How to Load a Nail Gun (5 Quick and Safe Steps)

We all know that a nail gun is a dangerous tool. When nail gun nails are loaded, it is one of the causes of nail gun accidents. That is why it is critical to understand how to load a nail gun correctly. You can do this quickly and safely if you follow these five steps, which I discuss in greater detail later in this article.

Step 1: Disconnect the power source.
Step 2: Open the magazine all the way.
Step 3: Place the nails with the tip pointing away from the device.
Step 4: Close the magazine until you hear a click.
Step 5: Connect the power source.

In addition to these steps, you will also discover how to do this in a safe way and how to avoid getting stuck due to incorrect nail placement. Once you know how to load a nail gun properly, you can avoid many problems in the future. So read all the tips in this article carefully.

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What Is Nail Gun Loading?

Loading a nail gun is the process of inserting a nail clip into a magazine so that it can be driven into a wood surface with the help of a nail gun. Nail guns use compressed air, gas, or batteries to drive nails into surfaces, and the nail gun nails must be in the magazine for the gun to work properly.

Nail guns come in a variety of styles, including the pin nailer, brad nailer, finish nailer, framing nailer, flooring nailer, roofing nailer, siding nailer, palm nailer, and stapler. If you want to learn about the differences between these types and determine which nailer is best for you, I recommend reading my article, How To Choose The Right Nail Gun For Your Projects. A Complete Nail Gun Guide.

There are many different types, but when it comes to how to load a nail gun, most follow the same principle. What differs when loading a nail gun is the type of nail that must be used. Each gun employs a unique set of nail gun nails with varying lengths and thicknesses.

Nail Gun Loading-Mechanism Design

A similar nail gun loading mechanism is used by almost all nail guns. They are made to accept nail strips that are held together with plastic or glue.

These nails strips are fed into the tool magazine’s base and forced into the gun’s barrel by springs. As the lead nail is fired into the strip, the springs continue to drive the nails into the drive mechanism.

On many devices there is a tell-tale that indicates when the nail strip is almost finished. In the case of my Makita AF505, this is a red mark that appears when the spring is nearly to its maximum.

How to Load a Nail Gun in Proper Way?

For securing wooden components, a nail gun is an excellent tool. Every application has a specialized device that will help you as much as possible with your job.

This tool is also increasingly used by DIYers. It is a tool that can speed up the work process enormously. Personally, I use my brad tacker for almost every project. The main reason I use it is for the temporary holding of glued parts, which you can see in my YouTube videos. This tool is a time-saver for me, and that’s one of the reasons why I could never live without my nail gun.

However, the nail gun is not without risk, and one of them is loading the nail strip. You can take some general precautions and learn how to load a nail gun correctly thanks to the tips in this section.

Safety First

Read the manual

Too often DIYers buy a new tool just to flip through the manual illustrations and then toss it aside, but that’s not a good idea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nail gun injuries are responsible for about 37,000 emergency room visits each year. The more familiar you are with your tools, the safer you are.

Protect your ears and eyes. (PPE)

Some nail guns, particularly larger ones intended for framing, can be quite loud, with decibel levels ranging from 90 to more than 100. This is quite loud and resembles a gunshot. As a result, when using a nail gun, it is strongly advised to wear earplugs.

Another factor to consider is that an improperly inserted nail can fly away or send chips flying. As a result, wearing safety glasses is always recommended.

Stay in sequential shooting mode.

Not all nail guns use the same nail-firing system. Your nail gun will come with one of two shooting modes: “sequential” or “bump.” Some nail guns can also be outfitted with a combination of these two shooting ranges, allowing you to select which one you want.

Sequential Mode: This firing mode requires the user to go through a series of steps before the nail is fired. Depressing the safety nose piece, which is a spring-loaded tip that retracts when the nail gun is pressed against the material, is followed by pulling the nail gun’s trigger to fire a nail. This two-step method is the most secure way to use a nail gun.

Bump Mode: Some nail guns can save the user time by switching from sequential mode to bump mode. When using the bump mode, the user can hold the trigger and then move the nail gun to a new spot, and each time the safety nose piece is pressed, a nail will fire. Unless you are a professional, I would not recommend as a DIYer to use this mode. There is a higher risk of accident if you are inexperienced with a nail gun.

Keep your hands away

One of the most common nail gun mishaps occurs when the user holds two pieces of wood together while firing a nail close to his or her hand.

If the nail penetrates the material completely, or if it bends and shoots out the side of the plank, it could pierce your hand. Hold the wood a little longer, or use clamps to keep it in place.

Keep yourself and others out of the line of fire.

A nail can completely penetrate the material. Make certain that no body parts or other people on the other side are in the line of fire.

Do not lower your nail gun by the hose.

If you’re about to descend a ladder or scaffolding after finishing a job, resist the urge to lower a pneumatic nail gun through the air hose attached to it. When a nail gun is in punch mode and swings and hits the ladder or another nearby object, the safety nose piece depresses and the gun fires a nail.

