Nail guns can offer incredible power. However, sometimes, too much power means a rough finish to the job. This is okay in some areas, but in others where you need a neat finish, this is going to cause more problems than it solves. Fortunately, you can also get nailers that don’t use the maximum power and are suitable for these very jobs that require a bit more finesse. These nail guns are called siding nailers, but what are they for?
In this post, we’ll take you through the differences between siding nailers and other nail guns, ask what are the benefits of sliding nailers, and give you the low down on what to look out for when buying a siding nailer. We will also run you through a few of our favorite siding nailers for different tasks and budgets.
What is the best Coil Nailer for siding?
What is a siding nailer?
The differences between siding nailers and other powered nail guns can be quite small. However, there are important differences and it is useful to know what each type of nail gun does to make sure you choose the right tool for the right job. A siding nailer is specifically designed to be used with materials like wood and vinyl used as a siding material used as cladding on the exterior of houses.
Siding nailers use special nails capable of holding up these long pieces of material for a long time and often use ring shank nails as their design helps it grip into place and hold the siding in place for longer. Vinyl siding nail guns are designed to cope with the expansion and contraction of siding vinyl which happens in the sunshine and leaves enough space that prevents this causing the vinyl to crack. You can get cordless siding nailers and vinyl siding nailers that are pneumatic or battery powered.
Siding nailers tend to use long nails due to the fact they have to hold a significant amount of weight. However, the best siding nailers (such as the Max siding nailer) should come with depth-of-drive adjustment so you can adapt this for different materials and tasks. This gives you some flexibility with how you use a siding nail gun but it is generally best used just for siding if you do have another type of nail gun available for different tasks.
What is the difference between a siding nailer and a framing nail gun?
The main difference between a framing nail gun and a siding nail gun are that roofing nailers use longer nails. Framing nailers need to penetrate deeply and have even more holding strength than siding nail guns. Whereas a siding nailer uses nails ranging from 1 and a quarter inches through to 2 and a half inches, the best framing nailers (such as the Paslode framing nailer) can deal with nails up to 3 and a half inches or more.
Framing nailers are the heaviest duty nail gun and, as a result, tend to weigh a lot more than siding nailers, about 9lbs in comparison to 5lbs. You can use this type of nail gun for Hardie siding. However, if you were to try and use a framing nailer instead of a siding nailer for siding work, you would quickly tire. You would also find the finish is not as tidy as a framing nailer is designed to join 2X4’s together rather than deal with thin siding for your house.
What is the difference between a siding nailer and a roofing nail gun?
Roofing nail guns tend not to have depth-of-drive adjustment because they are designed for the single task of roofing. The roofing task requires nails to be relatively easy to remove once installed since it makes the task of re-roofing or fixing the roof that much easier when the nail has not disappeared into the hole it creates. For this reason, roofing nails also have a wider head.
As roofing nails typically only have to go through materials like asphalt or fierglass they are also shorter, making it easier still to remove them when the time comes. These coil siding nailers also use coil roofing nails which helps you go longer without needing a refill which is handy when you’ve climbed all the way up on to your roof!
What to look for in a nail gun
When it comes to buying a nail gun, you may find you come across a range of words that you don’t understand and struggle to understand how you choose an appropriate nailer for your needs. Here, we outline some key considerations to help you make sure you make the right choice:
#1 What is collation?
The type of nails that are used in nail guns are known as ‘collated nails’. This simply means nails that are linked together in some way, either in a strip or in a coil. They can be connected with anything from glue and plastic to paper and wire. Some nail guns are capable of dealing with nails collated in plastic and wire, but some will need nails collated in just one way. Wire-collated nails are more expensive, but tend to be both more reliable and more durable.
#2 Are you after versatility?
Whilst it is usually important to pick an appropriate nailer for the specific task (eg. roofing, framing, siding, etc.), it is beneficial to have a degree of versatility. For example, if you can choose a nailer that offers depth-adjustment, you can work with more material types than one that doesn’t.
#3 Is it portable?
Do you need a nailer that is easy to transport? If you need lots of power a pneumatic nail gun is great, but you will need an air compressor as well so you need to take this into consideration. Cordless and battery-powered nailers are the most transportable but can’t reach the power of a pneumatic nail gun. You also want to think about weight, if it is really heavy, then you will only be able to use it for short tasks at a time and it will be harder to maneuver into hard to reach places.
#4 What safety features does it have?
Even with the best of intentions, we can sometimes leave a nail gun where we shouldn’t. We also want any debris caused by the nail gun to be disposed of safely. Make sure the nail gun you choose has a range of safety features, such as a safety lock when you are not using it and a decent protective guard to deal with flying debris. You’ll also want to check it doesn’t easily jam with nails as this is a pain to deal with if it happens regularly.
#5 How fast is it?
Some nail guns have plenty of power but require lots of recharge time. For larger tasks, this can quickly become frustrating, especially if they don’t actually require a great deal of power. Check on the performance and speed of the nail gun you choose and decide if it meets your requirements.
What are the best siding nailers?
