If you’re contemplating buying one, you may be wondering, what are palm nailers used for? Palm nailers are extremely helpful tools when you have to finish a job within tight spaces, like edges and corners. They are used for fencing, decking, framing, and much more – basically, all spaces that are hard to reach with Cordless Finish Nailer or a traditional collated nailer.
Essentially, if you want to nail those awkward DIY jobs, look no further as a palm nailer can save you all sorts of headaches.
It’s amazing what a bit of innovative and excellent engineering can accomplish. These days palm nailers are super user friendly and helpful to both the professional carpenter and amateur DIY dabbler. You can use it for any common nailing tasks that require the exactness of a nail hammering.
Really, whatever kind of DIYer you may be, lightweight mini-palm nailers really are excellent for individually driving bulk nails into whatever project you’re working on – fast and efficiently and just by holding the device in the palm of your hand.
Plus they’re not expensive.
When you’re spending out on tools, you want value for money, and with the palm nailer, you can save not just money but time as well.
What is a Palm Nailer?
The palm nailer is made to drive the nail into whatever you are working on in a fast and precise way, operating power and pressure, and still can access areas that are more difficult with traditional nail guns or hammers.
They are designed to drive large framing nails, joist hanger nails, or in fact, any other bulk nails roughly that size.
Unlike collated nail guns, which fire nails in repetitive quick strokes, the palm nailer can reach tight, hard to reach places, which will quickly make it one of the most essential tools in your toolbox.
In a nutshell, a palm nailer is a mini handy palm-held pneumatic power machine that fits snuggly into the palm of your hand and gives you the chance to reach those tricky tight spaces which need nailing.
You can use your palm nailer for those tricky jobs, which can range from arts and crafts to framing, decking, fencing, to name but a few.
And the best palm nailers have great ergonomic designs so they’ll fit comfortably into your hand.
With their magnetic nose, which is made of hardened steel, you can rely on them being durable and sturdy, whatever the job.
So, if you’re fed up with your nail gun but need a nailer which is compact, portable, and yet which can give you freedom, then this little baby may be the answer.
Are Palm Nailers Worth it?
Are palm nailers really worth the investment? Well there’s no doubt that those who work in narrow spaces, see palm nailers as some sort of magic tool. They get a lot of praise by many DIY enthusiasts and seasoned practitioners alike, as a simple way of pushing a nail through a hard surface. You can purchase a portable version if you are a DIYer with a small woodworking project but for the bigger and complex work, you may want to go with the corded one.
There’s no doubt they are becoming more and more popular to provide better controlled in narrowed spaces. As you drive each of the nails individually, it is not used for speed, but you do it in an easier and more elegant way than going with a traditional approach.
So if you want to say goodbye to the pain caused by physical hammering, for the low cost investment, they are well worth checking out.
What Are Palm Nailers Used For?
Palm nailers are used for anything and everything from roofing to siding to flooring and just about everything in between. Palm nailers pick up where a collated nailer leaves off.
Uses for palm nailers include framing, decking, fencing, metal connector straps, and even pole barn construction. Some types even allow you to use them on moldings, dowels, and automotive bodywork. Just think of them as a pneumatic nailer specifically designed to fit into hard to access spaces.
How Do Palm Nailers Work?
Most palm nailers work more or less the same way – you usually hook it onto the air compressor, unless, of course, it’s an electric one, and the magnet on its head enables the nail to stay locked in position.
Job done.
What Types of Palm Nailers are Available?
There are various versions of the palm nailer – some need an air compressor to operate, whereas others are cordless – there are portable ones as well as heavy-duty palm nailers as well. Depending on what size and power options you want, you’ll find you have a variety of palm nailers to choose from because by using electricity or compressed air, the nailer drives the nails in smoothly.
They’re relatively similar to the nail gun – they’re just more compact and speedier.
There are mini palmers that can work on 1.5” to 3.5” nails or pneumatic palmers, which are the more powerful option and is the right choice for heavy-duty ranges from 6”.
So, they usually use the regular nails we find in the hardware shops and that we can use a hammer on.
How Does a Pneumatic Palm Nailer Work?
Pneumatic nailers uses uses energy from compressed air, so you will need an air compressor to do the job. If you are a professional, more experienced, and have done some woodworking job in the past, the chances are you already have an air compressor at home.
Alongside the pneumatic versions, you‘ll find there are also electric power modes and battery-operated options available.
