Hey, looking for the best palm nailers? Designed for effortless nailing, these tools are exactly what they sound like – nail guns that are small enough to fit in on the palm of your hand easily. Comfortable, and just as powerful as their bigger cousins, these nailers are perfect for use in small areas & little niches where regular nailers & hammers can’t even hope to work – perfect for craftsmen’s & DIY wizards.
They are new to the market. However, with thousands of models already available, it can be hard to find the right one for you. Don’t worry. Here is a closer look at 5 of the best palm nailers to help better nail your work to life.
Why wait? Come, let’s get into it;
Best Palm Nailers – Comfortable Nailing, Guaranteed!
Hey, do you find yourself needing to fix nails in weird angles or in areas that are too small to reach with a hammer or a typical nail gun? If yes, then the aptly named palm nailers can tremendously be a godsend for you. Light, durable, and packs a very serious punch, these handheld (palm?) nailers can fit into small crevices & niches & fire nails with absolute precision & exceptional power.
Designed to strap on to your hands, these “handy” tools help cut back on time spent hammering away, thus reducing the risk of injury & damage to your working material. They make nailing far faster, easier, and a lot accurate.
Feeling interested? Find below the best palm nailers to buy today;
Best Palm Nailers Review – Top 5 Tools To Help Make Nailing “Handy” & Easier!
Beyond the jargon & marketing fluff, here is a true take on our top 5 most favorite palm nailers to buy this season;
#1. 3PLUS HMPN50SP
Mini Palm Nailer
Made from die-cast aluminium, the 3Plus HMPN50SP best palm nailers are perfect for driving nails in weirdly angled, hard to reach places. The rounded design with padded red tinted top is extraordinarily comfy to hold. The contoured design helps resist recoil, and the grippy texture means that it won’t fly off either.
Performance-wise, its quite good (for the price). It drives most standardized nails up to 3-1/2 along. The magnetic tip ensures excellent precision, and since its well under 1 pound, fatigue is not an issue either.
What really impressed us was the clever front sided exhaust, which aims the air away from the user’s hand, improving precision & comfort. In our testing, we found it to be an excellent “lite” model, perfect for decking, fencing, joist hanging, etc.
Pros
- Lightweight, portable, and comfy
- Supports nails up to 4 inches, which is ideal for most casual nailing needs
- Front end exhaust setup
- Magnetic nail tip/holder for max accuracy
- Affordable
Cons
- Not suitable for large projects & longer nailing sessions
- Require daily oiling
#2. Freeman
Pneumatic Mini Palm Nailer
Adorned in a stylish orange/black color scheme, the Freeman range of best palm nailers offers a vast lot of power in a very mini footprint. Weighing just below two pounds, these devices can conveniently fire nails from 6D to 16D and up to 3-1/2 inches.
Clearly, this makes it one of the most versatile tools we have ever seen. The tip is magnetized for improving accuracy, and yes, it is powerful enough to drive galvanized nails through joist hangers & even steel sheets. The bottom & side exhausts are great for sustained, comfy use.
The steel made body is pretty high quality, and we are quite sure it can take some damage without failing. The grip is excellent. It fits right into the palm and stays there. For longevity, the tool features built-in filters & a dust cap.
Pros
- Steel made, durable yet lightweight frame
- Can work with both low & heavy gauge nails up to 3-1/2 inches – perfect for even pro-grade projects
- Magnetized tip for easy accuracy and firing
- Built-in filter 7 dust cap
- Comfortable rubber gripping
Cons
- The recoil is a bit high and can make it uncomfortable to use
- Loud operation
#3. BOSTITCH
Palm Nailer
Made by Bostitch, one of the most revered power toolmakers on the planet, this palm nailer is the perfect blend of power and comfort – we’ll explain. Built from aluminium, the device has extraordinary comfort, thanks to the thick rubber padding that not only offers excellent grip but also anti-recoil/vibration properties.
Pairing that with the power to drive nails up to 3-1/2 inches, this Bostitch offering is built for the pros – plain & simple. And the best part? The whole thing weighs only around just 1 pound.
With 360 degrees swiveling air exhaust for hassle-free operation, the tool is ideal for wood framing, decking, fencing, etc. even on the tough materials like Cedar and Oak. The rounded design is perfect for nailing in small, niche areas.
Pros
- Extremely comfy, grippy rubber padding
- Can drive heavy, timber gauge nails up to 3-1/2 inches with high precision and reliability
- Weighs only around 1 pound
- Front end air exhaust for easy handling
- Very Compact
Cons
- The packaging could’ve been done vastly better
- Quite loud
#4. Metabo
HPT Palm Nailer
With the Metabo HPT palm nailer, we’re going back to the roots – a no-frills, well-padded palm nailer with all the essentials at a fair price. This palm nailer boasts a steel-made frame that is extraordinarily tough. While testing, we dropped & even threw it a couple of times, and it survived sans even a scratch.
