Whether working on a large construction project or attaching shingles to the roof, we use nailers for nailing purposes. However, different types of nailers are available for different purposes and workspaces.
The coil framing nailer and the stick nailer are two of the major nailers for nailing purposes.
However, if you want to choose one of them, you need to know the major difference between “coil framing nailer vs. stick nailer.”
The major differences between them lie in their work areas. The coil nailer comes with a larger canister. So you can complete big projects with it. However, the bigger body makes it a heavy tool.
So you can’t move it as easily as you want. On the other hand, the stick nailer is a compact-sized nailer with very good compatibility. You can use it to nail any small or medium-sized project. The nailer isn’t very weighty, so it has perfect maneuverability. However, its compact size doesn’t store a lot of nails. So you need to choose the one where your work area is.
What is a coil framing nailer?
A coil framing nailer is a special type of nailer that holds up to 200–300 nails in its nail box. The number of nails can be increased or decreased with their size or shaping type. This type of framing nailer is widely used when you are working on a large project.
They can store a lot of nails in their canister, so you don’t have to refill it any sooner after starting a job. These nailers have a very compact body that can work in any space.
So you don’t have to change them for different types or sized jobs. The large capacity makes this nailer very heavy. As a result, their maneuverability isn’t that good.
What is a stick nailer?
A stick nailer is also a special type of nailer that provides high compatibility while nailing. As a result, these nailers are very small in size and not too heavy. However, using these nailers requires some knowledge of nailing.
You must put the nails in the right area in the perfect direction to penetrate your work area with this nailer. This nailer’s canister doesn’t hold a lot of nails. It has two magazines, but you can just put 25 to 40 nails in them.
As a result, you’ll have to reload these nailers more frequently. But it also provides perfect maneuverability. You won’t get any hand fatigue while working with it. Also, you won’t feel tired any sooner.
Comparison chart
| Comparison Topic. | Coil framing nailer. | Stick nailer. |
| Which nails can be used? | Framing nails, Sheathing nails | Plastic collated round head nails; Wire collated D-head nails, Paper collated D-head or offset head nail |
| Nail capacity. | 200-300 | 50-60 |
| Is it jamming prone? | No | Yes |
| Weight. | 10 pounds. | 5-6 pounds. |
| Maneuverability. | Not good. | Very good. |
Head to-head comparison – Which one is better?
Let’s see which one is better by checking a head-to-head comparison.
The weight of the nailer
As I mentioned before, the coil framing nailer is a big-sized nailer. It can also store a lot of nails. So the weight of the nailer is also abundant. As a result, the maneuverability of this nailer is not very good. If you have to lift this nailer for a long time, you will get hand fatigue.
On the contrary, the stick nailer isn’t very heavy. Though it has two magazines, they don’t store many nails. So you can easily move it anywhere you like without getting tired or tired of handling it.
Nail jamming
Usually, the jamming of a nailer is a very common thing. However, the circularly shaped body of the coil framing nailer doesn’t allow it to jam too much. On the other hand, the two magazines of the stick nailer make it jam more than the coil nailer.
Nail firing
The coil framing nailer doesn’t require much loading because of its big canister. The nails are also stored in them in a circular arrangement. It has a circular-shaped body that assists its nails in arranging themselves in that manner. As a result, the nailer does not jam very frequently.
The circular shape of its body also helps it shoot nails at a rapid speed. On the other hand, the stick nailer has two magazines. The magazines can be loaded with nail strips. As there are two magazines, sometimes they can get jammed while firing.
Nail-holding capacity
The coil framing nailer is big. It has a huge canister. The canister can hold up to 200–300 nails. So you don’t have to reload it any sooner after you completely fill it. As a result, you can easily complete any larger project with this nailer.
On the other hand, the stick nailer has two magazines. But those magazines can only hold 25–40 nails. So you have to refill it often.
Angle variation
The coil framing nailer can work in small angled areas. However, it cannot vary the angle as much as the stick nailer. The coil nailer can be found from 15-degree to 17-degree.
Though stick nailers have a vast variety of angles, they allow you to choose angles of 21 degrees, 28 degrees, and 30 to 34 degrees.
The pros of coil framing nailers
The coil framing nailer comes with a lot of advantages. They are outlined below.
- This nailer can store a lot of nails, so you don’t have to reload them all.
- The nailer doesn’t get jammed because of its circular structure.
- You can use this nailer for rapid-fire nailing.
- The price of this nailer is very affordable.
- You can easily load nails into this nailer.
- The depth adjusting system of the coil framing nailer is very good.
- It comes with a special trigger that can adjust the firing mode for either sequential or contact nailing.
The cons of coil framing nailers
It also has some cons. They are described below.
- The maneuverability of this nailer isn’t that good.
- Using it for a long time gives you hand fatigue.
- This nailer is very heavy.
The Pros of Stick Nailers
The Stick Nailers come with a lot of advantages. They are outlined below.
- Weight of this nailer isn’t much, so it won’t give you hand fatigue.
- Can nail you even in tough corners.
- Maneuverability of this nailer is very good.
- Nailer is very useful for middle-sized jobs.
- Length of this nailer is very good.
The cons of stick nailers
- This nailer sometimes gets jammed.
- It can’t store a lot of nails.
- You need to reload it after using it a bit.
- The price of this nailer is a little bit higher.
When should you pick a coil framing nailer?
You should pick a coil framing nailer when you are working on a large job, and you have enough space and power to control the coil framing nailer. The coil framing nailer has a big canister that can store a lot of nails.
So, you can nail big projects with the help of this nailer. The nailer can also fire rapidly so that you can finish the project in less time. This nailer is also good for corners or tough areas, so you don’t have to use another nailer in these cases.
If you want to pick the best coil framing nailer, we have a complete guideline for you. Check it here.
When should you pick a stick framing nailer?
You should pick a stick nailer for small or mid-sized projects. This nailer has double magazines that can fill up to 50-60 nails. These quantities of nails are adequate for small to medium-sized work areas.
This gun also has an excellent depth-adjustment system, which allows you to avoid excessive penetration of the work. The stick nailer comes with perfect portability and compact size, so you can work with it anywhere you want.
The weight of this nailer isn’t much, so you can work with it for a long time without getting any hand fatigue or feeling tired.
So which one is for you?
The coil framing nailer and the stick nailer are both popular nailers. These nailers have different body structures to complete different types of jobs. If you want to pick one of them, you must first understand the fundamental differences between “coil frame nailer vs. stick nailer.”
Their primary differences are in their fields of work. A larger canister is included with the coil nailer. As a result, you can use it to execute large projects. The larger body, however, makes it a heavier instrument. As a result, you won’t be able to move it as readily as you’d like.
On the other hand, the stick nailer is a little nailer with excellent compatibility. It’ll work for any small or medium-sized job. Because the nailer isn’t too heavy, it’s easy to maneuver. However, due to its small size, it cannot hold a large number of nails. As a result, you must select the one that contains your work area.