Had the same thought about palm nailers—borrowed one from a buddy last month for some framing in tight spots. Honestly, control wasn't bad once I got used to it, but yeah, it can bounce around a bit if you're not careful. Definitely easier than wrestling a full-size cordless into awkward spaces, though. I'd say worth trying out, just brace yourself for a short learning curve...
"Definitely easier than wrestling a full-size cordless into awkward spaces, though."
Yeah, that's exactly why I ended up grabbing a palm nailer myself. First time framing out my basement, I tried squeezing my cordless nail gun into some tight corners—total nightmare. Borrowed a palm nailer from my neighbor and after a few sketchy bounces (and maybe a few choice words), it was surprisingly smooth sailing. Still prefer the cordless for open areas, but for tight spots, palm nailer's a lifesaver...just gotta get past that initial awkwardness.
Same here—first time I did a deck extension, I thought my cordless nailer would handle everything. Worked great at first, but once I got to those joist hangers and tight corners, it was like playing Tetris blindfolded. Eventually borrowed a palm nailer from a buddy, and after fumbling around a bit (and yeah, muttering under my breath), it made quick work of the tricky spots. Still love the cordless for speed in open framing, but that palm nailer earned a permanent spot in my toolbox for sure.
- Palm nailers are underrated for sure—saved my sanity more than once on tight framing jobs.
- Still, I find myself grabbing the old-school hammer pretty often. Maybe it's habit, but there's something satisfying about manually driving nails, especially for smaller tasks or quick fixes.
- Cordless nailers are great for speed, no doubt, but I've had battery issues mid-job that slowed me down more than I'd like to admit...
- Curious if anyone's tried those newer compact framing nailers yet? Supposedly they're easier to maneuver in tight spaces without sacrificing power. Wondering if they're worth the upgrade or just marketing hype.
I've been eyeing those compact framing nailers too—heard good things from a colleague who swears by them for tight corners. Still, battery life's my big worry...anyone found one that holds up reliably through longer projects?
