Framing nail angle checker
Framing nail strips only feed if their collation angle and type match the nailer's magazine. Pick your nailer's angle and the angle on the nail box to check. Nailers come in four families; within a family a 1 to 4° difference is often allowed, but only the nailer's manual can confirm it.
Framing nailer families
| Family | Angles | Collation | Nail heads |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21° plastic-collated | 20° to 22° | Plastic strip | Full round head |
| 28° wire-collated | 28° | Wire weld | Clipped or offset round head |
| 30 to 34° paper-collated | 30° to 34° | Paper tape | Clipped or offset round head |
| 15° coil | 15° | Wire or plastic coil | Full round head |
Nails from different families never interchange, even when the angles are close: a 21° plastic strip won't feed in a 28° wire-collated tool. Building codes in some areas require full round heads for structural framing.
The details are in framing nailers: 21°, 28° and 30° angles explained and can you use 21 degree nails in a 22 degree nailer. For trim work, see brad vs finish vs pin nailers.