February 11, 2008

UFO Ballistic NailScrews

Well this is interesting. Universal Fastener Outsourcing (UFO) has released a new fastener that is a combo of a pneumatic nail and a deck screw. The creatively named NailScrews combine the ease-of-use of a gun nail with the holding power of a screw.

There are two styles available; one with a yellow-zinc coating, and one with a corrosion-resistant coating for use with PT and other treated lumber. Sizes vary from 1-3/4" up to 3" and they come in 20 degree plastic-strip, 15 degree wire-coil, and 15 degree plastic-strip format. A summary of sizes and styles available is here.

Read past the fold to watch a video of the NailScrew in action.

This product looks like a good idea and there's no doubt that it's faster than screwing individual nails. From the video, we can't see a lot of the mushrooming effect that is common with screws and composite boards. If you're worried about shear strength and holding power, the results of all the appropriate tests are on UFO's website here.

From what we've found, a box of 1,000 is available for between $50 and $75, depending on the style and size. If you're thinking about building a deck this summer, these NailScrews might save a lot of time.

For a free sample of NailScrews call 1-800-352-0028

At SpeedyNails