All you need to know to choose your perfect air nailers, air staple guns, and air pliers

In the current market, there are tens of kinds of air nailer, air staple gun, and air plier. They are made to maximize our working efficiency and reducing the harm that works might cause. But do you really know how to distinguish them? Do you also feel confused about how to choose the correct air nailer, air staple gun, and air plier for different usages and workpieces?

Generally speaking, there are three categories that we usually see in the market- air nailer, air staple gun, and air plier. What are the usages of each type of air nailer, air staple gun, and air plier? You will be surprised to know there is a tool to solve your problem perfectly after you read this article.
 

Distinguish 3 types of air tool:  Air Nailer,  Air Staple Gun, and Air Plier

Air nailers, air staple guns, and air pliers are three types of pneumatic tools used for fastening. According to different usage and workpiece, you will need different pneumatic tools. Knowing the differences between air nailers, staple gun, and pliers is very important thing when you are choosing the right tool for your purpose.
 

1. What is  Air Nailer ?

Air nailers are designed for driving nails, commonly used in framing, carpentry, and construction, etc. heavy-duty applications.

What kind of air nailers are selectable?

•  Pin Nailer
  Also known as pinners, are specialized power tools designed to drive 21-gauge or 23-gauge pins into wood and other materials, ideal for tasks requiring a clean finish and precise detail. These pins can be headless or have micro heads, leaving little to no visible holes.


•  Coil Nailer
  Coil nailers are highly versatile, often used for roofing, framing, siding, pallet making, and fencing. Their coiled magazine holds more nails, reducing reloading time and making them perfect for high-volume tasks.


•  Finishing Nailer
  Among finishing nailers, two main types stand out: brad nailers and finish nailers. Brad nailers use 18-gauge nails, ideal for smaller workpieces, while finish nailers use thicker 16, 15, and 14-gauge nails, suitable for tasks requiring stronger holding power.


•  Corrugated Nailer
  The corrugated nailer is designed for fastening wood or fiberboard, primarily in furniture, picture frames, and door/window framing. It uses corrugated nails to provide a strong, secure bond, especially for joints at angles.


•  Concrete Nailer
  A powerful tool used for fastening nails into concrete, brick, or masonry surfaces. Perfect for attaching wood or metal to hard materials, it provides strong holding power for heavy-duty construction jobs.


•  Framing Nailer
  Framing Nailer significantly speeds up the process of assembling wood frames and other structural elements, offering both precision and power. Its robust design makes it a must-have for professionals looking to tackle large-scale projects efficiently.


•  Decorative Nailer
  The Decorative Nailer is a specialized tool for installing decorative nails in furniture and interior design projects, enhancing the appearance of fabrics and materials. It comes in two types: one with a magazine for holding more nails, and other without a magazine, which works with a nail fix table to place and drive one nail at a time.


•  Frame Nailer
  This special fastening tool is designed for using v-nails to secure window frames, door frames, and picture frames. It offers precise and reliable fastening for delicate framing tasks, ensuring a secure hold without damaging the materials.

2. What is  Air Staple Gun ?

The air staple guns are used for fastening workpieces using staples. It’s usually apply on light-duty applications, such as upholstery, carpeting, attaching fabric, etc.
【Extended reading：Exploring Different Types of Pneumatic Upholstery Staple Guns】
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What kind of air staple guns are selectable?

•  Carton Closing Stapler
  Also known as Box Stapler, is designed to securely seal cardboard boxes by stapling the flaps together. It comes in manual, pneumatic, and battery-powered options, each suited for different packaging needs.


•  Fine Wire Stapler
  Typically using 20 to 23-gauge staples with lengths from 4 to 16 mm, its are ideal for furniture, wooden cases, and interior decoration. They come in various designs, including long nose, long magazine, single or auto firing, and trigger lock, each tailored to specific applications and user preferences.


•  Narrow Crown Stapler
  Designed to drive 18 to 21-gauge narrow crown staples, the Narrow Crown Stapler offers strong holding power for woodworking, upholstery, and finish carpentry, without damaging or splitting lightweight materials.


•  Wide Crown Stapler
  The Wide Crown Stapler is designed for furniture, pallets, crates, flooring, and construction, providing a strong, secure hold with 16-gauge wide crown staples over a larger surface area.


•  Polymer Stapler
  Also known as Plastic Stapler, it is ideal for specialized tasks such as securing lumber wraps, tags, casket lining, and insulated sheathing.


•  Plastic Cap Stapler
  This specialized tool is designed to securely attach roofing felt, house wrap, and insulation, preventing tearing and ensuring a reliable bond.


•  Mattress Stapler
  It is specifically designed to drive U-staples into hard-to-reach areas, ensuring fast and efficient assembly of mattresses, upholstery, and bedding. For a more secure hold, we recommend the double-shooting model to you.

3. What is  Air Plier ?

The air pliers are generally suitable for fencing, wire mesh, and certain industrial applications with using C-rings and D-rings.
【Extended reading：Mastering Hog Ring Pliers: 9 Reasons You Need This Essential Tool】

What kind of air pliers are selectable?

