Are nail Guns too dangerous to use?

Question

I would like to buy a nail gun. They look like they make the work so much easier but..are they real dangerous? Also are they heavy to use for long periods? What is the best brand?

Answer 1

Eartha, they're fun and do make work so much better. The drawback is that you not only need to get the nail gun, but also the air compressor. But a real woman can handle it with no problem. They've got great safety features that keep you from hurting yourself (or others) and you won't have a hard time carrying it around.

I'm a 43 y/o mom with 5 kids and have no problem at all using it...and I'm a wimp :-) So go for it!

Answer 2

With all due respect, and without reading other answers, YES they can be! I wouldn't offer them to teens perhaps as they might use paint ball guns, but certainly in the right hands they are an effective tool. Accidents however, equating to Murpys Law, can happen.

Without knowing your reason or purpose I have suggestions.

First of all most commercial grade Nail Guns also involve a compressor and hose at the very least, Then deciding on a sheath type load or rolled up load should be considered.

If this is pretty much that you don't plan on becoming a "Framer" or "Roofer" you might try something electric like a Stanley Brad/Staple tool. It's light weight, holds various sizes of both, isn't prohibitively expensive, and has less of a danger factor than a compressed air, nail gun, in that you might not be able to wound your neighbor in the next yard. That said however, I'd advise caution still.

BEST is relative and pretty much a personal choice through experience, and perhaps SALES Hype...sigh. It's as much an individual thing perhaps as religion or politics.

I use as many tools on job sites that will do the jobs I need them to do, and will hopefully perform in a satisfactory manner.

If you plan to go FULL OUT in this, at least RENT one initially and get a piece of wood and a box of nails and do your own test.

Steven Wolf

Answer 3

Nail guns are extremely dangerous! I, once, saw a young man shot and seriously wounded by a pneumatic nail gun. To this day I do not know whether or not he lived. The last time I saw him he was hooked up to an intravenous solution and being carried away on a gurney. The moral? Don't, 'F' with nail guns; they are no different than powder-actuated firearms and can be very dangerous.

Answer 4

i wish you had told us what you wanted to do with your gun, because knowing what you intend it for is the first thing we need to know. are you into hobby work? or are you building an addition on your house? lol, i had to say it. o.k., if you will be using the gun a lot, buy the best that you can afford. it is better to spend a little more the first time, than have to spend it the second time because the cheap tool broke. i buy Hitachi nail guns for the tools that i make my living with. they are well balanced, practically indestructible, have good service availability, and surprisingly light for how heavy duty they are. Paslode is a good brand, if you can afford them, they don't require an air compressor, so that saves on the other end, but the fuel cells and nails cost more. Stanley/Bostich aren't as good as the Hitachi's but good enough and have a good support network for a homeowner. i own a few other air nail guns for my own home use that are just good or better grade since i'm not out of work if they breakdown. basicly, you can go by the price ranges and determine good, better, and best, and decide accordingly. as far as safety goes, do not carry the gun with your finger on the trigger, keep a clean, neat and organized work area, and don't work with one if you are tired or distractions (kids) are in the work area. wear safety goggles, and ear plugs(they are noisey in closed spaces), unplug the hose when loading or reloading the gun, and keep your other hand away from the piece that you are nailing. if you should happen to hit a nail or hard object, the nail could be driven back out into your other hand. a buddy of mine nailed his other hand to the piece that he was working on because it was too close to the area that he was nailing. also, check out tool rental places, you can "test drive" one before you buy one. don't limit your choices to just the big box stores (H.D.,Lowes). check out tool stores, i got a discontinued finish nail gun for half price, and ended up with a better gun than i had planned to buy, and spent less. good luck, and i hope you enjoy your new gun!

Answer 5

If you're talking about a framing nail gun, it may feel heavy. But it beats swinging a hammer all day. Most nail guns have a safety mechanism at the business end that won't allow it to fire without being depressed against the work surface. Of course, if the "work surface" is your foot, borrow a key safety rule from firearm owners, "Never put your finger on the trigger until you're ready to fire". Read your owner's manual. And remember a power tool is only as dangerous as the operator is careless.

Answer 6

Don't listen to these guys. Bostich is a great brand, but they tend to make larger nail guns than a beginner might need. Determine if you need to just drive staples, brad nails or framing nails (which I doubt you're doing). All nail guns have safeties which will keep it from going off unless you're pressing it against the surface that you want to nail. Read the directions carefully to determine the proper air pressure to use it at, and hold onto it well when using it to minimize kick-back. Other than that, you'll be fine.

Answer 7

Not necessary and dangerous around kids. Those thing fling nails which put out eyes. So do ordinary staple guns, however, these are hard to trigger so they are much safer.

NailGuns are for professionals nailing thousands of nails.

Answer 8

Like many tools, nailguns can be hazardous, only if you get careless. Most nailguns are operated with air compressors. if you decide to get a nail gun, you must also have a compressor, 2-3 air hoses and the proper strip nails for the gun. Yes the can get heavy, but not nearly as heavy as pounding nails with a hammer all day. They do make a airless nailer for trim nails. Paslode brand for airless nailers, air nailers take your pick.

Answer 9

There are several choices in picking. There is no such thing as a do it all nail gun, so if you're looking for 1 that will do everything, forget it.

Answer 10

Yes they are safe my husband has one. I think his is a nail and brad gun. I know that there are so many different types out there. When looking for one be sure it has a safety on it. My dad has an old one that the safety is broken. It will shoot a nail across the room.
They have different weights for different projects. Go to your local hardware store (Home Depot, Lowe's, etc.)and try them out they usually have several out on display. The employees should be able to help you figure out which one is best for your project.