
We suppose you can already tell from the title what we’re going to talk about. Thus, as it implies, experts use concrete nailers to drive fasteners into cement-based walls. While you can do the same thing manually by drilling holes, using this versatile tool is much more effective. But how does one know which is the best nail gun for concrete?
Although the concept of a concrete nail gun being the ‘best’ is subjective, here are our top five picks that we believe are capable of being the ideal nail gun for this specific task. Nonetheless, here’s an extensive review for each of them-
Quick Overview
- 1 Our Top 5 Picks Of Best nail guns for concrete
- 1.1 Freeman PCN65 Pneumatic 15 Degree 2-1/2″ Coil Siding Nailer( best nail gun for DIY)
- 1.2 ITW BRANDS 40088 .22 Caliber Fastener Tool( best nail gun for concrete)
- 1.3 AIR LOCKER CN64A3 5/8 Inch to 2-1/2 Inch Heavy Duty Concrete T Nailer (best concrete nail gun under 100 dollars)
- 1.4 Hitachi 23 NP35A Gauge Micro Pin Nailer(best cheapest nail gun for trim)
- 1.5 Freeman PCTN64 14 Gauge 2-1/2 in. Heavy Duty Concrete”T” Nailer( best cordless nail gun)
- 2 Buying Guide
- 3 A Word From Us
Our Top 5 Picks Of Best nail guns for concrete
- Freeman PCN65 Pneumatic 15 Degree 2-1/2″ Coil Siding Nailer( best nail gun for DIY)– You will get exceptional performance from this nail gun when doing DIY projects. Hence, unless you’re fine with receiving hand cramps, this is the one to get.
- ITW BRANDS 40088 .22 Caliber Fastener Tool( best nail gun for concrete)– If you’re looking for an eco-friendly and powerful concrete nailer, then this is the one for you. It’s undoubtedly excellent in nailing into concrete.
- AIR LOCKER CN64A3 5/8 Inch to 2-1/2 Inch Heavy Duty Concrete T Nailer (best concrete nail gun under 100 dollars)– The CN64A3 will help you loads if you’re working with furring strips or plywoods. In addition, it’s also one of the best tools to secure an anchor to a brick wall.
- Hitachi 23 NP35A Gauge Micro Pin Nailer(best cheapest nail gun for trim)– This one is a very budget-friendly nailer. And it’s an amazing combo for trimming, small mouldings and even frames!
- Freeman PCTN64 14 Gauge 2-1/2 in. Heavy Duty Concrete”T” Nailer( best cordless nail gun)– We suggest that you use this nail gun only if you’re affiliated with heavy-duty tasks. That’s because its driving power matches none, which gives it its title of the best cordless nailer.
Freeman PCN65 Pneumatic 15 Degree 2-1/2″ Coil Siding Nailer( best nail gun for DIY)
Top Specs
- Weight: 5.5lbs
- Dimensions: 13.25 x 11 x 5 inches
- Power Source: Air Powered
- Voltage: 0V
Our Observation
Featuring durable magnesium with a heated steel body, the Freeman PCN65 Pneumatic 15 Degree 2-1/2″ Coil Siding Nailer’s specific design makes it highly effective when working on cedar shingles and wall sheathing. Additionally, the device supports 15° 13-14 gauge plastic/wire collated siding nails ranging from 1-¼”-2-½”. In fact, it can hold up to 400 of them! At the same time, the reduced loading time accounts for a higher degree of efficiency.
On top of that, the engineers took the excellent decision to include a hardened steel blade and anodized aluminium cylinder to increase its strength to a greater level. Furthermore, the rubbery o-rings also have your back. If you’re in a hurry to finish a task accurately, just switch to PCN65’s bump-fire mode, and you’re all set. Oh, and it also consists of a safety lock to prevent unintentional launching. It’s the best nail gun for DIY for a reason.
Did you know that the nailer’s tool-free depth control allows you to adjust how deep the nail is driven? We didn’t know either. Apart from that, you’ll no longer need to worry about hand fatigue, thanks to the PCN65’s ergonomic grip. This device also has a 360° rear exhaust that keeps particles out of your eyes and work area. Overall, we believe the PCN65 has the ability to compete with the best cordless nailer.
