Long gone are the days when you have to hammer pins into concrete, wood, and bricks. Now all you need is a power tool like a nail gun to fasten nails within seconds! Nail guns also save you the extra work of creating pilot holes into surfaces. You just pick up the right-sized nail and drill them in.
Aside from the main task of drilling nails in seconds, nail guns also come with various attractive features. Some of them may be powered by gas or battery. Some have concrete or sequential triggers. You may find the warranty period pleasing or upsetting.
Either way, you will enjoy working on interesting projects with these nail guns. They make everything possible for you whether you need them for your job or hobby. Ready for the adventure? Hop right in!
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Table of Contents
Product Reviews: Best Concrete Nail Guns
In this section, I have searched, tested, and listed my top 6 concrete nail guns that I think will make your life so much easier.
You may find some of the names to be familiar, and some maybe completely new to you. That set aside, do not forget to follow the pro tips to overcome some of the common shortcomings of nail guns.
Hilti GX120 Concrete Nail Gun
Key Features
- This concrete nail gun is powered by gas.
- The gas injection system is continuous and totally automatic.
- In length, it measures 17 inches, in width, it is 5.3 inches, and in height, it is 15.4 inches.
- The overall weight of the concrete nail gun is 16.86 pounds.
The Good Sides
- The package comes with 2 gas and 2000 nails.
- It has an ergonomic design so that it can be put into tight spots.
- This tool prevents the need to drill through certain types of actuated systems.
- You can drive 750 fasteners with only one fuel can of this tool!
The Bad Sides
- The consumables are three times more expensive than others.
Why You Should Get It
If you are into commercial construction, this is the nail gun for you. It works great for metals.
However, if you run out or lose any of the components, you may not receive any replacements parts from the manufacturer. Still, this is a great tool to fasten wood and steel studs to steel and concrete floors and walls.
Freeman PSSCP
Key Features
- This is your perfect friend for basement, garage, and similar renovations and constructions.
- The concrete nailer is 6.2 pounds in weight.
- As for its dimensions, it is 15.75 inches in length, 4.5 inches in width, and 14.75 inches in height.
- You also get a 7-year limited warranty along with a 90-day wearable parts warranty.
The Good Sides
- The price of this nail gun is quite reasonable.
- Luckily, you will receive air tool oil, blow-molded storage case, and adjustment tools with the nailer.
- The construction and power are indestructible.
- Overall, the nailer is quiet, quick, and effective.
The Bad Sides
- The gun is not strong enough to push the nails all the way in.
- Since there are no nails available with the purchase, you have to shop for your own nails elsewhere.
Why You Should Get It
This nailer is pneumatic and for professional use only. You can use any type of nail with this nailer and it will work just fine.
Moreover, its power will impress you, even though you have to repeat blows for deeper settings. The extra components that you receive with the nailer are lifesavers!
Pro Tips
This nail gun may not be as powerful as advertised. Therefore, my suggestion is to repeat blows a few times to let the nail dig into the surface.
Woodpecker ST64
Key Features
- Being on the heavy side, this nail fun weighs about 9.61 pounds.
- In length, it is 13.8 inches, in width, it is 10.6 inches, and in height, it is 3.9 inches.
- With an operating pressure of 70 to 100 PSI, it is designed for heavy-duty tasks.
- You get a helpful instruction manual and 400 pieces of nails with the purchase.
The Good Sides
- Woodpecker ST64 is suitable for construction framing, truss building, concrete nailing, decking, windows, doors, molding, and woodworking.
- Safety measures on the muzzle prevent injuries and unwanted accidents when it is not in use.
- It is completely easy to use once you get the hang of it.
The Bad Sides
- You have to purchase an adapter or converter if you want to use this item outside the United States of America.
Why You Should Get It
It was hard for me to find anything bad about this equipment. Since it comes with a box of its own nails, you do not have to shop around for them. Their customer service is good, and the price is feasible for any level of woodworker.
Pro Tips
In order to keep the machine running in good health for a long time, make sure to lubricate the interiors. Just add 1 or 2 drops of oil before each use, and you should be fine.
AIR LOCKER CN64A3
Key Features
- This one operates at a pressure of 60 to 100 PSI.
- Its air inlet is about a quarter of an inch.
- The size of the fastener is 0.087 inches in diameter for 14 gauges.
- It is the lightest nail gun on this list weighing only 3.4 pounds.
- As for the dimensions, length is 12 inches, width is 13 inches, and height is 15 inches.
