What to choose in a hardwood flooring stapler or nailer? The choices are numerous today, and it will depend on what type of hardwood you're installing. The basic rentals at Home Depot will not cut it for some products. Two areas are included on this page. The first for actual fasteners used to attach flooring to wood subfloors and secondly, trim and surface nailers for moldings and areas a flooring machine cannot reach.

Engineered Floors

Name: Stanley Bostich LHF97125-2 - 20

Thickness Flooring Used: Adjustable 1/4" - 1/2" thickness

Fastener Type: Crown staples

Gauge: 20

Length: 1 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-100 PSI

Name: Stanley Bostich SX150-BHF-2 - 18

Thickness Flooring Used: Adjustable 1/4" - 7/16" thickness

Fastener Type: Crown staples

Gauge: 18

Length: 1/2" - 1 1/2 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-100 PSI

Factory set for installation of Bruce Natural Choice 5/16" solid hardwood

Name: Senco SLS20HF

Thickness Flooring Used: Adjustable 1/4" - 1/2" thickness

Fastener Type: Crown staples

Gauge: 19

Length: 1 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-120 PSI

Name: SpotNails WS4840W2

Thickness Flooring Used: 3/8" - 9/16" thickness (needs adaptor, included)

Fastener Type: Crown staples

Gauge: 18

Length: 1 3/8 inch

Compressor Setting: 80-110 PSI

Solid Hardwood Floors- some products shown below can be used for thicker engineered floors.

Name: Stanley Bostich Cleat Nailer MIIIFN

Thickness Flooring Used: 1/2" - 3/4" thickness (base plates, included)

Fastener Type: Cleat Nail

Gauge: N/A

Length: 1 1/2" - 2 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-90 PSI

Name: Stanley Bostich Stapler MIIIFS

Thickness Flooring Used: 1/2" - 3/4" thickness (base plates, included)

Fastener Type: Crown staples

Gauge: 15.5

Length: 1 1/2" - 2 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-90 PSI

Name: Stanley Bostich Manual Cleat Nailer MFN200

Thickness Flooring Used: 1/2" - 3/4" thickness (base plates, included)

Fastener Type: Cleat Nail

Gauge: N/A

Length: 1 1/2" - 2 inch

Compressor Setting: Manual only

Name: Portamatic 421 Hammerhead

Thickness Flooring Used: 1/2" - 3/4" thickness (base plates, included)

Fastener Type: Cleat Nail

Gauge: N/A

Length: 1 3/8" - 2 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-90 PSI

Name: Portamatic 470 Hammerhead

Thickness Flooring Used: 1/2" - 3/4" thickness (base plates, included)

Fastener Type: Cleat Nail

Gauge: N/A

Length: 1 3/8" - 2 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-90 PSI

Name: Portamatic 472 Hammerhead

Thickness Flooring Used: 1/2" - 3/4" thickness (base plates, included)

Fastener Type: Crown staples

Gauge: 15

Length: 1 1/2" - 2 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-90 PSI

Name: Primatech Q550 Flooring Nailer

Thickness Flooring Used: 3/8" - 5/8" thickness (base plates, included)

Fastener Type: Cleat Nail

Gauge: N/A

Length: 1 1/4" - 1 1/2 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-90 PSI

Name: Primatech P210 Flooring Stapler

Thickness Flooring Used: 1/2" - 3/4" thickness (with adadpter)

Fastener Type: Crown staples

Gauge: 15.5

Length: 1 1/2" - 2 inch

Compressor Setting: 70-90 PSI

Other Notes: Always consult the individual hardwood manufacturer specifications on what type of flooring tool is recommended. Some products have a quirky nature and may or may not work successfully if you're choosing fastening tools at random.

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