- Lightweight
- No-mar tip
- Safety lock
- Bump-fire mode
- Durable
- Frequent nail jams
- Might misfire
ITW BRANDS 40088 .22 Caliber Fastener Tool( best nail gun for concrete)
Top Specs
- Weight: 4.5
- Dimensions: 17.5 x 9.5 x 2.75 inches
- Power Source: Air Powered
- Voltage: 0V
Our Observation
The relationship between a concrete wall and ITW BRANDS 40088 is like a match made in heaven. Well, at least that’s how it seemed after taking the nail gun for a field test. First of all, we were honestly blown away by how powerful and effective this tool is for driving fasteners on concrete, especially since it’s a single shot actuated device that shoots nails at a low speed.
However, it would be wise to bear in mind that you’ll need to reload every time you shoot a nail. On the other hand, the silencing handle deducts all the unwanted noises, reducing noise pollution. Pretty eco-friendly, if you ask us. And although the 40088’s price tag may make it seem like a cheap nailer, we can guarantee you it’s one of the best budget nail guns.
The ITW BRANDS 40088 has a unique and ergonomic ejection slide. Something that even expensive nail guns don’t possess. In addition, it’s great for driving 2x4s into a concrete wall. Moreover, you can also nail 2X’s into steel that has a thickness of 3/16″. Hence, gone are the days when you had to use anchors and tapcon screws for anchoring into concrete. It’s truly the ultimate concrete nail gun.
- Durable
- Single powerful shots
- Accurate
- Eco-friendly
- Ergonomic ejection slide
- May not drive in a nail completely
- Requires 3-4 cartridges to fire once
AIR LOCKER CN64A3 5/8 Inch to 2-1/2 Inch Heavy Duty Concrete T Nailer (best concrete nail gun under 100 dollars)
Top Specs
- Weight: 3.4lbs
- Dimensions: 12 x 13 x 5 inches
- Power Source: Air Powered
- Voltage: 0V
Our Observation
To begin with, the AIR LOCKER CN64A3 5/8 Inch to 2-1/2 Inch Heavy Duty Concrete T Nailer is fantastic for woodworking and concrete nailing. For example, the T-nailer is going to be extremely efficient in tasks involving furring strips, plywood to decking and fencing. And it comprises a lightweight aluminium body, which reduces distress and makes the experience much more comfortable.
The CN64A3 has the capacity of launching 14 gauge T nails ranging from ⅝”-2-½” long. Well, a hundred of them, to be precise. Yup! It has a side-load magazine capacity of 100 nails. Oh, and the soft and rubbery handle offers extra comfort too. Now that you know about the tool’s physical aspects, it’s time to learn about the mechanical ones. You deserve to know why it’s a nominee for the best nail gun for decking or fencing.
For starters, the tool’s easy-jam-clearing design protects you in the unlikely case of a nail jam. Following that, you have the quick-release nosepiece for easy nail removal. But wait! That’s not the end. You can use the CN64A3 in sequential or contact-fire mode; you can thank its adjustable trigger for this. In brief, you will have no problems nailing through a ¾” plywood into a wall. So much for a nailer under 100 dollars.
- Lightweight
- Sturdy
- Jam release mechanism
- Quick-release nosepiece
- Changeable trigger
- Soft handle
- May easily damage
- Requires an air compressor
Hitachi 23 NP35A Gauge Micro Pin Nailer(best cheapest nail gun for trim)
Top Specs
- Weight: 4.81lbs
- Dimensions: 1 x 6.4 x 9.4 inches
- Power Source: Air Powered
- Voltage: 0V
Our Observation
We have all at least once in our lives used a Hitachi product. Therefore, you know how they’ve never failed to surprise their customers. The Hitachi 23 NP35A Gauge Micro Pin Nailer is a perfect example of their consistency. The micro pinner has an extended fastener capacity to reduce loading time and downtime. Therefore, you’ll no longer have to run out of 23 gauge pin nails if you have this excellent tool at your disposal.
The NP35A also has a dual trigger, which allows you to put fasteners precisely and safely. At the same time, a built-in back exhaust ensures that all dirt and oil are removed from the working area. Isn’t it an incredible nailer? Oh, and we almost forgot to add the magazine’s ability to convert to ⅝”, ¾”, 1″, 1-3/16″, and 1-⅜” fasteners automatically.
After a lot of careful speculation, we saw that Hitachi NP35A is much lighter in comparison to other nailers. It’s relatively more compact as well. As a result, you’ll be able to use the device with ease and have a great time trimming. However, it is also applicable for cabinets, small mouldings and frames. Nonetheless, you’ll definitely enjoy your money’s worth if you get this nailer from trimming.
