Palm nailer is the best for joist hangers. The small nailer allows you to complete your project easily and precisely, saving time and effort. It has easy access to tight spaces with high nailing potential that gets the job done in less time.
Whether you are doing a decking, flooring, or ceiling project, the joist hanger is a must. And to attach the joist and ledger board, the best palm nailer for joist hanger is important.
But which one is best? How do you identify the best one? Well, that is where I can help. Let’s walk you through finding the best nailer for joist hangers.
Can I use a palm nailer for joist hangers?
Yes, you can use a palm nailer for the joist hanger, which is the best option. Joist hanger requires precision and reaching confined spaces. A small nailer is perfect for dealing with such demands. Besides, you need 8D-16D Double Dipped Galvanized nails or 2-½” to 3-½” nails with ring shanks as a metal connectors in joist hangers.
Moreover, it has power delivered from compressed air, an electric motor that drives nails flawlessly between the joists and lumber. A palm nailer’s compact and portable size makes it an easily maneuverable tool. This tool can easily fit into tight corners and confined spaces, where swinging a hammer with power is impossible.
7 Best Palm Nailers For Joist Hangers
Palm nailers are available in the marketplace with many variants depending upon the fastener compatibility and power source. The top 7 Best Palm Nailers For Joist Hanger Installation will be discussed in this section.
Metabo HPT Palm Nailer Ideal For Joist Hangers & Metal Connectors
Formerly part of the Hitachi group, Koki Holding America has been rebranded with the new name Metabo HPT(Hitachi Power Tools). It possesses the same quality and consistent performance.
Its nose is compatible with 2-½” to 3-½” length of nails with a diameter of .113″ – .162″. This long and broad nail ensures a strong joist placement with the lumber.
This palm nailer has a dimension of only 3.14 x 2.75 x 4.38 inches. It makes the nailer very small and subtle for all types of portable and close-ranged joist hanger nailing activities.
You will have no discomfort due to the over-molded rubber grip on the surface of the Metabo HPT palm nailer. This will allow you to drive nails through the tight spaces of joists for a long time with less fatigue.
It is made up of Aluminium alloy, which makes it durable and lightweight at the same time. This palm nailer weighs only 1.3 lbs, ensuring minimized exhaustion while nailing for a long time.
This nailer is an air-powered tool with more endurance than a battery or electricity-operated nailer.
Your palm or face won’t get affected by the exhaust air while driving nails in close range. Because the location of the exhaust lies in the front end, making your work easier.
The magnetic nose will keep the nail in place, allowing you to drive the nail without any deviation or mistake. Moreover, it may save you from unwanted accidents caused by holding the nail with your fingers.
It has a built-in swivel hose for easy maneuverability between the joist hangers. The ¼” hose inlet allows it to fit with the most available air compressors. So, if your concern is to get the best palm nailer for a joist hanger, this one can be a decent pick for sure.
Pros
- Drives nails perfectly inside the joists.
- Easily movable in confined spaces.
- Straightforward nailing.
- Saves a lot of time than hammering.
- No maintenance is required.
Cons
- The velcro strap is not included.
- May leak air at low pressure.
Ridgid Palm Nailer with Metal Housing
Ridgid is a well-known power tool developing company for heavy construction works. This Ridgid Palm Nailer with Metal Housing is one of the best palm nailers for joist hangers for its useful features.
Ridgid Palm Nailer has a nose designed for holding 1-1/2 in-3-1/2in and 4d – 16d bulk nails as well. It provides you with numerous nail selection advantages required for Joist Hanger installation.
The modern Hex Grip Texture allows you to hold the nailer comfortably for a long time. It also reduces the chance of slipping and vibration while driving nails on the Joist Hangers.
This palm nailer comes with a micro-depth adjuster. You can easily choose the required penetration depth for the joist hanger without using any tools.
Its nose is magnetized for holding the nails. You can conveniently place the nails in tight spaces and drive them using a single arm.
You will get a premium feeling from its Aluminium housing with a zinc-coated top, increasing its durability and longevity. This building material also results in the tool’s low weight (2.9 lbs), causing negligible arm fatigue during long shifts of work.
Its built-in swivel hose will eliminate the hose pipe from causing knots. This allows you to move the nailer around sharp corners without any difficulties easily.
This palm nailer is designed to have a very small and packed structure having dimensions of only 4x5X3.5 inches. It affords the nailer to fit in closely packed spaces between the joists and lumber boards.
Pros
- Desired nail depth can be assured.
- Does not require extra cleaning.