Electric Powered and Battery Operated Palm Nailers
For smaller projects where significant power is not essential for the successful completion of the job, you may want to consider a battery operated palm nailer. This type is quite popular for the occasional home worker and DIY enthusiast. Plus if you opt for a cordless nailer, you’ll have no hassle or mess and can easily transport them with you wherever you go.
If you need a bit more grunt in the tool, then perhaps opt for an electric powered nailer. While it is more expensive than pneumatic versions they don’t require any additional maintenance.
Palm Nailer Features and Benefits
Most palm nailers come with additional features such as LED lights, depth of drive adjustments, and magnetic nail alignment systems.
Some sets you can buy even include an impact palm nail with a standard nose, a finish nail nose, a nose wrench, a hex wrench, a tool lubricant, and spare o-rings. Others include self-cleaning as they have filters inside to ensure your equipment is 100% efficient.
At the end of the day, it all depends on how much you want to spend.
If you want to splash out, you can have a version that has a 360-degree swivel fitting, which makes it feel like you’re in control of a robot, so working for long hours isn’t going to be a problem. They usually all come with a hand strap that fastens around your hand for holding the nailer onto your palm securely while you are driving those nails into tricky places.
How Does a Palm Nailer Work? – Step by Step Instructions
So, you want to drive in some nails, but don’t want to dig out the big guns?
Follow these simple, easy steps, and you’ll be up and firing up in no time:
- Put your ear protectors and gloves on – the palm nailer vibrates, so the gloves will help you maintain steady hand pressure.
- Slide your hand inside the hand strap and adjust the strap to fit your palm.
- Adjust the depth of the nose according to the length of the nail you’re using.
- Put the nail through the nose of the nailer – try and keep the nail steady and straight over the point.
- With gentle pressure, push the nail and drive down – it should usually take less than a second.
- If you don’t want the nail screwed in completely, quickly remove pressure before the nail is screwed all the way down.
Most of these tools are really user-friendly – there are little or no complicated installation processes – you can literally begin your project in minutes.
Easy to use, lightweight, easy to store, the palm nailer will change your life with their precise, fast way of driving in the nail in places other nail guns or hammers can’t reach.
You don’t even have to be a professional to use one.
Simple and efficient.
Tips on Getting the Most out of Your Palm Nailer
Before starting any work, be sure you checked all safety measures first. You may want to wear ear protection as these tools can be extremely loud – moreover, if you are using a compressor-powered model, you will surely hit a lot of noise. Additionally, you may use hand gloves to assure a firmer grip once you start using the palm nailer, and other safety gear like a helmet to avoid any potential hazard.
1. Pay attention to the user manual
After safety precautions, it is time to go through the instruction manual and follow the user’s guidelines before starting any operation with the tool. This is also for safety reasons, as you will acquire more knowledge about operating and maintaining the palm nailer.
2. Power up.
If you purchased a battery-operated model, just turn on the power button, and you are ready to go. Otherwise, connect your palm nailer with the air compressor. Again, battery-powered palm nailers are not as sturdy so do not expect a high performance if you have a project of wide scope in front of you.
Like other Cordless Drill nailers, they are not appropriate for heavy tasks. But for common nailing tasks just be sure you have high-quality batteries.
3. It’s all about positioning.
Even though this tool works for itself, you may want to apply some pressure while nailing so find yourself a comfortable position, especially if you are bending or lying down.
Do not position yourself too close to the palm nailer and secure a safe distance.
Depending on the place where you need to drive the nail, hold your palm nailer in a strong grip of one hand, with the nailer’s nose faced out, and the nail you want to drive on the other hand.
4. Nailing process.
The nailer comes with a magnetic tip to ensure a perfect fit between the nail’s head and the nailer. Place it over a nail, and you will feel how the head is positioned nice and firm into a nailer. Now, place the palm nailer where you want to start your nailing work, and either press the button or apply slight pressure, depending on the type of the palm nailer you own.
Interested in our other articles?
If you are a complete beginner and are not sure about where to start with your project, check out our easy-to-follow guidelines on how to get started in woodworking.
Who knows, maybe you will find immersing yourself so deep into this new activity, you will soon start selling your skills to others. You may also check our guide on How Much Does A Woodworker Make? if you need a motivational boost to start.
Also, if you want to check out what are some other cool wood machines for home use, read about the overview of the most common wood cutting machines.
At the end of the day, palm nailers are a great way to finish any nailing work in an accurate and easy way, without having to experience the frustrating pain of hammer use. If you used your palm nailer for some cool woodworking project, check out how you can enlighten any room in your home by a simple Rope Lights for Crown Molding.