- Automatic magazine adjustment
- Versatile
- Lightweight
- Dual trigger
- Extended magazine
- No pressure adjustment
- Nails don’t sink completely
Freeman PCTN64 14 Gauge 2-1/2 in. Heavy Duty Concrete”T” Nailer( best cordless nail gun)
Top Specs
- Weight: 7.5lbs
- Dimensions: 13 x 4 x 13 inches
- Power Source: Air Powered
- Voltage: 0V
Our Observation
Let us start by stating what an absolute gem of a nail gun the Freeman PCTN64 Heavy Duty Concrete “T” Nailer is. One reason for this is the device’s ability to discharge 14 gauge collated concrete ‘T’ nails (⅝”-2-½”). Apart from this, there are several more reasons behind the tool’s huge success as the best cordless nail gun.
Similar to all of its Freeman siblings, the PCTN64 also consists of a low-density die-cast aluminium body. This reduces user fatigue and increases productivity. Moreover, the nailer also includes an anodized aluminium magazine as well as a safety lock to deter dry firing. Additionally, the incorporated 360° movable rear exhaust takes care of your dust/dirt issue. Lastly, we really liked this particular feature of the PCTN64: the reload indicator.
You’ll no longer have to stress overloading a magazine while working with the help of the reload indicator. Thus, we suggest using this for applications such as steel bending and concrete nailing. However, a fresh concrete wall is easy for the PCTN64 to nail through, while an older one is more difficult. Thus, the concrete density will have a huge impact on its effectiveness. In contrast, please use 2-½” nails for woodwork only.
- Reload indicator
- Durable
- 360° rear exhaust
- Safety lock
- Good value for money
- Slightly heavy
- Concrete density affects performance
Buying Guide
Now that you’re ready to get your very own nail gun, there are a few things you need to go over. That’s because buying an ideal concrete nailer requires a lot of thorough research. However, here are some of the vital factors that you should check in order to make sure you’re making the right decision, especially since your money is on the line.
Type Of Nailer
Although we know that this is one of the obvious factors that one should look for, it will impact if you’re not careful. A nailer’s design is the reason behind its ability to carry out a certain task. For example, you’d use a roofing nailer to drive nails into the roof with a great deal of force. Thus they aren’t very versatile. In contrast, a framing nail is a heavy-duty tool, which is quite efficient in construction tasks.
Then there are the finish nailers, which are the dependable kind of nail guns. Despite its lack of strength in comparison to its framing counterparts, its qualities make it ideal for smoothing wood surfaces. Apart from that, there are brad nailers, which are a different form of pneumatic nailers. And when it comes to woodwork, there’s nothing better than them.
Nail Gauge
Everyone recognizes the need of using a nail gauge when using a nail gun. Furthermore, the bulk of the nailers’ designs allow them to work with a variety of different types and sizes of nails. As a result, it’s one of the key aspects of how the machine works.
The nail gauge measuring chart goes from 2d to 60d, with 2d being the smallest and 60d representing the largest. The letter ‘D’ stands for penny measure, a classification system used by specialists to classify nails. A 2d nail is approximately 1″ long, whereas a 16d nail is about 3.5 inches long. As a result, different lengths of nails may not be suitable for the design of specific models.
Nail Magazine
Now that we’ve covered nail magazines let’s look at how they affect nail gun purchases. To begin, there are only two types of nail gun magazines: straight and coil. While the straight ones appear to be more lightweight, the coil ones have a larger nail capacity. In addition, the nails can either be collated with plastic or wire in the magazine.
In our opinion, a nail gun with a coiled magazine appears to be the best option for extended labour. Oh, and make sure the magazine is at the same angle as the nailer. For example, few models with a 15° magazine automatically adjust to plastic collated nails ranging from 1-¼”-2-½”. Hence, it’s critical to understand what kind of magazine will work with the model you’re purchasing.
A Word From Us
That’s all there is to it, guys. We’re confident that you’ve gained enough knowledge to select your best nail gun for concrete. But if you want our recommendation, we propose the ITW BRANDS 40088.22 Caliber Fastener Tool. That’s because it can easily drive 2x4s into a concrete wall. It can also fire 2Xs into steel up to a thickness of 3/16″ at the same time.
Lastly, we would like to thank you for investing your time in our post for knowing about the best concrete nailers. It genuinely means the whole world to us. We wish you the best of luck and have a great time concrete nailing!
Leave a Reply