Size matters they say and this much is true when it comes to small spaces. It is the only convenience that they offer you (they offer a lot of convenience by the way) but so much more. Having the best palm nailer will help save you a lot of time and headaches.
Having sufficiently and carefully studied the palm nailer market, many people have made the mistake of buying inferior or junk palm nailers instead of top quality.
This is why we have compiled a list of high-quality palm nailers that will serve you the intended purpose effectively and efficiently.
If you are a professional or DIY that makes use of a hammer frequently, you would have definitely come across spaces where it becomes impossible to swing a hammer. It is that particular situation when the palm nailer becomes extremely important.
At the end of this guide, you will also know what to look out for in a quality palm nailer, that is, what makes a palm nailer the best. Here are our top 7 palm nailers currently in the market.
Best Palm Nailer Reviews
1. BOSTITCH PN50 Mini Impact Nailer
The first tool on our review is a fine work art from the stable of BOSTITCH, a company synonymous for making some of the best palm nailers in the industry. This unique tool is a lightweight product that comes with so many features to love.
What makes the BOSTITCH PN5O unique is the air fitting feature of the palm nailer. It is a 360 degree fitting that allows for better and increased reaching of the slot and nose of the palm nailer. This will give you greater effectiveness with the tool.
The rubber handle grip of the tool ensures that you have greater and firmer control of the nailer when it is in vibration. The vibration would have otherwise proved a difficult one to handle while working with the palm nailer.
PN50 Mini Impact Nailer is perfect for all your finishes including timber and any kind of frame you have in your household. This is one tool to have in every home.
The tool might not be a good option for nailing in joist hangings – and this is the biggest downside to owning the tool. Also, you may experience some trouble while fitting in the head with the collar. This is another downside of the tool.
2. Freeman Pneumatic Mini Palm Nailer
The Freeman Pneumatic Mini Palm Nailer or Freeman PNPN as it is described by many retailers, is another great tool deserving of its place on this list. First thing to note is that the Freeman PNPN tool is bit heavier than the first palm nailer in the review (the BOSTITCH PN50).
The tool is made from high quality metals which is responsible for the durability as well as strength of both the internal and external parts of the tool. If you are a professional who will have to use the palm nailer regularly, this is definitely one product to look out.
Freeman PNPN has a unique compact design that makes it easier for the palm nailer to be used in tight spaces – the fact that it is also lightweight also helps the user in this regard. One thing you will never have to worry about is how to get your nails into tight frames with this tool.
Another reason why this Freeman Palm nailer is perfect for handling hugely difficult nailing tasks is due to it ergonomically design that makes it more adept to this type of task than any other mini palm nailer on this review.
Professionals and regular users of palm nailers will come across this tough tasks from time to time and it would be in their best interest to have a palm nailer equal to the task. Moreover, it is a pneumatic nailer, which gives it an extra advantage in the efficient nailing process.
The quality of the magnet of the tool is the biggest worry you will have over this palm nailer – it is of low quality, which would make it unrecommendable for heavy nailing.
3. BOSTITCH PN100K Impact Nailer Kit
The biggest selling point of the second BOSTITCH palm nailer on this review is the number of noses that comes with the product – with three noses, you can handle anything from standard to finish and even large bore nailing.
This makes it one of the most versatile tools on this review and one adept to a wide range of nailing jobs.
It has a magnetic recessed nail slot that is designed to help you hold your nails in place in extremely hard areas. This eliminates all the frustration and headache that absence of this feature would have caused.
BOSTITCH PN100K has been designed to withstand long period of use – the palm nailer has a fatigue minimizing level that comes with its ergonomic design. This makes it ready made for intensive use and long period of time; another feature that shows that this is a palm nailer for professionals.
Users will definitely love the 7-year warranty that comes with the nailer kit; a feature that makes you assured of the commitment of the manufacturer to delivering quality products.
One downside to using this product is the fact that it doesn’t come with depth adjustment. This makes it not suitable for use in some frames that require different depths.
