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 A flooring nailer is
a tool used to drive nails into wooden floor boards to securely affix
them to the floor, providing an even and rigid surface for walking as
well as keeping heavy furniture. This tool is commonly used for blind
nailing hardwood floors, providing a smooth and aesthetic finish
without any fasteners being visible. The nailer automates the process
of hammering nails and thus offers a dual time-saving and energy
conserving benefit. Considering the fact that an average house may see
around 70,000 to 100,000 floor nails being used, the flooring nailer
would increase productivity and efficiency, as compared to a situation
in which all the nails are being hammered in manually. Additionally,
this tool also enhances accuracy and strength by ensuring that the nail
is driven in a straight line with minimal play. Using a conventional
hammer, there is a chance that the floor may get marred if the hammer
misses the nail, something which never happens when using a nailer.
With a flooring nailer, the drive and Countersink of the nail happens
in a single smooth motion. This tool, while professionally being used
by carpenters and building contractors, is also a handy tool to have in
any household.
Features and working of a flooring nailer
A flooring nailer is
either manually operated or powered by compressed air. The Nailers that
work on compressed air, called pneumatic nailers, are linked to air
tanks that contain the  pressurized
air. When the trigger of the tool is pressed, this compressed air
provides the propelling power to emit the nails out of the nozzle at
great velocities. Depending on the application and the type of the
target material, the speed of the nail may need to be moderated. Most
nailers have a variable speed control mechanism, which allows the user
to change the speed of the device. Since these nailers shoot nails out
at high speeds, the tool can be very dangerous if the tool is allowed
to fire in midair. To prevent this from happening, the nailer sometimes
incorporates a safety valve that does not allow the nail to get fired
unless the nozzle is pressing against a solid surface. Pneumatic
nailers generate a pressure of approximately 90 to 100 pounds per
Square inch (PSI) to give an air output of around 4.5 cubic feet per
minute (CFM).
In non-pneumatic flooring nailers ,
nails are held by the tool in the ‘Tongue and Groove’ joint. With the
nailer’s nose placed on the floorboard’s tongue, as soon as the trigger
is released, a heavy hammer strikes the pad at the top of the nailer
and the nail is driven through the board into the subfloor at a
particular angle. The most judicious angle is decided by the tool
itself.
The nails used in flooring nailers
are around two inches long. However, this length may vary depending on
the characteristics of the subfloor. If there happens to be radiant
tubing or any other utilitarian implements under the floorboards, the
nails should be short enough not to penetrate into the subfloor. Thus,
a balance should be maintained between ensuring a rigid fixation of the
floorboards to the substrate and ensuring that no undue damage occurs
to any of the subfloor components. These nails are usually called
cleats. Most nailers are compatible with angle and face nails, as well
as L-shaped cleats.
Some flooring nailers
have a ratchet system that provides a multiple hit mechanism. This
implies that even if the nail does not get completely driven up to the
head on the first hit, additional strikes are hammered in to ensure
total cleat penetration. Mallet actuation ensures tight and smooth
operation.
The average flooring nailer has a height of
around 18 inches, length of around 15 inches, and weighs around 8
pounds. The capacity of the nailer is approximately 150 to 200 nails.
The body of the nailer is generally made of a sturdy material having a
composite rubberized base that does not scratch or mar the surface of
the floor boards. An oil-less system ensures lower maintenance and a
cleaner performance.
What to look for in a flooring nailer
A cast aluminum adaptor foot and an extruded
aluminum nail passage help prolong the life of the product. The handle
of the tool is often soft padded and ergonomically designed to enhance
the comfort for the user and also minimize the chances of hand strain
during use for long durations. Also, the various controls should be
easily accessible to enable one handed operation. Senco and Bostich are
some of the nest manufacturers of flooring nailers in the market.
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