The Good Sides
- The gun is powered by air, so there is no need to replace batteries.
- It is also quieter than other concrete nail guns.
- For the performance, his concrete nail gun is super affordable.
- You can be assured that it would not jam on you.
The Bad Sides
- It would not drive the T nail into old solid concrete.
- Nails may deflect when they hit the floor when you point it from the wrong angle.
Why You Should Get It
Despite how light it is, the machine is massive! Just be careful with the air pressure settings, as it may affect the nailing depth. This one is quiet, cheap, and quite effective in driving nails through concrete and other materials.
Pro Tips
If you want to drill nails with this gun into an old concrete surface, you have to use the right anchor. Sometimes when the nails are too long, they resist going into the surface. Therefore, if you set the air pressure to 120 PSI, you may be able to achieve the desired outcome.
China Top-Silver ST64
Key Features
- Powered by air, this nail gun is 7.74 pounds.
- It is made of aluminum casting and has a funky yellow exterior.
- Its length is 12.5 inches, width is 3.7 inches, and height is 10.5 inches.
- You can use this gun for cement block, block wall attaching, furring strips, and other concrete nailings.
The Good Sides
- The nail gun comes with a contact safety feature to prevent accidents.
- It is quite heavy-duty and powerful, so recommended for professional use only.
- Jamming of nails is prevented with a high precision muzzle.
- Exhaust at the front is capable of keeping dust and oil away from the device.
The Bad Sides
- Users outside the United States of America must buy an adapter or converter to run this device.
Why You Should Get It
This incredible device can load about 50 nails at a time to improve efficacy and to lower reloading frequency. The trigger is also comfortable to press, so you would not get tired of using this nail gun.
Senco 3L0003N
Key Features
- Senco weighs 4.6 pounds and measures 11.5 inches in length, 3 inches in width, and 15 inches in height.
- Its body is made of strong metal but the device is quite lightweight.
- The air consumption level of this equipment is 5.4 SCFM.
- It can support air pressure between 80 to 120 PSI.
The Good Sides
- Its comfort grip reduces vibration fatigue from running it for too long.
- This one is recommended for use in roof decking, fencing, lathing, and floor sheathing.
- It is air-powered but very speedy in nailing.
- Firing ability is on point and rapid.
The Bad Sides
- The tool has a habit of misfiring.
- The loading mechanism may even shut off on its own from time to time.
Why You Should Get It
Even though for a premium nail gun, Senco was missing an air inlet nipple which you have to purchase separately. Otherwise, the usage and maintenance of this device are fairly simple. In fact, the more you use it, the better it gets!
Pro Tips
If you notice the nail gun jamming, clear the staples inside, and snap the latch shut. Then wrap the latch lever tightly to prevent it from opening again.
Buying Guide for the Best Concrete Nail Guns
To know if a nail gun is good or bad, you need peer advice and mostly your own experience with the product. However, some of you reading this article maybe quite new to the world of concrete nail guns and may need some help from my end.
This is where my assistance comes in! It is better to know the tool you are operating with both literally and practically. Below is the literal knowledge you must be aware of about concrete nail guns.
Types of Nail Guns
Did you know there are six types of nail guns used for different purposes in construction and renovation? If you are curious, I have discussed each of them briefly just right below.
Framing Nail Guns
Pallet building, fencing, and framing are the common jobs of framing nail guns. As you can guess, for heavy-duty work, these guns need heavy-duty nails or fasteners to get things done. Manufacturing and construction companies use these guns a lot.
Roofing Nail Guns
Roofing nail guns are quite similar to framing nail guns, only in appearance though. These guns are mainly used for securing roofing shingles.
Finish Nail Guns
The finish nail guns are in demand for less demanding jobs. For instance, these are used to fix and create furniture, casing, window trimming, crown molding, paneling, cabinetry, baseboard, and shelving.
Brad Nail Guns
Brad nail guns are also used for small tasks involving furniture repair and trim work. When you use these guns, you do not have to improvise wood putty to cover up the holes any fastener has left behind. Also, the fasteners used for these guns are small in size.
Pin Nail Guns
On the other hand, opt for pin nail guns for small trim projects and crafting. You ay need these guns for bird house building, chicken coop, and cabinet doors.
Floor Nail Guns
Finally, the last on the list is the floor nail guns. They are used for installing all types of laminate and hardwood flooring. They are activated with a mallet and are the most loved tool of all DIYers and contractors!
