To use a nail gun, you’ll need nail strips and safety glasses. A few pieces of plywood for practice are also a good idea. Ready to get started? Follow our instructions, below.
What You Need
Nail gunSafety glassesNail stripWood scraps
Step 1: Load Nail Gun
Consult the manufacturer’s instructions of your nail gun to understand the mechanics of the machine. Put on your safety glasses, then load the nail gun with a nail strip. You’ll need to locate your gun’s magazine and slide the nail strip in. Close the magazine.
Step 2: Practice Nailing
Turn on the gun’s power. Get a feel for the gun by practicing shooting nails into a piece of scrap wood. Try testing different amounts of pressure and applying pressure for different lengths of time. Once you feel comfortable with the gun, place its tip adjacent to the surface you need to nail.
Step 3: Squeeze Trigger
Hold the gun with a steady hand away from your body. Make sure your finger can easily access the trigger. Exert pressure on the trigger, then release the trigger as soon as the nail has been released to prevent shooting multiple nails. Just like a real gun, expect a bit of a kick back. Do not press the gun with your chest or body as this could cause injury. Editor’s Tip: The nailhead should be even with the surface, not crooked or jutting out. If the nail isn’t flush, remove it and try again. You may need to apply more pressure.
Step 4: Continue Nailing
Continue releasing nails as necessary for your project.
Step 5: Reload Gun
If you need to reload the gun, disconnect it from power before inserting a new nail strip.
