun for crafts, picture frames, and molding on our list. It is a lightweight nail gun that works with air and has a strong aluminum body that can handle hard work. Aside from these, this pneumatic nail gun has a lot of cool features that make the job easier, such as a safety trigger, an ergonomic handgrip, and a belt hook that can be turned around.
More importantly, this nail gun can be used with a 23-Gauge 1″ Micro Pinner, which means it can be used for any nailing project, such as roofing, siding, or framing.
What we like
- This pin nailer costs a fair amount and comes with safety goggles, a belt hook, adjustment tools, and air tool oil to make it easier to maintain and use. The pneumatic nail gun is easy to carry and can be used for many different craft projects. It also comes with a huge 7-year warranty.
What we didn’t like
- The nail gun doesn’t have a safety feature for the tip pressure, and it’s hard to change the depth, especially on soft materials.
How to Choose the Best Nail Gun for Crafts
A nail gun is not a low-cost tool to make. To make investments worth it, think about these things along with what you like:
Types
Most nail guns fall into three main categories based on their power and how they can be used. But of the three types, a nail gun with a cord is the most common. It needs to stay close to the plug. Some of the best nail guns come with longer cords so you can cover a large area. Cordless nail guns are more flexible, but they are not as strong as their corded counterparts.
It runs on a battery that only lasts for a certain amount of time. Craftsmen often use pneumatic nail guns, which use pressurized air to fire the nails. It is also very strong, but it takes a lot of work to keep up. You can use any of these nail guns, depending on the project and what you need.
Performance
A nail gun should be easy to use and be able to drive a nail through a surface without leaving any marks. If you need a tool mostly for small trimming, the most important thing is how powerful it is. On the other hand, jamming can slow down a project, so choose a nailer that doesn’t need tools. A nail gun with a dust cup can be a deal-breaker because it can catch all the dust and keep the gun from jamming.
Weight
A heavy nail gun won’t be good if you have to work for a long time, and it can be even worse if you have to work at an angle or up high. So choose a nail gun that weighs less than 2 pounds or even less.
Change the depth
It’s a very important factor that has a big effect on how accurate the project will be. With a nail gun that lets you change the depth, you can drive the nail at the right depth for the job.
Comparing Brad Nailers and Finish Nailers
You’re not sure which is the best nail gun for crafts. Is it a finish nailer or a nailer for brads? Both nail guns are similar in some ways, but they are also made for different things. We’ve listed some of the most important differences between these two nail guns in the next section to help you choose the best one for crafts:
Hole size
Both nail guns make holes on the work surface that are different sizes. But if you use a brad nailer, you will need more putty to cover the hole it makes in the wood surface than if you use a finish nailer. But when you use brad nailers, you won’t see any holes in the material.
Nails
Finish nailers can drive 15 or 16 gauge nails, while brad nailers can drive 18 gauge nails. The table below will help you learn more about how nail guns drive nails:
Power
One of these two finishing nailers is stronger and can drive a nail through thick and heavy trim. On the other hand, a brad nailer is great for finishing thinner trim where a nail gun can get in the way.
Uses
When used on wood, the brand of nailer won’t break or crack. Even so, it’s better to use a brad nailer than to drive a nail into a corner, since finish nailers can damage the edge of the corner.
Which is better, the Finish nailer or the Brad nailer?
Choosing the right nail gun depends a lot on how heavy and thick the piece being worked on is. Finish nailers are the way to go if you want to work with thick plywood or hardwood. On the other hand, you can use a brad nailer to drive nails into thinner pieces of wood without cracking, splitting, or damaging the corners.
Finish nailer vs. Brad nailer
More importantly, the brad nailer uses an 18-gauge nail, which is perfect for securing a light or finishing a delicate project without leaving marks. The Brad nailer is also useful for many DIY projects, like making a picture frame out of scrap wood and other materials.
How to properly load a nail gun the first time
Using a nail gun is a risky thing to do. So the operator needs to be very careful, especially if they are just starting out. To use a nail gun safely, you should first put on a pair of heavy-duty goggles and an eye shield. Don’t plug the nail gun in or turn it on until you’re done loading the nails, or a nail could come out by accident.
Track down the magazine.
The place where the magazine goes in a nail gun can be different from one brand to the next, so it is helpful to read the user manual for a specific model. It will show you where the magazine is and tell you what kind of nail works with the gun. The magazine, on the other hand, is at the bottom of the device.
Set the nail gun up.
To stop the nail from going in the wrong direction, point the nail gun upside down and toward the ground. Even so, it will make it easier to load the magazine.
Pick the right nail for your gun.
After reading the user manual, you should know which nail works best with your gun. If so, go to a store or shop online to find the right nail. If you put the wrong nail in the gun, it can get stuck. If you’re not sure which one to use, ask the storekeeper for help.
Join the gun to the air compressor.
If you are using an older nail gun, check to see if there are any nails in the magazine before you put new nails in. But you should be worried if you are trying to learn how to use a new nail gun. Connect the nail gun to the compressor by pushing the tube of the compressor into the coupler on the gun and putting the sleeve back on.