From Makita siding nailers to Harbor Freight siding nailers, Home Depot siding nailers, Hitachi coil siding nailers and beyond, there is a huge range of high-quality nail gun brands to choose from. Here, we outline some of our favorite siding nail guns for specific tasks and to suit every budgetary need. If it’s nails you are after, we recommend Hardie siding nails for nail gun.
#1 Best Value Pneumatic Coil Siding Nailer: Freeman Siding Nailer
This excellent siding coil nail gun with pneumatic power is lightweight, easy to maneuver, and comfy to hold even for long jobs. This is also a particularly versatile nailer due to its impressive power that means you can use it on anything from cement siding to decking. The magazine is a decent size, holding up to 400 nails at a given time whilst the fact it can take both wire and plastic collated nails adds to its versatility.
Other pros of this nail gun are that: it is seriously durable and designed to last; it has excellent safety features, such as a safety lock, no-mar tip, and an exhaust that is adjustable to 360 degrees; it has built in depth-adjustment making it easy to customize the depth you fire your nails in, and; it is easy to refill and to track when your magazine is getting low. The downside of this nailer is that you will need to buy an air compressor to power it.
#Pneumatic_Nail_Gun #Pneumatic_Nailer #Freeman #Siding_Nailer #Siding_Nail_Gun
#2 Best Value Pneumatic Coil Siding Nailer: Dewalt Nailer DW66C-1
If you have a bit more to spend and are looking for a pneumatic nailer for siding, you’ll love this Dewalt siding nailer. At under 5lbs this nailer is lightweight and portable but stills packs a punch when it comes to power with adjustable pressure of between 70-120 psi. The adjustable exhaust makes it easy to keep flying debris away from yourself and whatever you are working on. The 300 strong magazine is efficient and does not jam easily.
Other things to like about this nailer are that: it is built to last and has an aluminum casing that will cope with accidental rough treatment; it is easy to adjust the depth; the depth provided is consistent, powerful, and precise; it has rubber feet to prevent marking the surface you are working on, and; it comes with a handy carrying case. The downside of this nailer is the fact you still need to buy an air compressor to power it and it doesn’t have the biggest magazine.
#Pneumatic_Nail_Guns #Pneumatic_Nailers #Dewalt #Siding_Nailers #Siding_Nail_Guns
#3 Most Durable Siding Nailer: Hitachi NV65AH2 Coil Siding Nailer
This high-performing Hitachi siding nailer is built to last even under regular use and comes with an impressive 5-year warranty to boot. Suitable for use with both plastic and wire collated nails this is a reasonably versatile nailer too. It also comes with an excellent protective shield to protect you from the detritus caused when you do use wire nails. This nailer is a bit pricier than most, but it stands the test of time, saving you money in the long-run.
Other benefits of this nail gun are that: it has built-in depth adjustment that is easy to use and doesn’t require any additional tools; the magazine is side loading which is a lot less fiddly; it is a fast performer, with 3 nails per second possible which you can control with the sequential or contact nailing switch, and it doesn’t jam easily so long as you put the nails into the correct grooves on the feeder. The downside of this nailer is it is pricer than others, upfront at least.
#Hitachi #Metabo #Hitachi_Siding_Nailer #Hitachi_Siding_Nail_Gun #Hitachi_Nailers
#4 Best Adjustable Siding Nailer: Bostitch Coil Siding Nailer
If you are after a siding nailer that offers a wide range depth-adjustment, then you’ll love this piece of kit. The 70-120psi operating range gives you maximum control when working with different materials. Add in the fact you can use 1 and a quarter inch nails and up to 2 and a half inch nails, and you can see this nailer is versatile too. The lightweight design also gives this device good scores when it comes to portability.
Other benefits of this Bostitch nailer are that: it is built with aluminum casing meaning it stands the test of time; it is suitable for use with nails collated with wire or plastic; it is professionally made suitable for industrial use, and; it is an excellent price. The downside is it only accepts certain nail types and can jam easier than other guns.
#Nail_Gun #Bostitch_Siding_Nailer #Bostitch #Bostitch_Nailer #Bostitch_Nail_Gun
#5 Best Fast Nail Gun: Senco Siding Nailer SCN49XP
If you have a truly large job on and don’t want to be spending ages waiting for your nailer to recharge, then you’ll be impressed by this nail gun from Senco. Accepting of a range of nail sizes with plastic and wire coating this nail gun is also nicely versatile, although it does not come cheap so is likely more of an option for industrial use rather than at home.
Other pluses about this nail gun are that: it is a coil-sliding nailer meaning you get more nails in the magazine and more consistent firing with fewer jams; it can be used for a range of tasks, including fencing, siding, crating, and decking, and; it is durable in its design. The downside is the price which is a lot more than most siding nailers.
#Nail_Gun #Senco_Siding_Nailer #Senco #Senco_Nailer #Senco_Nail_Gun
Conclusion
Siding nailers are the perfect tool for certain tasks and you won’t regret choosing the right tool. The nailers on this list are all durably designed, reasonably priced for what they offer, and function impressively compared to other nailers on the market. Just make sure you pick one that is versatile enough for your needs.