alternatives to a pneumatic or electric pin nailer

Holding tiny brad nails without hammering your finger can be difficult. Some solutions are:

• the back side of a 12 ounce cross peen hammer, called a "Warrington hammer" or "joiners' hammer" [1] [2] [3]
• a pin pusher / brad pusher
• hold the nail in place with an impromptu tool, just long enough to set the nail
  • a hair pin
  • a piece of paper
  • a piece of cardboard
  • needlenose pliers work too, of course
• if you're wanting to clamp two boards together just long enough for glue to dry, consider instead using just clamps

available products

• on Amazon:
  • "push hammer", 3⁄64" internal diameter, $19
  • "magnetic brad and nail driver", 7⁄64" ID, $9
  • "brad pusher", 9⁄64" ID, $31
  • "trim nail punch", 11⁄32" ID, $13
  • "trim nail punch", unknown ID, $16
  • "trim nail punch", unknown ID, $15
  • "magnetic brad driver", unknown ID, $15
  • (TODO: include more from this list
• at Lee Valley, "nail driver", unknown ID, $10
• Draper "pin setting tool", unknown ID, $8

Other tools that are somewhat related:

• "Frueh NailBro nail holder", variable diameter, $20
• a cross-peen hammer, 8 ounce

DIY options

If you wanted to DIY a pin-pusher with a custom diameter, these are things you might use:

• a pin punch
• some pin extractor tools