- Fits comfortably in between the fingers.
- Lower-angled corners can be nailed easily.
- No surface damage is seen.
Cons
- Nail angle deviates from the point of placement.
- Exhaust becomes annoying.
Bostitch Mini Palm Nailer Mini Impact (PN50)
“Bostitch,” a renowned heavy-duty tool-producing industry, releases the PN50 palm nailer for short-time high-quality construction work.
It can drive the most common bulk finish, framing, and timber Nails. You need not buy a separate tool for driving nails using 2-½” standard nail-in joist hangers.
This tool is designed as a mini and compact one for driving in most of the hard-to-reach spaces, such as ledger board corners and joist hanger placements.
Its exhaust location is in the frontal part of the tool. So you can rotate the tool on its axis to direct the blowout away from your palm and face while nailing in a close-range situation.
The Aluminium alloy body construction provides it with high durability. It also makes the tool weigh only 1.4 lbs, eliminating arm fatigue during long shifts of nailing.
You can work and move around the working space easily due to the built-in swivel hose. The ¼” standard hose cap fits with common air compressors.
Its outer covering is molded with rubber which acts as an insulator. This rubberized grip also comforts your palm while driving nails with pressure and eliminates vibration as well.
Pros
- Uncomplicated nailing action.
- Stays stable while nailing placement.
- Does not damage the surface.
- Swift nailing experience.
- Tackles rough usage easily.
Cons
- Depth adjuster feature is not included.
- Nailer nose does not have any magnetism.
Freeman Pneumatic Mini Palm Nailer-Pneumatic Mini Palm Nailer
As mentioned in the name, the Freeman Palm nailer has a small-scaled size of only 2.75″ x 5″ x 4.38″. It makes the nailer an agile tool to easily reach tight joist hangers and deck corners.
The nose of the Freeman Palm Nailer is made to comply with 6D-16D bulk nails and 2-½” to 3-½” standard nails. Following the building code, you can easily install joist hangers with certified nail lengths.
Its ergonomically engineered body with a soft rubber padded grip allows you to hold and control without any slippage. This ensures that properly placed nails are driven through the wooden board with the highest power.
The built-in magnetized nose helps you guide the nails in exact positions. You can single-handedly control and drive nails in closely packed deck assembling areas.
You need not worry about maintenance because the internal filter automatically blows out the debris. Moreover, the hose cap keeps away small dust particles from going inside the hose when not in use.
This pneumatic power nailer can drive nails all day long. You will get your job done in a concise time.
It’s metal alloy making increases its endurance and reduces it to only 1.38 lbs. You can go into tight spaces and install joist hangers in every lumber board without feeling any fatigue.
Pros
- Very suitable for tight edges and corners.
- Drive nails strongly inside.
- Very lightweight
- Easily maneuverable
- No air leakage at less air pressure.
Cons
- No velcro palm strap included.
- Depth of nail penetration can not be adjusted.
Senco PC0781 Pneumatic Palm Nailer- Hardened Steel Magnetic Nose
Famous North-American company SENCO is known for building innovative light and heavy-duty power tools for construction works.
The PC0781 model, Palm Nailer from SENCO, has the capability to receive and drive bulk nails from 2″ to 7″ with optional guide tips. You can select the desired nail according to the building code for joist hanger installation.
It is covered with a soft over-molded rubber pad for providing a comfortable grip and total control over the tool. The anti-slippage feature of the pad allows you to drive nails in stable positions.
You can place the nail head inside the nose, which gets attracted by the magnet. It helps you to reach in tight spaces and drive nails using only one hand.
The leather strap lets you release the excessive pressure required to get a firm grip on the tool. It relieves you from palm fatigue.
It is made up of low-weight metal alloy for strong housing and lower weight(2.4 lbs) of the tool. Moreover, this tool has a minimized size of only 122X101X23mm, allowing it to get into hard-to-reach corners and edges of Joist Hangers.
People of all professions can easily use it for joist hanger and metal connector installations, repair work, and household nailing work operated by common air compressors.
Pros
- Can drive both standard and bulk nails.
- Less fatigue experience
- Good fitting in between palms
- Quickly drive nails
- Negligible angle of deviation
Cons
- Depth cannot be adjusted
- Side exhaust can be annoying.
Dewalt Cordless Joist Hanger Nailer
Dewalt is a popular brand name for producing quality and long-lasting heavy power tools for construction works.
Dewalt Palm nailer has a wide nose radius which can receive bulk nails from 6D to 16D and standard nails up to 3-½”. It allows nailing in deck construction work, such as joist hanger fitting and all-metal connector installation.
