Short answer: Not really. Each nail gun typically fires only one type of fastener(it can take different lengths but it has to be the same nail type). Some fasteners are usually sized in pennies (represented by the D symbol, which is an old way of differentiating nail sizes).

Brad nailers are probably the most popular type of nail gun, often referred to as either “2nd Fix” or “Finishing” nailers. These nailers fire “Brad Nails”, which are heavier in gauge (Diameter) than pin nailers. Also know as cordless nail guns, these are probably the easiest to use as they simply take their power from the battery attached to the nailer. No gas canister, air hoses or main power cord required. Put the nails in and you’re ready to go! Brad nails also tend to have a small head and sometimes a serrated shank. As a result, brad nails tend to have considerably more holding power than pins. Although Brad nailers fire a heavier gauge nail than pin nailers, the hole they leave behind on the workpiece is still relatively small and easy to fill over for a great finish. Brad nail guns come in two variations, straight and angled. The smaller nails are chosen to ensure a discreet appearance, minimizing the visibility of fasteners and preserving the overall aesthetics of the finished project. Below are some examples of Second fix nail guns.The problem with plastic collated nails is the plastic shrapnel that you have to deal with when you’re shooting them. Pin nailers are generally smaller, lighter-weight nailers. Sometimes known as “Headless Pinners”, “Pin Guns”, or “23 Gauge Nailers”. There are also niche “first fix nail guns” such as concrete nailers that are used to secure metal to concrete slabs. Below is a list of some of the different types of first fix nail guns. Overall, you have more choices if you are into interior applications that are non-structural – think crown molding, chair rail, door casings, etc. since anything from 18ga brads going down will work (In general) First fix nail guns are used primarily to hold structures together. One of the primary applications of first fix nail guns is in timber framing. In this context, these tools are used to join wooden beams, posts, and other structural components, creating a sturdy and robust framework.

Pin nailers are mainly used for fine finishing applications such as furniture making, attaching decorative mouldings, assembling picture frames or fastening delicate materials, veneers or trim to pieces of furniture. Often pin nails are used in conjunction with adhesives to hold mouldings in place while they set.But that does not mean that they’re useless these days- there are jobs you could find these oddly labeled nail sizes useful. In this article we aim to clear up some of that terminology and with our 40 years of experience in the trade serving people like yourself, we hope we can help you better understand the different types of nail guns and their various applications.

The primary purpose of second fix nail guns is to securely attach smaller and more delicate finishing materials such as trim, moldings, baseboards, crown molding, and decorative elements. These nails are typically smaller in size and gauge compared to those used in first fix nail guns. Indeed, your choice is quite limited when it comes to projects which need the strongest holding power like framing and sheathing. These are the finest nails (they’re pretty much pins) and are, for the most part, used to attach super delicate moldings as you wait for the glue to set/cure. You’ll also want to use various nails all the way through to galvanised nails and even sometimes stainless steel nails for those applications where you do need to be confident rust won’t be an issue down the road.

Clipped head vs full head nails

First things first its pertinent that we know that nail guns can come with 3 different energy sources, this is important because depending on your power source the way you operate, transport and maintain your nail gun can change drastically. Here are the commonly found energy sources you can expect;

If you’re wondering which nail gun you need for the job you first want to know what job you’re doing, nail guns can fulfil many “roles” in both construction and DIY, but as a general rule here are some jobs that you can do with each type. We go into detail for each type of nail gun below so if you’re researching a specific job. To begin with, here is a summary of the most common nail gun nail sizes and the applications every fastener is recommended for: Nail gun nails sizes 23-gauge nails (diameter is about 0.025”/0.64mm)

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It, therefore, follows that they are very ideal if you have projects like base trim (and other large trims) installation. This tool most commonly fires a 35mm Full head nail specific to the task. Positive Placement Nail Gun Applications That leaves us with the wire collated 28° nails, which are probably the best middle ground (unfortunately, most codes outlaw them for structural applications) Nothing complicated here, they simply need a gas canister in addition to a battery to get their power. As the gas is usually supplied together with the nails, it’s not as difficult as it might sound.