Pneumatic Nail Gun and Stapler

Pneumatic nail guns and staplers are compressed-air-operated devices used to drive nails or staples quickly and efficiently. They also increase accuracy over using a hammer, as the gun does not require pounding on the workpiece. Nail guns and staplers come in a variety of sizes. In the Cerritos wood lab, finish nailers, brad nailers, and several varieties of staplers are available. Each shoots a specific diameter of nail or width of staple in a range of lengths.

Operating a nail gun or stapler requires the user to press the gun against the workpiece, thereby depressing the nose guard. The gun is then actuated by pulling the trigger.

1. Safety glasses must be worn when operating a nail gun or stapler.

2. Always point the nail gun or stapler away from any person or body parts.

3. Except when ready to actuate the nail gun or stapler, keep your finger off the trigger.

4. Always disconnect the air supply when loading or unloading the magazine, or when making adjustments.

5. Ensure the nose guard is working properly. If there is any question, report the problem to the instructor.

6. When operating the nail gun or stapler, make sure your hand or other body parts are not in front of or to the side of the fastener’s intended path. Nails especially have been known to hit hard objects, like knots or difficult grain, and shoot out the side of a workpiece.

7. Use extra caution when driving a fastener close to an edge to prevent the fastener from splitting the work, flying away, or hitting your hand.

8. Do not attempt to angle a nail or staple into the work surface more than about 10°; more than that may cause the fastener to ricochet off the work.

9. Pull the trigger lightly. A heavy pull may result in the gun driving two nails.

10. Before loading or unloading nails into the magazine, make sure the magazine is completely empty, then load the fasteners. Failure to do so may result in misfire, damage to the tool, or a fastener too long for the job.