What Is a Clipped-Head Nailer?

Features

• Standard clipped-head nailers weigh approximately 8 pounds and contain a rubber handle for easy gripping and maneuverability. Clipped-head loading magazines generally hold between 86 to 94 nails. Nails are loaded from the rear and released with compressed air after the trigger is pressed. Clipped-head nailers’ strip magazine format make them useful for projects including floor and wall framing, subflooring and roof decking.

Benefits

• Though the clipped-head nailers’ loading magazine is shorter than full round-head nailers, clipped-head guns can be packed more tightly than full round-head nailers. This allows workers to fire off more rounds over a shorter period of time. Clipped-head nailers are also slightly nose heavy, shifting the weight towards the front rather than towards the rear of the tool. This effect produces less recoil after firing. Moreover, some users find that the shorter magazine allows them to handle and maneuver clipped-head nailers more easily than the heavier full round-head nailers.

Disadvantages

• Possible disadvantages exist for clipped-head nailers as well. While clipped-head nailers’ higher magazine capacity speeds progress and saves reloading time, the clipped nail’s “D” shape makes it less secure than a full round-head nail. Hurricane- and earthquake-prone states such as California and Florida have established building codes that mandate the use of full round-head nailers. These regulations ban the use of clipped heads due to concerns over their holding strength. Clipped-head nails also have a less polished appearance than full round-head nails.

Considerations

• Pneumatic nail guns allow nails to be loaded in a strip or coil format. Clipped-head nailers only allow for a strip format. Clipped-head nails are also collated with either paper or adhesive material. Flagging — bits of plastic or paper that get trapped under the nail — may also occur with paper-collated clipped heads. Prior to purchasing a nailer, check whether local building codes allow the use of clipped-head nailing.