Great Starter Nail Guns (Air Nailers) For Under $50
For those of us just starting out with our air tool collections, the choices can seem simply overwhelming. Especially when it comes to air nailers, there are literally thousands of units to choose from.
If you’re just a beginner, you might not need fancy features like bump triggers, huge nail coils, shock absorbers, etc… You just want something simple, durable and reliable. And you want it for the lowest possible price, of course.
We’ve put together this list below to help you make your decision a bit easier. If you have any questions or see any models I’ve missed. Please leave a message in the comment form below.
Our Picks:
Campbell Hausfeld Brad Nailer - $19.99
For the average home user that only wants to do basic tasks such as trim work, baseboards or paneling, you can’t beat the price on this 2-in-1 unit. If you’re just looking for a dirt-cheap starter nail gun, the Campbell Hausfeld SB3232MVRB is for you.
My favorite feature, aside from the price, is that the unit doubles as both: a nail gun and a stapler. It supports 18 gauge brad nails from ½” to 1 ¼”, and 1/4 inch crown staples.
You can easily adjust the tool’s settings by modifying the exhaust mechanism. The Magazine holds up to 100 nails through its convenient top-loading magazine.
The tip of the gun is also equipped with a mar-prevention device that will protect the surfaces of your projects.
Denver Tools 120019 Brad Nailer - $15.99
Along the lines of the Campbell Hausfeld, this model also makes a nice, cheap entry-level nail gun. The Denver Tools 120019 Brad Nailer delivers just the barest essentials, without a lot of extra stuff you don’t need.
For the price, it’s surprisingly durable, with its die-cast body.
This is ideal for small home projects and crafts such as cabinets, framing, trim and paneling.
This model is similar to Denver’s other 120020, but it handles longer brad nails, ranging from 15mm all the way to a more reasonable 50mm. It has a large-capacity aluminum magazine that’s well-designed, and delivers nails to the front smoothly for fewer jams.
This model also offers a touch-strike safety system, which is an attractive feature for those who are concerned about workshop accidents. (As a bonus, you also get a free pair of safety goggles, included with the unit)
This unit comes as a kit, and includes oil, safety goggles, storage case and wrenches.
Porter-Cable BN125A (Factory Reconditioned) - $29.77
The Porter-Cable BN125A is probably the best selling and most popular unit on this list. It has been discussed extensively online, with very positive reviews. (Most of the negative reviews I’ve read were from more serious users who’d be better off with a higher-end model)
For the price, you really can’t beat it.
It delivers a lot of force on very low pressure. Just 80PSI is all you need.
If you’re tired of hitting yourself in the thumb while hammering nails in manually, you should consider upgrading to this reliable, reputable unit.
As with the other nailers on this list, the BN125A can handle 18 gauge brad nails from 1” to 1/14”, and has a number of desirable features such as a sequential fire trigger, removable rubber mar protector, and depth adjustment capability.
Although more expensive than some of the others we’ve mentioned, you’re surely going to get a lot of use from this nail gun for years to come.
DeWalt D51236R (Factory Reconditioned) - $29.99
I love DeWalt tools. They look great, they’re durable and they work flawlessly. I’ve been a fan for years, and this entry-level air gun will help you see why.
Some of my favourite features on this one include the low nail indicator that tells you when to reload, the overmolded no-mar pad that protects your project surfaces without impairing your vision, and the easy-to-use depth adjuster design.
From a safety standpoint, this unit also has a trigger lock-off which disables the unit when you’re not using it, and a 360 exhaust that channels air away from you.
You first projects might not end up looking too good, but at least you can look good building them with the DeWalt D51236R.
Bostitch BT200K-2 (Factory Reconditioned) - $39.99
I like the fact that this nailer offers a lot of features for a low price. The Bostitch BT200K-2 comes complete with a nice carrying case, 1,000 fasteners, air fittings, and 4 profile tips
This unit offers one of the highest power-to-weight ratios in the industry. (170-inch-lbs of force in a 2.1 lb unit. Not to shabby!)
Another nice thing about this unit is the fact that it’s oil-free. This means you spend less time maintaining your tool, and more time kicking butt in the shop. No mess, no clean-up, no downtime. Life is good.
The exhaust can be rotated 360 degrees, which helps when working in tight spots. The tool itself is also designed with an open nose concept that allows you to clear jams more easily.
For all of you southpaws out there, you’ll be glad to know that the handle is ambidextrous. So right or left, it doesn’t matter.
But by far, my 3 favorite features of this nailer are:
• No-mar protective tip that will protect surfaces from damage
• Variable depth, which is much more useful than you’d imagine
• Magnetic strip that holds fasteners in place when loading
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