Another downside is the difficult that one may encounter when switching between the three noses of the palm nailer.
4. 3PLUS HMPN50SP Mini Palm Nailer
3PLUS HMPN50SP has been described many as one of the quality palm nailers in the market at the moment and it is easy to see why; it has many features to love and would make for a handy tool to have in tight nailing tasks.
The tool is made from a die-casting aluminum material that is responsible for its durability and long-lasting nature – this is one product that will give you your value for money.
For those who are to be considered as beginners in the nailing business and even many DIY users, you never have to worry about the accuracy in nail placement. The magnetic nose of the tool makes it easy to have accurate placement on the nailing task.
Another feature of this palm nailer that shows that the manufacturer of the tool really did put consumer first is the front exhaust of the product that helps to direct air away from the palm of the user. This helps ensure your safety and effectiveness in carrying out the task at and.
The tool has been described by some DIYers as not too great for use with large nails – this is the biggest downside to owning this palm nailer.
5. Metabo HPT NH90AB Palm Framing Nailer
The Metabo HPT NH90AB may be a handful to pronounce but the tool is more than worthy of its place on this review – it has been hallmarked by many users and reviews as one of the effective palm nailers for wide range of uses.
The first thing to love about this product is its compact size that makes it compatible for use in tight spaces. The fact that the tool is also lightweight also helps in this regard and the palm nailer will definitely come in handy when it comes to tricky frames.
This tool is perfect for use with many frames but it is the best palm nailer for joist hangers. It is also great for use on metallic connectors and this is just a testament to the level of versatility that this little but powerful tool.
It has an over-molded rubberized grip that allows for comfort and better handling whenever the tool is in use.
The top-quality magnetic nose of this tool will help ensure that your nails are placed perfectly for accuracy. You never have to worry if your nails are set into the correct spot on the frame – a common problem with nailing in tight spaces.
The biggest downside of the product is its minimalistic approach when it comes to accessories – it has less accessories when compared to other palm nailers on this review.
6. Milwaukee 2458-20 M12 12-Volt Palm Nailer
Battery powered pam nailers are increasingly becoming the way to go, therefore it is only appropriate that the tool that is arguably the best of the bunch is featured on our review.
When it comes to reaching extremely small spaces, this is the tool for the job.
If you are looking for a palm nailer that comes with lots of useful features, this is definitely the option for you to choose. The fact that it is powered by a battery makes it suitable and capable of lasting long enough for you carry out all the tasks around the household.
It comes with a LED light that further helps you to do your job as well as be able to see enough to keep your palms safe.
The tool also comes with a charger as well as battery – this is rather uncommon for most battery-powered tool of any kind. This means you won’t have to spend extra on purchasing the charger or battery.
The biggest downside to using this tool is that it is not recommendable for professional use – it is perfect DIY users as against the intensive use of professionals. It is also not as powerful as the pneumatic palm nailers on this review.
7. PORTER-CABLE PN350 Mini Impact Palm Nailer
Porter-Cable PN350 is a palm nailer that puts the emphasis on its minimalistic design – it is a simple palm nailer (when compared to others on this list) but it is powerful and accurate enough for the most nailing tasks.
It comes with a direct exhaust that ensures that air is directed away from the hands of the users – a safety first feature of the product that shows its high quality.
You will love the multi-blow feature of the palm nailer that makes it easy to drive any type of length of framing and even metallic connectors.
The biggest downside of using the product, rather presumably comes with its size – it is considered smaller (despite the fact that most palm nailers are small tool) and this makes it unsuitable for use with large nails.
It is also considered more fragile than other tools on this review.
Buying Guide
Having seen the palm nailers and what they have to offer if purchased, it is important that you know what to look out for in palm nailers. The buying guide presents all the factors to look out for before choosing a palm nailer and this will give you a clearer picture of what you need in your home.
Weight of the Palm Nailer
The intended use of any palm nailer is to fit into small and tight space, it is therefore imperative that the weight of the tool is considered before making a commitment. An ideal palm nailer should be lightweight and of course, it should fit into your palm.