The grip is excellent. It’s quite comfy to hold, and thanks to the handy anti-vibration setup, we had no trouble controlling it, even for longer sessions. This is impressive as the tool can fire bulk nails up to 3-1/2 inches with ease.
The magnetic tip offers good precision & ease of use, while the 360-degree swivel fit makes it super easy to use in weird angles or small niches. Overall, it’s a clean, simpler nailer that’s perfect for installing hangers, metal connectors, etc.
Pros
- Powerful enough to drive up to 3-1/2 inched, bulky nails
- Overmolded rubber grip for comfort
- Tough steel build
- 360-degree swivelling head
- Magnetic tip
Cons
- Quite expensive for what it is
- No carry case
#5. Milwaukee
M12 Cordless Palm Nailer
Wrapping up our best palm nailers review, we have an electric offering – the top popular Milwaukee electric palm nailer. Built from a blend of steel, plastic & rubber for the handle, the tool oozes confidence, thanks to its power to fire nails from 6D to 16D and up to 3-1/2 inches and do it in a cordless manner.
Powering everything, the tool has a 12V, 2700 BPM motor paired with REDLITHIUM battery. Our testing got around 200 shots fired before it needs recharging, which is definitely impressive.
In a frame weighing just over a pound, they have even managed to pack in an LED array that lights up the working location. It is quite handy. The ergonomics feel… comfy. It rests well and has anti-vibration for easy, accurate firing.
Pros
- Fully electric, ergonomic design
- Can fire heavy gauge, 6D to 16D nails up to 3-1/2 inches with absolute precision
- Magnetic tip/nail holder
- Built-in LED array for easy use in dim lit areas
- Good battery life
Cons
- Relatively quite expensive considering all other options
- Heats up with long usage
Palm nailers are relatively new. To ensure you find the right one, here are a few little things to keep an eye out when buying;
1) Pneumatic or Electric – Which One To Get?
If portability is important, electric ones are better as they are battery fueled and can be used almost anywhere. The pneumatic ones need an air compressor to function. But they do offer far more superior nailing power.
Frankly, it depends on what your needs are. If you move around a lot, get an electric. For everybody else, pneumatic will do just fine.
2) Comfort & Versatility
The nailer should be lightweight. The grip should be comfortable – not too tighter, but not too loose either as it may affect accuracy. The trigger should be easy to control, preferably with a safety mechanism against misfires.
The tip should be no-marr, and it should be interchangeable, as this can help you move between nail sizes on the go. A magnetic tip is also advisable as this can help with the nail placements and accuracy + safety on the table.
3) Extra Features And Warranty Details
Some perks are not necessary, but they CAN MAKE the nailing experience a lot better. Chief amongst them is an LED light, which can help to nail in the dark easier. Others include a vibration guard, cover for the tool, nail placer, etc.
As for warranty, expect 1 to years at the least. The more, the better. Buy only from a reputed brand and sources.
In the market for best palm nailers? You may have a lot of questions! Find some of them answered below right now;
1) How Do The Best Palm Nailers Work?
All models work the same way. You load the nail into the magnetized tips/nail holder, align the nail tip to the target, grab on to the grip & apply pressure to drive the nail into the material. Quite effortless, right?
You can control the depth by adjusting the pressure on the grip.
2) Can They Replace Traditional Nail Guns?
No, they cannot. While these “palm” nailers are very versatile, they simply lack the brute power and convenience of a typical nail gun. The palm nailers are mostly for lighter tasks and exclusive scenarios.
3) How To Keep Safe When Using Them?
The palm nailers are relatively safer when compared with its nail gun counterparts. To ensure total protection, make sure to wear proper PPE’s when using them, like eye goggles, earmuffs, gloves, overalls, etc.
Best Palm Nailers Review – The Conclusion
Clearly, a palm nailer can be mighty useful in various scenarios, both at home & your workshop, with impressive results. They make nailing easy, effortless, safe, accurate, and yup, make you feel amazingly like “iron man” while doing so. Whether you are a pro contractor or a serious DIY master, a palm nailer is a must-have, indeed!
The best palm nailer should be light, well durable, and powerful enough to drive a nail in to even the toughest material with ease. To that end, we surely feel the 5 best palm nailers we have painstakingly reviewed above are the best deals you can get right now. They are seriously good – we tested & made sure of that. To find the perfect one for YOU, use the included best palm nailers buying guide. It sure can help you.
Which palm nailer did you pick? We’d like to know. If you’ve any ideas, thoughts, or queries, please let us know in the comments below.
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