Last Updated on October 15, 2021
Carpenters or laymen, there are certain tools that can confuse a lot of people. Two of these tools happen to be the pin nailer and the brad nailer.
Nailers, as the name suggests are used to putting nails in places, particularly in woodwork, in order to hold the pieces together just before finishing the piece.
So what can you do to get rid of the confusion about these two products? Read on to find out!
Contents
What Is a Pin Nailer?
A pin is basically a nail without a head, as called by carpenters. The pin nailer is therefore called so, as it is used for putting pins in woodwork.
As pins are practically not visible beneath materials such as paint and clothes, and they leave very small holes in the wood, these tools can help produce quite aesthetically pleasing woodwork pieces.
The fact that no putting is required also adds to the neat look they can help produce. And the pins used by these nailers are also some of the smallest ones available in the market, making them quite handy for delicate work. Pin nailers use pins that are 1” and 2.5” in length and are of 23 gauges.
These pins are glued together in the nailer. The pins are generally used to hold up wood pieces together temporarily, usually when the glue has been applied to attach the pieces together, and the pieces need to be held up during drying.
Using pin nailers for work that is heavy, or for constructing structures that are big is not a good idea, as the small pins just won’t hold up.
- Best for delicate work
- Does not leave holes in the material
- Cannot be detected over paint, clothes or varnish
- No need for applying putting
- Does not cause wood to split
- Can only be used in case of light work as it provides less strength
- Less versatility of use
- Price is more as it’s less commonly used
What Is a Brad Nailer?
Just like pin nailers, brad nailers have a reason for their name. They are used for putting brad nails in materials. Brad nails are ones that contain heads. They are of two types- 18 gauges and 21 gauges, and the length of the nails are 5/8 to 2”. This makes these nailers quite useful in a wide variety of scenarios.
The nails used are glued together lightly, and can provide a lot of strength for holding up structures together. Some of the work that can be done by 18 gauge brad nailers are carpentry, work done for home improvement purposes, making cabinets, and even for base molding.
21 gauge brad nailers tend to be better suited for more delicate work such as for working in softwood, like in DIY projects, and around the house.18 gauge brad nailers will leave visible holes behind after use, and if not used carefully, may even lead to the material being split due to the large size of the nails.
- Provided great strength, so can be used for heavy work
- Can be used to provide a lot of support to the structure
- More versatility of use
- Both 18 gauge and 21 gauge nails can be used
- Less expensive, as it’s more commonly used
- May cause the material to split due to larger nails
- Leaves holes in the workpiece that can be seen
Pin Nailer vs Brad Nailer: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Although both the tools are great for their own purposes, it is important to know the different features offered by each in order to better understand when to use them. Let us compare some of the features offered by both.
Price
Pin nailers generally tend to be more expensive than brad nailers. The reason for this is that they are used more sparingly and for more specific purposes, whereas brad nailers are more widely used.
The average price for pin nailers is around $100, as compared to the average price for brad nailers, which are around $70.
Strength
The strength provided by pin nailers is much less than that provided by brad nailers. As pin nailers are used more for the temporary holding up of pieces together, they are used for lighter work requiring less power.
Brad nailers, on the other hand, provide a lot of power and hence are used for holding up heavier structures.
Versatility
As mentioned above, pin nailers use only 1” and 2.5” nails, so they are less versatile than brad nails, which come in lengths of 5/8 to 2”.The smaller nails used in pin nailers mean that they are used for mainly DIY projects and for less heavy work.
Brad nails, being larger, are used for building structures that are sturdier, and for many different types of work, including professional work.
Material
Pin nailers are used to nailing materials that are soft, like clothes and softwood, whereas brad nailers are used for both soft and more sturdy materials, like firmer woods such as plywood, hardwood, and baseboards.
Types
Both pin nailers and brad nailers are of two types: pneumatic and electric. The pneumatic ones use compressed air to function, whereas the electric ones use batteries to operate. They also require an air compressor to function and tend to be harder to operate.
The electric types provide more power for both, but also use up more battery life, and tend to be more expensive. They are easier to use than the pneumatic ones in case of both, and they also have greater portability. The key differences between the two nailers remain the same for the different types, however.
More: Framing Nailer vs Finish Nailer – What is The Difference?
List of Great Products to Consider
The wide array of products available in the market is sure to confuse people even if they know whether to get a pin nailer or a brad nailer. Here is a list of some of the best nailers of both categories:
Pin Nailers
Here are some top-rated pin nailers for you:
Hitachi NP35A Pin Nailer
This product is the overall one of the best picks due to the smooth user experience, lightweight, and safety provided by the dual trigger.
BOSTITCH HP118K 23-Gauge Pin Nail Gun
Another amazing product, with effortless operability. This product is also light and has the same safety feature as the Hitachi NP35A.
Freeman PP123 23 Gauge Pin Nailer
If you are looking for a great pin nailer for an equally great price, then this is the one for you. It is small and can be handled easily, and also has a nice selector for pin sizes.
Brad Nailers
Below, we’ll talk about some of the finest brad nailers:
DEWALT Brad Nailer
This is a sturdy nailer and gives excellent service. It can easily be used in areas that are hard to reach, such as corners. The plus point is that it doesn’t make noise whilst nailing, which is really saying something.
Makita Brad Nailer
This is a lightweight product, and also comes at a great, affordable price. It can be used to get rid of jammed nails quite easily, and even reach corners quite well. The rubber nose and bumper that it has helps to protect the material which is being nailed from getting scratched, and the grip also contains rubber for comfortable use.
Hitachi Brad Nailer
If you want a bang for your bucks, then this is the brad nailer for you! Coming at a low price, this product is another light and effortless to use one.
It contains a material called ‘elastomer’ in its grip, which allows for ease of handling, and comes with a nose containing a non-marring tip, preventing any damage to the material being nailed.
Which One to Choose?
At the end of the day, the important question is, which nailer is the right one to choose? Well, it obviously depends on the type of work you need to be done. A good piece of work can be turned into a great one, simply by making small adjustments.
For small projects, the pin nailer will be the right choice. In case you are using the nailer for big projects or for nailing hardwood, then the brad nailer will be better for you.
If you do not have any specific project in mind, and just want a tool for general use, then the brad nailer, due to the versatility of its use, will be better.
Knowing which nailer to use can make a difference between good and great, and hence, it is quite important to know how they compare!
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