•  C Ringer
  The C Ringer is designed to effortlessly grip and close C-shaped rings. As one of the most versatile hog ring pliers, it's commonly used in applications like fencing, upholstery, and car seat assembly.


•  D Ringer
  D-Ringers are essential for securing D-type rings, widely used in mechanical engineering, agriculture, automotive, bicycle, motorcycle, and even in the aircraft and marine industries.

Air Nailer vs. Air Staple Gun vs. Air Plier, what are the differences?

Air nailers, air staple guns, and air pliers are all pneumatic tools used for fastening materials together, but they have some key differences:
 

1. By Fastener Type

• Air nailers shoot nails, which are slender, pointed pieces of metal with a flat head.
• Air staple guns shoot staples, which are U-shaped metal fasteners with two legs that are driven into the material being fastened together.
• Air pliers are specialized tools primarily used for closing C-shaped and D-shaped rings together.

2. By Application

• Except of pin nailers shoots 21 and 23 gauge of nails, most of are nailers shoots larger gauges of nails due to their usage of heavy-duty applications such as framing, carpentry, and construction where strong and permanent connections are required.
• Air staple guns are often used for lighter duty tasks such as upholstery, carpeting, and attaching fabric to wood or other softer materials.
• Air pliers are commonly used in fencing, wire mesh installation, and certain industrial applications.

3. By Strength of Connection

• Nails generally provide a stronger connection compared to staples because of their larger size of gun body, cylinder, and greater surface area in contact with the material.
• Staples provide a quicker and sometimes more versatile fastening solution. However, they may not offer the same level of strength as nails, especially for heavy-duty applications.
• Rings provide strong combining in fencing, wire mesh, and certain industrial applications.

4. Versatility

• Air nailers are more specialized for specific applications where nails are the preferred fastener.
• Air staple guns are often more versatile for tasks that require a tighter grip or need to secure materials that may not be suitable for nails, such as fabric or thin materials.
• Air pliers are for very specialized tasks, only to complete closing tasks.

5. Appearance after fastening

• Except of pin nailers that is specially designed for decorating, most nails leave behind small holes in the material being fastened, which may be more visible compared to staples, especially in wood.
• Staples generally leave behind smaller puncture marks, which may be less noticeable, particularly in fabric or upholstery applications.
• Rings are always left behind after jobs are done.

How to choose the right air nailer, air staple gun, or air plier?

Selecting the suitable air fastening tool should consider several factors, such as applications, specification of fasteners, and versatility, etc. We have summarized the comparison chart below for you.
You can refer to our comparison chart and choose the most suitable tool according to your demands. This will help you make assembly and construction work more efficient and effortless.

Comparison chart of Air Nailer, Air Staple Gun, and Air Plier

【Extended reading：10 Revolutionary Tips for Choosing Coil Nail Guns in Construction】
【Extended reading：Understanding Carton Stapler – 4 Points To Choose The Right Tool】

How to make sure safeness when using air nailers, air staple guns, and air pliers?

Air nailers, air stapler guns, and air pliers operate with high air pressure and can cause serious injuries if not used correctly. Understanding the correct way to use ensures that it functions as intended. Misuse can not only lead to injury but also damage the tool or the material you're working on. Here are some guidelines on how to handle the tool safely, helping to prevent accidents.

1. The 12 steps needed to take in order to keep safe

• Wear safety glass or goggles.
• Wear earplugs if needed.
• Use only compressed air within recommended air pressure to operate.
• Do not operate near flammable and explosive substance.
• Use correct fittings and fasteners.
• Connect air supply before loading fasteners.
• Disconnect air supply and remove fasteners from the magazine when air staple guns and air nailers are not in use.
• Inspect in period to make sure screws and bolts are tight enough.
• Keep away from the trigger when not using.
• Keep hands and body away from discharge outlet.
• Never point air staple guns and air nailers toward others or yourself.
• Do not drive fasteners close to the edge and corner of workpiece or on top of other fasteners.

2. 2 maintenance guide of air nailers, air staple guns, and air pliers

• Replace easy-wear parts in period.
• Oil on parts according to the instruction of each tool.

【Need some tips to choose replacement parts? See here. 】

Looking for air nailers, air staple guns, and air pliers?
VIM is your best choice

At VIM, we offer a wide range of pneumatic tools, including air nailers, air staple guns, air pliers, and specialty tools. Along with the tools, we also provide spare parts and fasteners, giving you the convenience of a one-stop shopping experience. Many of our tools are compatible with leading brands and even share interchangeable spare parts, allowing for easy replacements at a more affordable price while maintaining the same high quality. All products are proudly made in Taiwan, ensuring superior quality and reliability.

We also offer comprehensive OEM services, allowing you to customize the color of your nail gun, apply your private label, and design personalized packaging and manuals. With these options, you can confidently create a unique and professional product line that stands out in the market.

Conclusion

Overall, the choice in air nailer, air staple gun, and air plier depends on the specific application, the material being fastened, and the required strength and appearance of the connection. It is important to select the suitable tool for your work and maintain periodically as they prevent injury and damage. Lastly, to keep your tool from severe damage, use the right fasteners.

If you still have no idea how to choose suitable tool, please do not hesitate to contact us, we will be pleased to provide you our professional suggestions.