According to peter :
I'm shopping for an electric brad nail gun and found only a few models
available. On many reviews I read, a commom complaint is underpower. These
nail guns all have the same design: a large electric magnet that is
energized by the trigger and pulls a hammer to drive the nail.

Does it have to be this way? Why not use an electric motor to wind up a
large spring to drive the nail, or spin up a flywheel and then use the
flywheel to drive the nail?

No, it doesn't have to be that way, but the alternatives are going to be
heavier, much more complicated, more prone to failure, and probably cost
a lot more. Not a good recipe for the DIYer, and, after watching pros
"bounce nail" stuff, I know they aren't going to touch 'em, because
recovery time is _much_ too slow.

A compressor and air tool requires more storage space and is more cubersome
to setup. A compact solution, even if expensive, is still useful.

For small guns (eg: 18ga brad nailers), you don't need much of a
compressor. A tankless would be adequate in some cases, a very
small tank-type would be fine. Heck, a car tire compressor
and an airpig is enough if you can do the fittings right.

Or buy a "cordless nailer", like Paslode, Hitachi, Porter Cable
or Dewalt. "Look ma, no hoses OR wires!"

Senco apparently makes a clockwork spring unit which you have to crank.

See http://blogs.toolbarn.com/brianm/200...hnologies.html

Still best for relatively slow low volume applications.
--
Chris Lewis,

Age and Treachery will Triumph over Youth and Skill
It's not just anyone who gets a Starship Cruiser class named after them.