Pneumatic or Cordless
Usually, if you are a professional construction worker and are into heavy-duty nailing jobs, you would prefer a pneumatic concrete nail gun. The reason is that it saves you time from recharging and is considered more reliable than the cordless ones.
The pneumatic guns use air compressors. You can use a small air compressor for pin, brad, and finish nailers. But for framing nailers and concrete nailing, you have to use the bigger air compressors.
Better have a battery charger with you when you are opting for the cordless concrete nail gun. You may also need a fuel cell to create the pressure required to drive a fastener. It sounds like you have to carry a lot of burdens with you!
But, there are benefits to using a cordless gun. You can reach places the pneumatic ones can not reach, even get into narrow places. DIY builders love the cordless concrete nail guns over the traditional pneumatic ones.
Trigger Types
Based on how the triggers in the concrete nail gun is initiated, there are two types of trigger as illustrated below.
Contact Triggers
These triggers get into action when the tip of the nail gun touches the surface. Just hold down the index finger and fire the nail. But please be careful because you may end up shooting a nail in the wrong direction and hurting yourself and others!
Sequential Triggers
In sequential triggers, to fire the nail, you have to depress the tip of the nail gun against the surface. Then, press with your index finger. The nails fire for the duration your index finger is pressing the trigger.
This can be a little tricky. Hence, I recommend changing the setting of the nail gun so that you can fire nails one at a time. Regardless, it is a bit difficult to use.
Depth Control
Depth control is important for a concrete nail gun. This is the feature allows the user to set the force at which the nail will be fired from the gun. Some guns may require a separate device to activate this feature. In all, it is a great attribute for flexibility in operation.
Magazine Styles
Generally, you will find two kinds of magazine styles for nail guns- straight and coil. You may like the straight magazines because they are lighter and easier to hold during operation.
But the coil magazines are able to hold more nails than the straight ones. They are also capable of heavy-duty tasks for an extended period of time.
Remember to hold the magazine at the same angle as the nail gun.
Warranty
Manufacturers of concrete nail guns ususally offer a warranty of 1 year. But sometimes, you may find a brand or two offering a longer warranty period. For example, Bostitch’s offers a 7-year limited warranty on some components whereas Senco’s XP XtremePro includes a 5-year warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have some more questions about concrete nail guns? Let us get to know some of the common queries people have been asking.
What kind of nail gun do you use for concrete siding?
For concrete siding, you have to use framing nail guns. But the nail you are using must be long enough for external wood sheathing. The fasteners suitable for concrete siding must be galvanized, corrosion-resistant, and stainless steel.
A concrete nail gun is a straightforward tool that comes with a vacant metal barrel and a firing pin. It can be powered by air pressure or a battery.
How does a concrete nail gun works?
The 22-caliber shell sets in motion the nail gun, and the nails pierces through wood, concrete, and other materials that you are working with.
At the same time, the firing pin in the nail gun hits the back of the shell either with a trigger pull or a hammer blow. Yes, there is a small explosion that occur inside the tool to nail with a nail gun.
What type of nail gun should I use to frame concrete?
All the nail guns reviewed in this article are ideal for framing concrete. They are powerfully driven, uses air pressure, are lightweight, reasonably priced, quiet, quick, and effective.
Which is better- Ramset or Dewalt concrete nail gun?
Dewalt concrete nail gun is sturdy, long lasting, strong brand name, comfortable rubber grip, amazing shock absorbing ability, and long work sessions.
On the other hand, Ramset concrete nail gun is semi-automatic, has multiple pins loading ability, padded recoil absorbing handle, less reloads, and greater efficacy.
When it comes to popularity and feature, Dewalt wins. However, do not underestimate what Ramset can do. It has a lot of fans all over the world. Check out this video for a demonstration.
Can a nail gun go through concrete?
A nail gun can go through concrete, brick, metal, and timber. Concrete nails are recommended for nailing into concrete as they are made of high-carbon hardened steel. They also sink into concrete easily because of their fluted shaft.
What to Takeaway from This
If your line of work involves framing and roofing, it must be hard for you to get through a shift without a nail gun! This tool is popular because of its efficiency, speed, and precision.
But as you have seen from the buyer’s guide section, there are different types of nail guns in the market. You have to choose your gun based on the workload and the type of job you are doing.
The best concrete nail guns in this article have been selected based on affordability, functionality, speed, ease of use, popularity, and efficacy. There are 6 products on my list, and if you feel that you do not have the time to go through each and every one of them, here are the top 3 recommendations: