Class does not only solely appear on the exponents of your outlook. The modern inference of class also depends on the physiognomy of your house. A proper hardwood flooring installation gives you the sophisticated countenance that reflects your look.
That is why you will be needing flooring nailers to install good hardwood flooring for your house. Manually using hammers can get tiresome and might get you a clumsy attire whereas a simple strike with a rubber mallet gets you nice and easy installation. Just strike and the nails are in! Nice and easy.
A good result depends on each and every step you make. So, if you are going to start your flooring, make the first step towards us and allow us to help you to find the best flooring nailers.
Table of Contents
What is a flooring nailer?
A flooring nailer is a tool that helps you to install flooring. It is not an automatic or power triggered nail gun. It is usually operated by compressed air (pneumatic). These have in many ways replaced hammers as tools of choice among builders.
It requires a strike with a rubber mallet in order to set the nail. Strike the mallet and shoot nails into the wood. No hassle with hammering, no fuss with stabilizing the nail. All you need is to just set the plate and shoot the nails. It shoots fast speed nail of your material that dives deep in safe affixing, even though it is softwood or hardwood.
Is it important?
Flooring nailer saves you from extra stress of manually putting the nails with a hammer and also gives you the precise execution. It helps you to prevent surface damage and eliminates cracking or crazing that can occur when manually putting goes wrong. Flooring nailers leave no room for faulty signs, uneven nail head paths, or bent nails. No matter what type of floor you’re installing you have pneumatic pressure on your tool to help you get it right.
The best picks:
Let’s see what we have got for you!
1. NuMax SFL618 Pneumatic Flooring Nailer and Stapler
Laudable treats:
NuMax handled a versatile flooring nailer to deal with your multiplex ties of work involving floor installation. The NuMax SFL618 pneumatic flooring nailer and stapler is made of lightweight die-cast aluminum for easy navigation and equipped with replaceable base plates.
The 3 in 1 design allows you to use both L and T-cleats and also staples and you also have the liberty to choose between the 1/2 and 3/4-inch plate depending on the thickness of your flooring planks. It is significantly congruous for any projects due to the extended 23-inch handle and a light strike bumper and last but not least the oddity of being able to operate between 70 and 115 PSI.
Having a high capacity cleat magazine, you can shoot up to nearly 120 nails reducing downtimes. Availability of most air compressors due to the presence of the 1/4-inch NPT fitting. A 16-inch gauge for L and T cleats and a 15.5-inch gauge for flooring staples are this pneumatic flooring nailer tends to shoot up. This flooring nailer can penetrate 0.5 to 0.75 inches deep in solid hardwood flooring.
It contains a rubber mallet and drives blade. Moreover, it is equipped with a black oxide rail and hardened blade driver. It does not leave any scratches on your piece of wood. If you are concerned about the durability of the product, NuMax assures you with the 1 Year Limited Tool Warranty and 30 Day Wearable Parts Warranty.
Glitches:
Despite all the treats it offers, it still lacked in some aspects. Such as the mallet handle can be too smooth for usage. Heavy usage wears it out. And most of the users have difficulty in finding out when the magazine is empty. It might not be the best choice for adjusting to all types of floorings. More often the magazine does not shoot nails and instead shoots two the next time without a warning.
2. BOSTITCH MIIIFN Pneumatic Flooring Nailer
Laudable treats:
Bostitch’s top quality and innovative fastening tools and fasteners limit the handicaps of industrial, construction, and home-improvement applications. The Bostitch MIIIFN Pneumatic Flooring Nailer is one of a kind due to its high-speed pneumatic operation allowing it to rapidly shoot nails into both unfinished and pre-finished hardwood flooring.
This 1-1/2-inch to 2-inch pneumatic flooring nailer is splendid and commendable for driving L-shaped flooring cleats. it has 420 inch-pounds of driving power which is quite massive when compared to others in this category. The trigger mechanism does a good job of tightening the planks.
The extra-wide 1/2- and 3/4-inch interchangeable base plates adjust closely against the floorboards for stability, so cleats can be driven at the proper angle and depth every time. Additionally, a pre-finished floorboard adapter foot won’t scuff or scratch floors during installation for a professional-grade look.
It is made of made with aircraft-grade aluminum and the 7years warranty guarantees the durability. It comes in rubber-tipped mallet. The extra-wide base plate provides excellent stability and control for speed and accurate outcomes and the elongated handle does nothing but provides you extra room for easy and comfortable maneuvering.
The flooring nailer is almost compatible with any L cleats work. It even works with 18 gauge cleats. The use of a compressor is necessary to supply pneumatic power to the nailer. So, as far as the compressor is concerned, a 5 gallon 110 PSI compressor with this nailer will work just fine.
Glitches:
Though all the pompous specifications, the product has its own share of drawbacks. First of all, it can be too expensive for some users. According to user experience, the spring that feeds the cleats tends to break after a certain time of use. More often, the nail cleats don’t sit flush in the tongue of the strip flooring and thus end up getting stuck.
3. BINFORD HARDWOOD FLOORING STAPLER NAILER
Laudable treats:
BINFORD delivers you one of the cheapest and efficient floor installation tools so that you do not have to worry about the expense. The BINFORD HARDWOOD FLOORING STAPLER NAILER is designed for floors from 1/4″ – 9/16″ or 3/4″ in limited applications. This particular nailer does not require much air pressure. It is air-powered to work more proficiently.
It uses 18-gauge narrow crown staple which is ideal and commendable for nailing the floors up to 9/16 inches deep. You also get to choose among suitable options. The user-friendly switch with the inclusion of 18 gauge nailer lets you convert the tool to a standard narrow crown stapler or brad nailer. Thus it can come in handy.
If you are concerned about whether it will work for A certain thickness of your floor, we assure that the shoe easily adjusts to multiple floor thickness. The new shoe designs permit use on floors with a longer lower lip on the groove side. The nailer gives you adjustable depth control for limited countersink and thus you can make an assumption on how much deeper you want the nails to go into.
This nailer can be used on 3/8 engineered oak hardwood. This features the use of the middle tongue instead of using a lowered range of tongue while you decide to nail for the conventional type of T and G hardwood floors. This tool comes with a BM plastic case.
Glitches:
Despite all the amazing facts, it has its own share of demerits. This nailer is not ideal for commercial use. It might not be a good choice for heavy-duty. The maintenance can be quite weary as it does not use regular oil. It only shoots 18 gauge staples. It does not do well on hardwood and users have had experience of frequent malfunctioning. The small piston that has to be pushed in to engage the trigger seemed to be poorly designed.
4. Freeman PFL618C Pneumatic Flooring Nailer and Stapler
Laudable treats:
Just when you thought you got enough, Freeman delivered a versatile 3-in 1 flooring nailer to your tiresome flooring installation application into a quick and easy one. The Freeman PFL618C Pneumatic Flooring Nailer and Stapler is ideal for the installation of 1/2″ to 3/4″ solid tongue and notching hardwood flooring.
This air-powered tool is compatible with 15.5 gauge 1/2″ crown staples, 16-gauge T-cleats, and 16-gauge L-cleats from 1-1/2″ to 2″ for all three types of fasteners. The die-cast aluminum construction weighs less than average and thus it gives you more control and it gets easier to navigate and shoot. It is equipped with a hardened steel one-piece drive blade for durability.
Two interchangeable n- mar base plates provide stability for this diversified equipment and prevent damage to finished flooring surfaces, ascertaining a diva outcome for DIYers and construction contractors. The foot has recently been upgraded and with a semi-quick release addition for easier access to the drive blade in case, it gets jammed.