The weight of the tool is vital to getting the desired results and this is why it is very important for you to check out for the right weight. A heavy palm nailer defeats the purpose of using the tool and would prove to be too difficult to handle during use.
Go for a well-balanced lightweight tool that makes for easy handling.
Comfort
Simply put, your palm nailer should give you the utmost comfort. There really is no point in having a tool that proves to be more of a problem to handle than performing its intended use.
An ergonomic design is the best guarantee for comfort. Look out for a palm nailer that has been ergonomically designed and one with a rubberized handle. This will ensure a better grip on the handle, which in turn makes it easy to use.
It is the point of driving in the nail that you see just how important this – it would be best that you are prepared for it with a palm nailer with an ergonomic design.
Pressure Activation
This is one factor that should be considered thoroughly before choosing the palm nailer to go for. If you are looking for a tool that will offer you a smooth operation that comes with no stress, you need to look out for this.
The pressure activation feature of a palm nailer will ensure that you are able to drive the fasteners without having to exert too much effort. This is another feature that helps to guarantee and contributes greatly to the ease of use of the product.
This particular feature is very important when it comes to installation operations – meaning that this is a very important factor to consider especially for professional users of the tool.
Vibration Absorber/Reducer
It is important to have a tool that reduces the amount of vibration that comes with driving and drilling. The entire operation of a palm nailer is one that is associated with vibration and can lead to fatigue on the operator.
A rubber handle or leather casing is the best form of vibration reducer/absorber to have. These materials have the ability to absorb vibration as a result of their insulating properties.
For users that are going to be subject to long hours and intensive use, reducing the shock of the palm nailer is very important and this is factor that must be looked at before making a purchase.
Power Source
There are two types of palm nailers; battery-powered and pneumatic models. The pneumatic models are powered by air while the battery is of course powered by electricity.
The pneumatic models are more powerful but less convenient while the battery-powered
FAQs
The following are frequently asked questions about palm nailers.
Q: Is my palm nailer a replacement for nail guns?
A: No, the two tools offer different uses and should not be used as any form of replacement. Our recommendation is to have both, especially if you are a professional.
Q: Which one should I go for, electrical powered palm nailers or pneumatic models?
A: This depends mostly on your choices because either model is equally effective for carrying out the most nailing tasks in tight spaces. However, it depends on what you are also looking for; pneumatic types are more powerful while electrical/battery-powered types are more convenient.
Q: How do I use a palm nailer?
A: Most palm nailers has the basic modes of operation, and quite easy to use too but it is safer to read through the manual of the product. You can use it comfortably if you have an idea about the working mechanism of the palm nailer.
Q: What nails does a palm nailer take?
A: The nails for palm nailers range from 4D-16D depending on your device. As palm nailers have a magnetic guide for precise nailing and fastening, you won’t have to worry about your work surface getting damaged. Powernail power palm pneumatic nailer is one of the best examples of micro-adjustable depth drive palm nailers.
Q: Is Porter Cable PN650 a good palm nailer?
A: Yes. The Porter Cable PN650 is a pneumatic nailer that uses 3D-10D nails. It comes with four nose tips which you can use for finishing nails, magnetic connections, and also wide nails and steel hammer tip nails. The depth of drive control of the PN650 is on point so there is no fear of damaging your working surface.
Conclusion
Here are our top pick and most versatile option for readers who still can’t make a choice on the best palm nailer for their task.
Top Pick
The BOSTITCH PN100K is our top pick. It offers numerous features; the number of noses is a big selling point, the magnet ensures accuracy and it edges others with its 7-year warranty. Once you get a hang of the tool, the switching between noses doesn’t prove a problem anymore.
Most Versatile Option
This particular pick is for professional users who are likely to work with a wide variety of frames and surfaces. The Metabo HPT NH90AB offers versatility and is also the best option for joist hangings.
Leave a Reply