Nothing is more time-consuming and annoying than using a poorly designed or faulty nailer. Having to fix air leaks, hammer in cleats that are half sunk, and unjam cleats are three major problems that can occur with a poor nailer. This can lead to inefficiency and poor quality of work.
If you’re in the market for a new hardwood flooring nailer, you may be wondering which one is the best. Listed below are four of the best on the market.
Each of these nailers have slightly different specs and designs. It’s important to choose the right one for you and the work at hand.
There’s a few things to consider when purchasing one of these nailers, such as the thickness of flooring you are installing, whether you prefer trigger-activated or mallet-activated nailers, and what gauge cleats you want to use.
In this article, we will look at four different flooring nailers and run through a description of each to help you decide what the right choice for you is. We will also provide some tips to help keep your nailer in good condition and keep it firing like it’s brand new.
Firstly, let’s run through two of the best trigger-activated flooring nailers on the market.
Powernail 50F Nailer
The Powernail 50F Nailer is a trigger activated 18 gauge pneumatic nailer. This machine is designed for installing ⅜” – ¾” domestic, engineered, and hardwood floors. It has a compact flex foot design, which helps the user work across the boards while avoiding the nose being covered in glue.
The unique design of the nose fits a variety of boards, such as tongue and groove and interlocking planks. This means there is no need to adjust the nailer to suit various boards.
What makes this nailer stand out is the fact that it is an all-rounder. It is suitable for a variety of thicknesses of boards and a variety of types of boards. This puts it in a league of its own when compared to a nailer that is for only one type of board and less varied thicknesses.
Powernail 2000F Nailer
The Powernail 2000F Nailer is another great trigger-operated pneumatic nailer. This machine is a 20 gauge nailer and is designed for a variety of tongue and groove flooring. Such as HDF/MDF core, engineered, laminate, and, exotic woods.
It operates very well on thinner flooring from 5/16” – ½”. It has a compact design allowing for faster starts and finishes. It also has a removable flex foot, which allows you to top nail close to a wall.
Some standout features of this nailer are the fact that it works very well with thin boards. This gives a reduced factor of split outs with the new 20 gauge cleats.
A big thing to consider before purchasing would be the fact that this nailer is only suited for tongue and groove flooring and not for other varieties such as interlocking planks.
Next up we will look at two of the best mallet-activated flooring nailers available.
Powernail 445LSW 16 Gauge Cleat Nailer
The Powernail 445LSW is a mallet activated 16 gauge pneumatic hardwood flooring nailer. This nailer is designed for ⅝” – ¾” domestic hardwood flooring.
It is made in the USA from aircraft-grade aluminum, which makes it tough enough to withstand any beating on the job site. This nailer works with 11/2” – 2” 16 gauge cleats from any of the leading flooring cleat manufacturers and brands.
The standout feature of the powernail 445LSW is an interchangeable cleat channel, which allows you to switch the channel from a 100-cleat capacity to a 200-cleat capacity.
Another great feature of this nailer is the interchangeable handle, which allows you to switch from a 19” to a 22” handle. This is great for taller flooring layers and can save you from backaches.
Powernail 50P Flex Power Roller
The Powernail 50P Flex Power Roller is another great mallet-activated pneumatic flooring nailer. This machine is designed for ⅜” – ¾” domestic, engineered, and exotic species of hardwood flooring.
The new tri-grid power roller allows you to roll the nailer across the boards while still protecting delicate edges and finishes. This feature allows the user to lay floors in record time with increased accuracy and comfort.
Powernails 50P works with 1-¼” – 1-¾” 18 gauge cleats. These cleats are less likely to split the tongue on thinner woods but can still handle a hardwood such as hickory.
Some standout features of this machine are its versatility when it comes to thicknesses and varieties of wood. There are not many machines on the market that can handle ⅜” bamboo flooring and ¾” hickory flooring with very few adjustments.
Another great feature of this nailer is the XL handle. When combined with the power roller it makes for smooth and stable use and prevents strain on your back.
The Best Hardwood Flooring Nailer
The nailers in this article each have their own benefits, but if I was to pick one from the list above it would be the Powernail 50P flex power roller.
For me this nailer ticks all the boxes, it works well with a variety of flooring thicknesses and has 18 gauge cleats which reduce blowout.
Plus the combination of the XL handle and the power roller is a must-have. It increases efficiency and speed and is also very easy on your back which is important when laying floors every day.
Pro Tips For Maintaining Your New Nailer
If you have gone through the above list and picked out a nailer, then this is an important section for you. It would be wasteful to spend money on one of these machines if you don’t properly care for it. Unmaintained nailers may eventually begin to misfire, jam up, and leak air.
Here are a few ways to help keep your nailer firing like new:
- Add two drops of oil to the air intake before use. This will be explained in the user manual of the specific nailer, with a specification on what oil to use. Remember to not add oil to the intake over the top of the floor as the oil will stain the flooring.
- Remove glue from the base plate after every use. You can either carefully scrape the glue off, or use methylated spirits to clean it. This will prevent dust and debris from sticking to the plate, which could cause scratches and damage when used next.
- Whenever the nailer is not in use, make sure you disconnect it from the air hose. This will prevent the tool from being prematurely worn and is also a good safety measure.
Summary
Having a reliable flooring nailer is key for anyone in the floor-laying industry. A good nailer doesn’t only provide a better result but will also improve efficiency and productivity.
In the market for a new floor, flooring tools, or accessories? At Panel Town & Floors, we’re your one-stop shop for all things flooring and can assist you with the purchase and installation of your new floor.