Put the nails in
Slide the pusher out of the magazine and put the nail strip on the magazine. Now, put a little pressure on the nail strip and push it into the gun until you hear a click. Make sure the nails are facing the front of the nail gun and are still at an angle.
Change the button.
Most of the time, a pusher is used to hold the nail in place and load it one at a time into the drive system. So, after putting in the nail, put the pusher back in place and let it do its job.
How to fix a nail gun that won’t work
A nail gun getting stuck is a common problem that people who do their own work have to deal with. If you pull the trigger and nothing comes out, it’s most likely because the nailers are jammed. To find the jam in a nail gun used for crafts, just follow these steps:
First, put on your safety gloves and goggles, because safety is very important. Follow the nail gun model and turn off the nail gun and take out the battery or unplug the power cord. Don’t get too close to the nail gun while you’re working on it. Now, clean under the gun with a rag and open the gun’s case.
Find the release level to get the jammed nail out. However, not all models have a lever that makes this easy. If your nail gun doesn’t have one, you’ll have to use pliers to get the nails out, which also takes time. Take the nail out of the gun that isn’t facing right and fill it up. After that, put the nail gun back together and turn it on to use it again.
Some important tips for keeping your Nail Gun for Crafts in good shape
When using a craft tool that shoots sharp nails, safety is the most important thing. So, taking care of the nail can help it work better and make sure that every part works at its best. Properly taking care of a nail gun will not only make it last longer, but it will also keep you safe. Some must follow steps for maintenance:
Put in a Little Oil
For the nail gun to work well, the parts that move need to be oiled. Apply a few drops of light oil (Air tool oil is better) to the nail gun’s moving parts and the bottom fitting every so often before you use it. Use your figure to put oil on the O-rings while you are oiling the air fitting.
The air compressor is used to clean the Feed System.
Don’t put lubricant in the feed system, because it can pull debris in instead of getting rid of it. If it’s a pneumatic nail gun, clean the feed system with a rag first, but don’t leave any fabric in the way while you work. Then, use an air compressor and a nail gun to clear out the junk in the feed system. This step should be done often.
Frequently tighten the bolts and screws.
The constant shaking of the nail gun as it works can eventually loosen the screws and bolts. If you notice any loose screws or bolts while the machine is running, tighten them right away. Otherwise, once a month will be fine.
Check the battery in the nail gun.
Only step for nail guns without cords. Skip this step if you have other models. Checking the battery’s charge level is important, but it’s also important to check the date it was made. Always try to start the nail gun with a fully charged battery for the longest run time. If the battery has passed its expiration date, you should replace it.
Fix the broken parts right away.
If you find any broken parts when you check the nail gun, fix or replace them right away. Delays can cost the project money and hurt people very badly. Most nail guns come with a long warranty that can help you fix the problem, but don’t count on the warranty if it’s a small problem.
Questions and Answers about the Best Nail Gun for Crafts
Which nail gun is best for home projects?
Overall, the best nail gun for home projects is the NEU MASTER Electric Brad Nailer for Crafts. It is a very powerful electric nail gun that works with 1-1/4″ brad nails and can be used for a wide range of woodworking, upholstery, and craft projects.
Which nail gun is the most useful?
The WORKPRO 6-in-1 Staple Gun for Crafts is the most useful and affordable nail gun on the market. This nail gun can drive many different types of nails and staples through different surfaces with the right amount of force. It keeps nails from getting stuck automatically, and it’s very easy to guide and drive the nail.
What is the best nail gun for fences?
The best nail gun for fences is the NEU MASTER Electric Brad Nailer. This nail gun has a smooth finish and a high level of power that can be adjusted. It will help you build a wooden fence precisely. Even you will be able to trust this nail gun during the framing process and put the nail in the right place.
What size nail should I use to frame?
It’s important to choose the right size of nail, especially when framing walls inside. If the nail is too long, it will be hard to drive, but if it is too short, it won’t hold the connection well. Use 3 1/2-inch nails, which are also called 16-penny and 16-d, to frame better and more securely.
Who makes the best nail gun for finishing?
The NuMax SFN64 Pneumatic Straight Finish Nailer is the best finish nail gun that NuMax makes. It’s a reliable pneumatic nail gun that can be bought for a price that can’t be beat. This 16-gauge straight finish nailer keeps fasteners from getting stuck and has a depth adjustment so you can drive nails accurately. So, every time you use it, you’ll be able to nail straight to a good finish.
Use the best nail gun for making things.
With this guide, you should be able to find the best nail gun for crafts, framing, upholstery, roofing, and other nailing projects. The nail guns we looked at are versatile, easy to use, and good at what they do.
But they have different ways of running, different budgets, and different goals that investors should think about. Don’t forget to buy safety measures and follow the tips and instructions that come with your nail gun to practice enough to avoid any accidents. Lastly, if the recommendation doesn’t help you enough, the buying guide will.
