The best pin nailer & nail gun will be best for lighter finishing tasks around the house.
Pin nailers are usually 23 gauge, and fire the smallest nails compared to finish nails and brad nails.
They are great because they are usually headless nails and not as visible (you usually don’t even need to putty or cover them up). They are also better when trying not to split light, thin or fine materials like delicate trim.
On the flip side, they don’t have as much strength for fixing or holding as a finish or brad nail – especially for heavier and thicker materials like thick crown molding for example.
We aim to save you time and money with the below list of best pin nail gun reviews.
As we said, you can read the top rated list below if you are running short on time.
Otherwise, the full guide contains valuable information if you have a few minutes to browse over it.
(*Friendly Disclosure – links to retailers or brands on this page may include affiliate links, and we may receive a commission when you purchase through these links)
Top Rated Pin Nailer & Nail Gun List
Best 23 Gauge Pin Nailer
Hitachi NP35A 1-3/8″ 23-Gauge Pin Nailer (on Amazon)
Best Micro Pin Nailer
Senco 8l0001n Finishpro 23lxp 23 Gauge 2″ Micro Pinner (on Amazon)
Best Pin Nailer & Nail Gun: Reviews
Best Pin Nailer & Nail Gun: Buyer’s Guide
Other Names For Pin Nailer
Pin Nail Gun
Pinner
What Is A Pin Nailer/Nail Gun?
A pin nailer is a gun type tool that is usually pneumatically (air) powered.
This tool shoots pin nails of usually a 23 gauge.
These nails are thinnest and smallest when compared to brad nails and pin nails.
Being that the tool is usually air powered, they run off air compressors.
What Is A Pin Nailer/Nail Gun Used For?
A pin nailer is used for light finishing type activities such as fixing LIGHT moldings, picture frames, assembly trim and cabinetry finishing
The benefit of pin nails is that they are usually headless (no filling the nail hole), and are small enough that they won’t split delicate material or fine wood.
This is in comparison to the larger brad and finish nails – also used for finishing activities – which are stronger, but leave larger holes.
What Does A Pin Nailer Do?
A pin nailer is pretty simple – it shoots pin nails into light materials like thin moldings and fine wood to fix them into other materials.
Types of Pin Nailers/Nail Guns
Pin nailers usually come in two types:
Standard 23 gauge pin nailer – shoots pin nails. Usually 5/8-Inch to 1-3/8-Inch length. Very small head, or headless.
Micro 23 Gauge pin nailer – shoots micro pin nails. Same as the standard pin nails, but are up to 30% thinner in diameter and thickness.
Pin Nailer/Nail Gun Bits & Accessories
Standard pin nails, or micro pins
Air Compressor
Air Hose (for pneumatic nailers)
Oil or lubricant
How To Choose A Pin Nailer/Nail Gun
Firstly, look the work you want to do – is it thin and light, medium duty, or heavier type finish work?
Choose a pin nailer for light, thin and delicate materials, or where you are fixing into fine wood. If you want very thing or micro holes and you don’t need a super strong fixing, a pin nailer will be good.
Then secondly, decide on the following things about your pin nailer based on the work:
1. Decide if you want a standard pin nailer or a micro pin nailer
2. Decide specifically what length and type of pin nails you want to use – check the pin nailer fits them
3. If you have an existing air compressor and you get a pneumatic pin nailer, make sure the CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) the nailer uses isn’t too great for the air capacity of your compressor.
Features To Look For In A Pin Nailer
Type of pin nails it shoots – standard or micro
Length and type of nails it shoots
Recommended CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) & PSI (air pressure) of the nailer by the manufacturer is a pneumatic nailer
Whether it comes with an air hose
How many nails it holds
Settings for shooting the nails e.g. sequential or contact nailing, depth of nail drive
Adjustable air exhaust
Look at what the nailer is actually designed for, along with the nails you buy
How To Use A Pin Nailer
- Load the nail magazine
- Lubricate/oil the hose and gun
- Attach the air hose
- Set the air pressure on the compressor
- Adjust the settings of the gun – type of nail shooting, depth of nail shooting etc.
