How does a palm nailer work?

i just recently saw a palm nailer at a tool store but have never seen one in action. How do they work and are they effective tools? What are their pros and cons?

How does a palm nailer work?
Palm nailers are used when you need to nail something where the larger air nailers and hammers won't fit. the palm nailers use just about any type of nail. The palm nailer works like a hammer drill, or impact driver, you place the nail head into the steel shaft and place the nail tip against the wood , when you apply pressure to the palm nailer, the inner part of the shaft moves up and down hammering the nail into the wood. You will feel no vibration, movement etc it's just noisey.


Pro's fit's in tight spaces, uses most nails. inexpensive (costs same as good hammer) quicker than hand nailing.


Con's. shoots one nail at a time nails often fall out before using it., nails often go in crooked, time consuming


Palm Nailer owner and User.


PS!!!! Palm Nailers DO need a compressor!!!! to run them
Reply:it is a simple tool you put the tip of the nailer on the head of the nail and the vibration drives the nail.con is the vibration is hard on the hands,pros it is easier than a hammer.
Reply:They work great! The one I used was pneumatic. (maybe a con) if you do not own a compressor. You can drive nails without ever missing the head. No bent nails. Most folks if they are not carpenters have problems driving large nails after a few. With a palm nailer you can drive them all day long. Also you will not hit anything with the hammer. like siding or walls right next to the where you want to drive the nail. Probably best for large nails. It also drives them fast. I was really impressed. Again the negative is the cost for the compressor and the nailer. Hammers are cheap and without a cord.
Reply:i use my palm lailer mostly for teco nails it works great. they have a magnet to hold the nail when the magnet is depresed a small hampster inside hits the magnet with his hammer and that drives the nail dont worry you dont have to feed the hampster