The extended handle is intended to provide optimum comfort and to avoid injury and reduce fatigue during use. and an air filter, an anti-dust cap protects internal components from debris. The Freeman PFL618C Flooring Nailer and Stapler comes with a rubber flooring mallet, a wooden handle, air tool oil for easy maintenance and adjustment tools to assemble easily.
The anodized aluminum magazine simply assures the durability of the product. Even if you have doubts last but not the least there is Freeman’s 7 Year limited warranty and 90days wearable parts warranty.
Glitches:
It is said to be getting weary after a period of time. Many of the shipments came in with a complain that it leaks air, blows air out of the driver. The design of the staple holder can be a little tricky. It sticks out way too far and when you put your foot at the bottom to hold stapler in place it hits your shin. Users have come across misfiring. It gets jammed more often and thus you might end up spending extra time removing the jam and fix any crushed or embedded staples from the tongue of the wood.
5. Ramsond RMM4 Flooring Cleat Nailer and Stapler Gun
Laudable treats:
Ramsond is well known for quality and long-lasting products and The Ramsond RMM4 Flooring Cleat Nailer and Stapler Gun definitely defense such bold claim. This air-powered flooring nailer has a patented two-in-one magazine and driver system that is commendable with both cleats and staples. It shoots 15.5 and 16 gauge staples ranging from 1 to 2 inches, and “L” cleat ranging from 1-1/2″ to 2″.
The capacity of stable action up to 100 numbers makes it more impressive. Ramsond spared no expense in its construction and so it made of highly durable aluminum die-cast drives to withstand great weight in the workplace. The non-marring exclusive base plates ensure proper protection of scratches to the flooring surface. The base system is equipped with two composite disks in the front, a middle guide, and a rear nylon-derivative plate
It continuously stores compressed air in two patented air booster chambers located in the handle. The RMM4 operates with the power of compressed air (60 – 120 PSI) and is equipped with a standard 1/4-inch NPT air inlet for easy compatibility. Works fine with 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch, and 25/32 inch hard flooring.
The driver blade is constructed of heat-treated hardened steel for a long-lasting kick. For user comfort, it packs a long-reach handle with a padded cushioned grip that offers increased balance and control. The quality and durability of the product are backed up by a one-year warranty from Ramsond.
Glitches:
The unit begins to leak air out of the top of the cylinder after a very short time and the compressor can’t keep up with it. Gradually, the user comes across jamming the nails every two and fourth. The seals fail after a few months according to user experience. Due to poor interpretation of the manual and the many errors in the diagram, it takes a lot of time to strip down, clean, replace rings and reassemble. The user needs to change the o rings more often as those tend to get muddy and end up in jamming malfunction.
6. DEWALT DWFP12569 2-N-1 Flooring Tool
Laudable treats:
DEWALT is a highly reputable company famous for making top-notch quality power tools. The pneumatic DEWALT DWFP12569 2-N-1 Flooring Nailer a “Get always what you pay for” type of tool acts as both a flooring stapler and nailer.
It has relatively lower CFM requirements, less air compressor run-time that makes it more impressive. Designed to work with the 16-gauge L-shaped cleats and the 15.5-gauge staples, this flooring nailer is equipped with interchangeable and non-marring base plates that will adjust to any flooring size and thickness.
It is compatible with almost any air compressor as it comes with the standard 1/4-inch air fitting. The air fitting enables the accurate exposure of compressed air. This pneumatic flooring tool nails down your floor with ½ inches to ¾ inches of deep flooring flawlessly
In order to establish the pneumatic driving action, it features the mallet which ensures quick flooring activity. The DWFP12569 is used to operate at the pressure amount of 70 to 100 PSI.
It also features silent rear exhaust and is equipped with rubber padded extended handle for a comfortable grip and less backache. The 2 in 1 magazine shoots up to 100 nails or staples. The DWFP12569 comes with a dust cover to prevent the tool from unwanted impurities into it. The 10.6Ibs weight gives you an ideal balance to maneuver easily.
