{"id":2351,"date":"2021-10-01T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-01T09:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestofmachinery.com\/?p=2351"},"modified":"2022-05-09T13:24:30","modified_gmt":"2022-05-09T13:24:30","slug":"how-does-a-nail-gun-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestofmachinery.com\/how-does-a-nail-gun-work\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does a Nail Gun Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]To the uninitiated, a nailer can be a rather intimidating tool. But once you understand how a nail gun works, you\u2019ll quickly see why it\u2019s one of the most popular tools among professionals, DIYers, and hobbyists. While a traditional hammer is fine for easy projects like building simple furniture or replacing door trim, using one for complex applications like framing a wall, installing floors and cabinets, or building a fence is tricky. Nail guns are an efficient alternative for these projects and many others.<\/p>\n
These tools fire nails at an incredibly high speed, embedding them in your workpiece quickly and effortlessly. Capable of eliminating all the hard work from nailing, these are some of the most relied-on tools for any workshop. However, to see why these machines are ideal for construction applications, you need to understand how they work. In this article, we\u2019ll discuss how these versatile tools can drive nails at impressive speeds and all the different models available.<\/p>\n
Most nail guns<\/a> have a similar firing mechanism\u2014a piston hammers down on a blade mechanism, propelling the nail into the target. The primary difference between the various types of guns is the origin of the force that propels the piston.<\/p>\n Nailers essentially have two tasks. First, they need to produce a staggering amount of hammering force with every pull of the trigger. Second, they need to reload new nails each time they fire one. To perform these two tasks, these tools feature a firing mechanism and a nail-loading mechanism.<\/p>\n For the firing mechanism, most nail guns use a similar design. When you pull the trigger, two things can happen. Either a piston will hammer down on a blade mechanism, propelling the nail, or two springs will compress and release, driving the nail into its intended target. While all nailers operate by using one of these features, the main difference between models is the origin of the force that propels the piston or compresses the spring. This source of power can be pneumatic, combustion-powered, or electric.<\/p>\n For the nail-loading mechanism, nailers feature a magazine that feeds into the barrel of the nail gun. Nails are glued together into a long strip – frequently called plastic-collated. A spring at the base of the magazine pushes the strip up into the barrel. When you press the trigger, the hammer comes down, separating the next nail from the strip, driving it into the wood. With the hammer cocked, the spring then pushes the next nail into the firing position.<\/p>\n An added benefit of glued nails is that when the nail enters the wood, friction melts the glue<\/a>. As the glue hardens, it fuses the nail into the wood, lessening the risk of it falling out over time. Now that we\u2019ve covered the basics, let\u2019s discuss how the three different nail gun models operate.<\/p>\n The most commonly-used nail gun is the pneumatic nailer. These powerful models use an air compressor as the propellant for the firing mechanism. The compressor attaches to the base of the tool with a plastic or rubber air hose. The compressor builds up air pressure by taking air from the atmosphere and compressing it to optimal pressure. You measure this in pounds per square inch or PSI. These compressors feature regulators to ensure the tool has the right amount of pressure. You can adjust the regulators to lower or raise the pressure within the compression unit.<\/p>\n This pressure feeds into the barrel of the nail gun and releases when you pull the trigger. This drives the blade forward, firing the nail into the wood at an incredibly high velocity. As you continue to use the nailer, the pressure level within the compressor will slowly drop. In order to prevent the operator from running out of pressure, the compressor will kick back on when the pressure drops to a certain point, building the level back up to the optimal level. This feature allows pneumatic nailers to deliver consistent, powerful results, regardless of the application.<\/p>\nHow Pneumatic Nail Guns Work<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n