The whole Dewalt nailer can be covered in a leather-made pouch with an adjustable strap. It protects the nailer housing from external damage. Moreover, you can strap in the tool with your pam for comfortable nailing work at any angle and position.
This palm nailer possesses a Magnetic tip for easy nail placement. You can drive nails at pinpoint locations very conveniently.
It is a pneumatic power nailer which runs by most of the commonly available air compressors complied with 70 to 100PSI of air pressure.
You can drive nails all day long with minimum fatigue. It is due to the compact size of 3.43 x 6.38 x 5.5 inches and the tool’s lower weight of 2.65lb.
Pros
- Fits in the palm in a stable position.
- Does not vibrate much while nailing.
- Easily maneuverable in packed space.
- Can drive nails in an angled position
- No surface marking was caused by tip damage.
Cons
- No swivel Hose can be installed.
- Smooth non-rubber type upper layer.
PORTER-CABLE PN350 Mini Impact Palm Nailer
Porter-Cable is a rising brand and getting popular consistently for bringing variable high-quality power tools into the market.
The Porter-Cable PN350 is designed to place and drive a range of 1-1/4″ to 6-1/2″ in nails. You have the authority to choose the best nail required for joist hanger installation, and this nailer can drive it.
It is designed to have a small size of 5X4.5” for maximum control while nailing in sharp corners. This tool also possesses a lightweight(2.5 lbs) design for good balance nailing in narrow edges.
The frontal exhaust location stops the exhaust from hitting your palm or face while close-range driving nails in different angled positions.
You can accurately place the nails using the magnetized nose, which also releases your second arm from work.
Its swivel male connector will help you maneuverable in very confined places by limiting the twisting of your air hose.
This palm nailer has a strong firing option of 2300 BPM@100psi. It allows you to quickly drive any length of framing or metal connecting nails in joist hangers and ledger boards.
Pros
- Can be used for light-heavy nailing projects.
- High driving force.
- Easy to hold and move around.
- Less pressure is required for driving nails.
- Lightweight body.
Cons
- Air leakage can be seen at lower operating pressure.
- No rubber pad is attached to the grip.
Things To Look for in the Best Palm Nailer For Joist Hanger
Joist Hanger installation is a tough and quite tactical job during deck building. The following points must be checked before picking the Palm Nailer for Joist Hangers-
Driving Force
Joists and Ledger Boards are very thick and lumbered. That is why a palm nailer must be able to produce 18-20N of force with 2000-2300 BPM hammering.
Fastener Compatibility
Longer and broader nails are required for installing Joist Hangers. Palm nailers compatible with 6D-16D bulk nails and 2-½” – 3-½” standard nails can be good options for Joist Hangers.
Size
Joist Hangers are placed in very tight spaces where regular nail guns reach. Therefore, a small and compact-sized palm nailer would get the job done.
Weight
Installing Joist Hangers in lumber is a long-term project. Palm nailers with heavier weights may result in causing arm fatigue after a long shift of work. The weight of the palm nailer for the joist hanger should be maintained between 1.3-2.4 lbs.
Magnetized Nose
Using the hand to hold nails while pushing the palm nailer may cause accidents. Moreover, it is impossible to fit both hands in a confined place for nailing. That is why a magnetized nose in a palm nailer is a must for quick and accurate nailing.
Rubber Grip
Palms may sweat while working in warm weather, and it may cause the nailer to slip from the position of nailing. Rubber padded grip controls the nailer and keeps it balanced, giving you a firm grip.
Velcro Adjustable Strap
The strap can attach the nailer with your palm allowing you to release the extra pressure for holding it when not at work.
FAQ
You can use 8D-16D Double Dipped Galvanized nails for joist hangers. You can also use 2-½” to 3-½” nails with ring shanks as a metal connectors in joist hangers.
SD#10X2-½”, SD#9X2-½”, SDS#10X1-½”, SDS#9X1-½” are the widely used screw types you can use for Joist hangers.
Wrapping up
Joists and ledger boards make the foundation that needs to uphold the enormous weight of the deck. Choosing the best palm nailer for joist hangers can be tricky. Still, it is a crucial decision to be made because not all palm nailers are qualified for driving nailing effectively into the joists.
Within a decent budget, the Ridgid Palm Nailer possesses an approved fastener type, driving force, and portability for joist hangers. It can be a good pick at this price range.
If affordability is out of the question, then the Metabo HPT Palm Nailer can provide the overall good performance required for installing Joist Hanger installation.