Glitches:
There are some little drawbacks like every other. Such as, this does not come with a case. It has gasket issues. The air starts leaking from the actuator after a certain use. It is a bit larger and the user might have to face nail, glue or nail through the tongue one row sooner. The nail push slide does not seat on the nails correctly so the nailer does not always fire a nail and the user as a consequence the user needs to reseat the push slide.
Buying Guide:
Anything that needs improvisation or improvement requires proper knowledge. Flooring nailers are your friends on the journey to install a good floor. If you are planning to improve or install your hardwood floor you need to have knowledge about flooring nailers. That’s where we come in.
We present to you a buying guide that interprets each detail of the flooring nailers in apprehensive ways so that before choosing one, you have a clear head about what you are really looking for. Our experts have spent time speculating various flooring nailers and have come up with the best flooring nailers in the market for you.
So, be assure. Satisfy yourself by having a glance at the best models in our guide provided with pros and cons and make the right choice. Enjoy!
What should be considered!
Cleats:
Cleats are categorized into two shapes. L-shaped and T-shaped. They’re made of steel and have a venal edge that firmly attaches to both the flooring and the subflooring. The pneumatic nailer does a better job when the floor is thicker, the wood is harder. It will not only support you with more power but also will reduce your physical stress a lot. It is consistent too. Cleats do well with almost any type of wood. They provide a much better holding of the floor. Connects the flooring and the subflooring firmly.
Staples:
Staples are designed as two long and smooth prongs. It will go through the flooring as well as into the subflooring with ease. Staples are comparatively bigger than cleats. They provide a firm connection between the two floorings in the initial stage. But due to continuous expansion and contraction of wood, staples tend to start loosening over time.
Cleat nails gauge:
The flooring nailers generally use 18 or 16-gauge cleat nails. There are 20 gauge cleats too in the market. Cleat nails are a better option there is a temperature change issue as it causes wood contraction or expansion. Flooring nailer is good for thick floors.
Staples Gauge:
15.5-gauge is considered an overall size of flooring staples. They are larger than the nail cleat.
Staples are cheaper than the cleat but the cleat does well in comparison.
Handle:
Handle lets the user hold and stabilize the nailer in a suitable position. Padded handles are better than normal. The longer the handle is the less strain the user has to put up with.
Weight:
Weight is a key determiner of a quality choice. The more the weight is the more difficult it gets to control the tool. That is why a less weighted nailer is a good choice as it gets easy to navigate and hold.
FAQ’S:
Q: Do I need extra tools excluding the nailer?
Ans: The flooring nailer is only to fasten the job. You will also need a nail gun.
Q: Which one is better? Cleats or staples?
Ans: Cleats do well with almost any hardwood flooring. Consider the temperature issue and find your choice. The staples do well in thick flooring.
Q: Can any of the guns work on 3/4″ Hardwood oak?
Ans: There are particular models that will do very well on this type of wood. For such thickness, you will need a bigger one. A full-sized 16-gauge nailer will suffice for such wood.
Final Word:
A perfect flooring installation gives you satisfaction, gives you an attire to admire and a standard, a class, a fresh mindset. The satisfaction of good architecture, a well-designed house helps you with a fresh beginning of your each and every day.
Flooring nailers helps you to do your job nice and easy. Attaining the 45 degrees of nail insertion with a hammer is undoubtedly a hell of a tiresome job but with flooring nailers, it is just with a strike in the mallet. These tools save you from unnecessary stress and backache and do your job nice and easy.
The selected products are chosen carefully to add to your journey of flooring installation. Each one is impressive in its own specifications but there are particularly two models that we have chosen to be “product of the year”. The DEWALT DWFP12569, for its lower CFM requirements, dust covers and quick flooring activity. The second choice is the NuMax SFL618 due to be able to use T and L cleat and the high capacity cleat magazine which shoots 120 nails.
Whether it’s small or big, we can’t make you a wrong choice. So, we suggest you go through this buying guide and get yourself the best among the best flooring nailers.
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