Hoseless Nailers

If you pass a construction site you expect the sound of hammering and the odd board being plunked down for measuring. However, for the last fifteen years the "bang" of the hammer has been replaced by the "snap" of the air nailer. In fact even roofers and trim carpenters are using this handy device.

Nailers operate with compressed air from a separate compressor and the nails are distributed from a magazine similar to those of a machine gun. However, the old, hazardous "John Dillinger" types have been replaced with nailers featuring safety mechanisms to avoid rapid firing. The hose is the coiled compressed air type and has to be dragged around and even extended for hard-to-reach places as the compressor needs a stable platform to operate.

The newest innovation in this type of tool is the hoseless nailer which does away with the compressor. One type operates with a disposable cannister of gas attached to the nailer. The gas combusts when triggered and, like an auto-load feature in a rifle, the expanding gas drives a piston which propels the nail.

Another type of hoseless nailer combines all the aspects of the air nailer into one unit with a tiny compressor operated by a NiCad battery. However, even with miniaturization it is heavy.

The newest entry runs off a tiny DC motor which swings a small weight. Like a man throwing a javelin the weight swings back and drives the nailing piston. Because it is lightweight and runs off a rechargeable battery look for this tool to be the next big thing in nailing.