- Mark or set out where you will be fixing
- Turn the gun on, or turn the compressor on
- Use the pin nailer
Best Pin Nailer & Nail Gun: Resources
1. http://hitachipowertools.com/
2. http://www.senco.com/
Best 23 Gauge Pin Nailer
Most pin nailers are made as 23 gauge because that is the gauge (diameter) of the standard pin nails they shoot.
Pin nail guns are part of the family of nail guns that are most commonly used for finishing type activities – along with brad nailers and finish nailers.
Below we have listed the best 23ga pin nailer, along with nails and compressors you might use with the gun.
Let’s jump into it …
Best 23 Gauge Pin Nailer: Reviews
Hitachi NP35A 1-3/8″ 23-Gauge Pin Nailer
What’s Good About This Pin Nailer?
Good value for money with what is included in the set
Designed for trim work, molding, cabinetry details, paneling, glazed bead, assembling picture frames – anywhere where you want fine nails and small nail holes
Can shoot a variety of pin nail lengths – 5/8″, 3/4″, 1″, 1-3/16″ and 1-3/8″ inches
Nail depth adjustment settings
Reload indicator to show you when magazine is getting empty
Can remove nose plate to clear nail jams
Operates under 65-100 PSI
Nail magazine capacity of 100 pins
Weighs only 2lbs
5 year limited warranty
Comes with comes with a blow molded plastic case for transport and storage, safety glasses, no-mar tips, and a 3mm hex bar wrench.
What Are Some Potential Improvements?
Lacks power – really only good for driving pins of 1 inch or less into soft-moderately hard surfaces. Not for driving 1+ inch pin nails into hardwoods
What Else Might I Need With This Pin Nailer?
Assorted Size Pin Nails – GREX P6/MP-3 23 Gauge Multi-Pack Headless Pins: 3,000 per box (on Amazon)
1 3/8 Inch Pin Nails – GREX P6/35L 23 Gauge 1-3/8-Inch Length Headless Pins: 10,000 per box (on Amazon)
Pancake Air Compressor –PORTER CABLE 6 Gallon Pancake Compressor Kit (on Amazon)
Where To Check Out This Pin Nailer?
View the Hitachi NP35A 1-3/8″ 23-Gauge Pin Nailer on Amazon
Best 23 Gauge Pin Nailer: Buyer’s Guide & FAQ
What Is A 23 Gauge Pin Nailer?
A 23 gauge pin nailer is a nail gun that shoots nails which are 23 gauge and fit the profile of a pin nail.
’23 gauge’ is a way to describe the size/thickness, and length of the pin nails the gun shoots.
Pin nail length is usually somewhere between 3/8, to 1 – 3/8 inches long).
A pin nailer fits into the range of nail guns that are used for finishing type activities, along with finish nailers (15 & 16 gauge) and brad nailers (18 gauge).
Most of these guns are powered by air compressors, however there are some cordless (battery operated) and
On a scale, the nails could be described as the following:
15 Gauge Finish Nails – thickest and strongest fixing…usually around 0.0720 inches, or 1.829mm thick
16 Gauge Finish Nails – usually around 0.067 inches , or 1.70 mm thick
18 Gauge Brad Nails – usually around 0.0475 inches, or 1.207mm thick
23 Gauge Pin Nails – thinnest and weakest fixing…usually around 0.025 inches in diameter/thickness
So, the lower the number, the thicker the nail and stronger the fixing.
What Is A 23 Gauge Pin Nailer Used For?
23 Gauge pin nails are the smallest and weakest in terms of strength, size and profile – when compared to brad nails and finish nails.
They aren’t as thick, round, long and don’t have the head of a 15 or 16 gauge finish nail. Some brad nails are headless like pin nails, but are usually longer (up to 2 inches long) and stronger.
The advantage of a pin nail, is that because they are small and headless, the nails holes don’t need to be filled with putty in some instances as they are small and there is no head exposed.
