Nail guns and hammers are essential tools for trade workers and DIY enthusiasts, as both tools may be required depending on the job at hand.
For this reason, it might be difficult to answer whether nail guns are better than hammers, but there are of course many benefits to nail guns compared to hammers.
- Hammers require two steady hands and the user’s physical ability to hit a nail head accurately with as much force as required for a secure result.
- While nail guns allow for quick and consistent nailing of materials, with little physical effort and are often a one-handed job – making them a great tool to have for quicker for accurate results.
However, not all nail types and sizes are available in nail gun form so you may still need to use a hammer depending on your application and nail type.
Here we cover all things nail guns to help you decide which nail gun is the best nail gun for DIY improvements, as well as larger projects.
Most Popular DIY Nail Gun Types
There are multiple types of nail guns available but the two most popular types of nail guns are 18 gauge and 16 gauge. These are both classed as 'second fix' nail guns and use different nails which are suited to different applications.
- The Ryobi R18GN18-0 18 gauge nail gun will fire nails from 15mm up to 50mm and is ideally suited for fixing delicate wooden trim around the home, to items of furniture, or holding timber materials together while the glue dries.
- The Ryobi R16GN18-0 16 gauge nail gun will fire nails from 19mm up to 64mm and is ideally suited for larger timber materials where more holding power is required such as skirting boards, coving/crown moulding, door architraves, windows facings and much more.
How do I choose the best cordless nail gun for my project?
Deciding what is the best nail gun to buy, or how to choose a nail gun, will depend completely on what you need the nail gun for, as this will clarify what gauge of nail gun you need.
For example, if you need to fit items such as skirting boards, door architraves, coving/crown moulding and window facings then it is better to use a 16 gauge nail gun such as the Ryobi R16GN18-0 as this provides greater holding power with the use of thicker nails.
However, if you need to fit items such as small detailed mouldings, dado rails and panelling or are building your own furniture, then it is better to use an 18 gauge nail gun such as the Ryobi R18GN18-0 or R18GN18X-0 as they use a thinner nail which helps to prevent smaller pieces splitting.
Nail Gun Nails Required
Understanding what nails you need to go in a nail gun will depend on the make and model of the nail gun.
For example, here are what nails go in a Ryobi nail gun;
- Any standard straight 18 gauge nails from 15-50mm will fit the Ryobi R18GN18-0, R18N18G-0 and R18GN18X-0 nail guns. These nails are a universal fit.
- Any standard straight 16 gauge nails from 19-64mm will fit the Ryobi R16GN18-0 and R18N16G-0 nails guns.
Benefits of having the Ryobi Nail Guns
- As part of the Ryobi ONE+™ system of over 150 cordless tools for the home, garden, automotive, crafting and much more, the Ryobi nail gun range offers our most powerful and high-performing nailer to date.
- Ryobi nail guns use AirStrike™ Technology, which removes the need for separate air compressors or hoses. AirStrike™ Technology also removes the need for constant maintenance and is extremely user-friendly allowing for easy pressure and depth adjustment.
- The Ryobi range of nail guns are ideally suited to DIYers as they provide high levels of power and adjustability with little maintenance.
Ask Ryobi's Nailer Gun Experts
If you're looking for the best nailer gun for the job, shop the range of cordless nailer guns from Ryobi, or speak to our experts for help deciding which model is the best to buy for your needs
Contact us today