A common complaint about most of the nailer owners is it doesn’t last long. It’s not always you are choosing the wrong nailer or something like that. A lot of times it happens, because of the poor maintenance of the owner himself.
Nailers are tools which we regularly use because it’s a great time saver and make our regular woodworking tasks much more comfortable.
That is why if it is not appropriately maintained, the risk of destroying the nailer sufficiently increases day by day. Besides, your regular maintenance will help to last a nailer for years. So we came up with some ideas that you can apply to your nailer for ensuring its longevity.
Lubricate the nailer
It is an essential task to keep your nailer smooth and running. Lack of oil may increase the friction of the moving parts inside the nailer as well as it will decrease efficiency. As a result, the decay caused by a fraction will gradually reduce the lifetime of the nailer and will make it feel rough.
It is better to lubricate your nailer regularly before use. Most of the pneumatic nailer manual recommends using oil into the joint of the air hose and the nailer. The amount of oil is another crucial thing because using excessive oiling may harm your nailer. Most of the nailer brand recommends using 2 or 3 drops of oil before using it.
Another important thing is that the type of oil should be used in the nailer. It is highly discouraged to use regular oil in the nailer. Because nailers need oil to move parts properly, that is why routine oil might be a bit thick for the nailer. So it is advised to use a light oil. Some brands offer oil for pneumatic nailers. BOSTITCH PREMOIL-20OZ, Paslode Cordless Lubrication Oil is the preferable option.
Some nailers, mainly non pneumatic nail guns, don’t need oil for functioning. It is imperative to read the manual before using oil into your nailer.
Using the right Air Compressor and nails
Many of us don’t even read the user manual properly before using a nailer. By using only those instructions, we can avoid a lot of misuse of our tool that we are doing. We should always use the recommended nailer that written in the manual. It prevents our nailer from unwanted jamming.
In addition to that, before using an air compressor for a nailer, we should always check if the nailer is compatible with the compressor’s air pressure or not. And some manufacturers mention a recommended pressure in the manual along with the range of pressure it can handle.
Avoid moisture and cold weather
Moisture is one of the worst enemies of metal. And a part of your nailer is made of metal. So keeping your nailer into a moisture area may lead to rusting the inside components of it. That will eventually pull the lifespan of your tool down.
For the same reason, you should not keep nails in your magazine for a long period. Every time after working, it is better to pull the nails out of the magazine.In addition to that, moisture may clog the way of air passage of your pneumatic tool. For avoiding this type of situation, you can buy an airtight case for your nailer.
Always try to drain the air compressor every time after using it. In winter it will also help to drain the moisture too. And it is better to place your tool into a warmer place during the winter.
In addition to that, in winter, you should be more conscious about oiling your tool regularly. Some oil can save your tool during the winter. Some winter oil suggestions are Stanley-Bostitch Winteroil, Senco PC1295 Cold Weather Air Tool Oil.
Nail gun Battery maintenance
In terms of electric brad nail guns or cordless nailers, the battery is the main power source. But battery power and effectiveness degrades day by day. So it is very crucial to note the battery expiry date and should not use it after the expiry date. The expired battery is harmful to the nailer. Furthermore, it brings some risks for the user too.
It is highly discouraged not to overcharge the battery, and the required charging time should be written in the manual. In addition to that, the battery should always be kept into cool and dry places because it prevents unwanted damage to the battery. And it is good to pull the battery apart from the nailer after every usage.
Though some corded electric brad nailers don’t need battery power for running, for those, maintaining the power supply voltage range is the most crucial task.
Some Other tips you should maintain
Conclusion
To conclude, the lifespan of any power tool depends on how you will use and maintain them. Furthermore, nailers are the power tool that you may use regularly. And if you don’t maintain your tool regularly, it will lead to misfiring and jamming, that is the worst experience with any nail gun.
So by maintaining some small tips or ideas, you can easily increase the lifespan of the tool you are using and can have a better experience of enjoying your work.