Turn off the nail gun’s power supply before performing any maintenance.

Although today’s nail guns are designed to be as safe as possible, there is still the possibility that a nail will not fire properly when the gun is loaded or a nail buildup is removed.

Turning off the power source is the best way to avoid this. Remove the battery from a cordless nail gun, butane cartridges, or the air hose from a pneumatic nail gun before loading nails, clearing jammed material, or performing any other maintenance.

How to Load a Nail Gun Step by Step

Step 01. Disconnect the nail gun from the power source:

You could just read more about disconnecting the power source. Make it a habit to always do this as the first step when loading a nail gun. You don’t want to shoot a nail while accidentally loading a nail gun.

Step 02. Open the magazine:

Open the warehouse to access the room where the nail gun nails are kept. This can be done by pressing the release button or by manually opening the magazine by holding the slide latch against the nail gun while pulling the slide away from the nail gun.

Step 3: Nail placement:

You can begin inserting the nail gun nails once the magazine is open. Make sure you’re using the right nails for the job, and that they’re suited to the type of nail gun you’re using. Faulty nails can jam the nailer, causing injuries.

Make certain that they are in the correct order and that they are pointing in the right direction. When inserted into the chamber, the spikes should point away from the nailgun.

Step 04. Close the magazine:

Once all the nail gun nails are in the chamber, and after a final check that they are in place, close the magazine by pushing it back into place. Push the magazine until the trigger clicks to complete loading nails. if you do not hear this click, the magazine is not closed properly and the spring will not push the nail strip properly into place. As a result, no nails will come out of the device when firing.

Step 05. Connect the nail gun to the power source:

Without a power source, the device will not fire nails. To get started, connect the nail gun to the power source and you’re good to go. Make sure the trigger is completely free and the nose safety is not depressed when connecting the power source. Also stand behind the device and do not aim at yourself or others. That is how to load a nail gun correctly.

Why It’s Important to Load a Nail Gun Properly?

Traditionally, skilled workers used nail guns for construction. Because of their numerous advantages, these tools are now used in a variety of hobbies such as carpentry and woodworking, craft projects, and even at home by people who are unfamiliar with these tools for minor home improvements.

Whatever project you’re working on, it’s critical to always load the gun correctly to ensure safety, because if the nails aren’t placed correctly, they can malfunction and cause serious injury.

In addition, if the nail gun nails are not in the correct order, the nails can jam and cause a malfunction. When a gun jams, it can cause nails to be fired into surfaces you don’t want them to be fired. This can damage the surface and can also cause injuries. This is one of the issues why nail guns are shooting blanks. If your nail gun is having this problem, you can find a solution in my article, Why Is My Nail Gun Shooting Blanks – 7 Easy Fixes.

Another reason it is essential to know how to load a nail gun properly is that the nails must be aligned correctly for the gun to fire them. If they are not aligned correctly, the gun will fail and the nails may go off in different directions. This can also cause injuries.

So, take your time and load the gun correctly. They are simple steps that, after a few repetitions, will become automatic, allowing you to begin using the nail gun safely.

Read my article, 9 Important Nail Gun Safety Tips You Must See, if you want to learn even more about how to use a nail gun safely.

Tips on How to Avoid a Nail Gun from Jamming

This article has already mentioned the nail gun jamming several times. As a nail gun user, this is one of the most aggravating things that can happen while on the job. This malfunction can be caused by a variety of factors. As a result, I’ll give you some pointers on how to avoid them:

Before using the nail gun, lubricate it:
A properly lubricated nail gun will ensure that the nail gun nails are safely removed from the warehouse. Lubricate before loading a nail gun with the proper oil rather than just any oil. Oil viscosity varies, and this can cause the gun to seize. Use the oil recommended by the manufacturer in the user manual at all times.

Keep the gun clean:
Blockages can also be caused by dirt and debris buildup in the gun. Be sure to keep the gun clean and free of debris. Get into the habit of unplugging the nail gun after work and blowing away all the dirt with a blow gun.

Use the Right Nails:
I’ve said it before, and it may seem obvious, but believe me when I say that using the wrong nails happens all the time. Sometimes it’s due to ignorance, and other times it’s due to laziness. Always pay attention and use the correct nails for your gun. Each gun is unique, and each uses a different type of nail.

Do not overload the magazine:
Another common cause of malfunctions is warehouse overload. If you put too many nails in the magazine, they can jam and cause the gun to stop working. Make sure to load only as many nails as the gun can hold. Never load more nails than a full nail strip + 5 nails from the previous nail strip.

Do not try to force the gun:
If the gun does not fire, do not try to force it to. Disconnect the power supply immediately and investigate the problem. If no mechanical fault is found, try different settings or increasing compressor pressure. If that doesn’t work, take the gun to a professional who can inspect it.