23 gauge Pin nails are best used for very lightweight trims and molding, and for delicate material or fine wood that a brad or finish nail might split.
For baseboards, crown moldings, stairs, materials without ground support, and heavier materials – use brad and finish nails for fixings.
23 Gauge Pin Nailer Bits & Accessories
23 Gauge Pin Nails – there are standard pin nails, and micro pin nails. Make sure you check which brand and type of pin nails your pinner takes
Air Compressor – a pancake compressor is usually OK for a brad nailer
Air hose with connection to attach to the gun
How To Choose a 23 Gauge Pin Nailer
Refer to the pin nailer guide.
Features To Look For In A 23 Gauge Pin Nailer
Refer to the pin nailer guide.
Best 23 Gauge Pin Nailer: Resources
1. http://www.hitachipowertools.com/
Best Micro Pin Nailer
In case a regular pin nail isn’t small enough for you, below we identify the best micro pin nailer.
Micro pin nails have the advantage of being around 20-30% thinner in diameter than a regular pin nail.
This means ultra small nail holes that are barely visible, and a nail that will almost certainly not split fine materials if you’re worried about that.
Let’s jump into it …
Best Micro Pin Nailer: Reviews
Senco 8l0001n Finishpro 23lxp 23 Gauge 2″ Micro Pinner
What’s Good About This Pin Nailer?
Designed for finishing and woodworking tasks…designed not to split materials, and to require no touch up work of the nail holes
Can shoot 1/2″ – 2″ long straight micro pin nails
Weighs only 2.7 pounds
5 year limited warranty
70-110 PSI operating pressure
Sequential actuation nail shooting – for precision
1.2 (SCFM) air consumption – how much air it consumes per minute
100 Nail magazine capacity
What Are Some Potential Improvements?
There is no nail setting depth adjustment on the tool – can only adjust the pressure of your compressor
What Else Might I Need With This Pin Nailer?
2 Inch Micro Pin Nails – Senco A102009 23-Gauge x 2-Inch Electro Galvanized Headless Micropins (on Amazon)
Pancake Air Compressor –PORTER CABLE 6 Gallon Pancake Compressor Kit (on Amazon)
Where To Check Out This Pin Nailer?
View the Senco 8l0001n Finishpro on Amazon
Best Micro Pin Nailer: Buyer’s Guide & FAQ
What Is A Micro Pin Nailer?
A micro pin nailer is a nail gun that shoots micro pin nails.
These nail guns are usually powered by an air compressor.
Micro Pin Nailer vs. Standard Pin Nailer – What’s The Difference?
Micro pin nails differ to standard pin nails in the following ways mainly in the type of pin nails they shoot.
Compared to a standard pin nail, micro pin nails are usually thinner in diameter and thickness by about 20-30%.
For reference, standard pin nails are usually around 0.025 inches inches in diameter.
Micro pin nails come in lengths of 5/8 inches to 2 inches.
What Is A Micro Pin Nailer Used For?
The biggest benefit of micro pin nails is that because they are so small, thin and headless – you can barely see the nail holes.
There’s almost no chance they will split a material if you’re worried about that with say a regular pin nail, brad nail or finish nail.
You really do have to take into account how thin and lightweight micro pin nails are though.
They should only be used on the most lightweight, thin, delicate and fine materials (fine woods for example). Even consider only using them for temporary holding purposes only, or as a supplement to regular pin nails or other types of fixings.
Micro pin nailers can be used for the following activities/materials:
Small decorative trim
Lightweight Picture frames
Delicate molding
Holding two materials together while glue is setting on them, so you don’t have to hold them together yourself
Micro Pin Nailer Bits & Accessories
Micro Pin Nails
Air compressor
Air hose
How To Choose a Micro Pin Nailer
Refer to the pin nailer guide.
Features To Look For In A Micro Pin Nailer
Refer to the pin nailer guide.
Best Micro Pin Nailer: Resources
1. http://www.senco.com/
Friendly Disclaimers
Tooljuice.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.
Additionally, Tooljuice.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links.