UFO FAQs About Ballistic NailScrews^® (BNS)

A Hybrid^® Fastener—that is, an especially designed, patent pending screw that you pneumatically drive with your nail gun! NailScrews^® combine the advantages of collated nails (ease and speed of installation) with the best aspects of screws (quality and adjustability). Many people are finding new ways that NailScrews^® can help them and are enjoying increased production, time savings, and labor savings.

The amount of force (measured in pounds) needed to withdraw a fastener from the material or substrate.  For example:  The 2¼” BNS averaged 523 lbs to 533 lbs in Southern Yellow Pine Testing in 2006.  Intertek Report #3100366-001 and is approved for subfloors and shear walls by IAPMO #0133.

When you are trying to hold two pieces of wood together, the issue is to match the pull-out resistance with the head pull through.  Example: If the fastener has 1,000 lbs of pull-out, but the head will pull through the material being fastened at 350 lbs, why have such a large difference? “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link” Why not match them closer together? That is what BNS allows you to do while giving you an acceptable connection.  “Bigger or stronger is not always NEEDED or worth paying for.”—W. C. Litzinger   3^rd Party Testing available on request. (Intertek Report #3100366-001)

The length of the fastener will depend on the materials to which it is attaching to the substrate material.  In wood, the length of the fastener should allow the threads to penetrate the substrate at least 1” or more.  When attaching to 12-16 gauge metal, the length of the fastener should only allow two to five threads to penetrate the metal.  Calculate in the thickness of the material you are fastening and allow for the appropriate penetration into the substrate. 

In wood, the length of the fastener should allow the threads to penetrate the substrate at least 1 – 2 inches.  When attaching to metal, the length of the fastener should only allow ¼” to ½” (3 – 5 threads) to penetrate the metal.  This will provide the best holding power.

Point Locator™ is the ability to line up the ballistic tip to an exact location to drive the NailScrew^®. 

Larger diameters have greater shear values.  .113 is normal, .120 is stronger, and .131 is heavy.  In steel applications, only .113 is recommended.  Depending on the holding power needed, you achieve this by increasing or decreasing length or diameters or both depending on the thickness of the two pieces being fastened.  Since Ballistic NailScrews® are driven in with only a slight turning motion, smaller diameters can be used.

Shear strength is the maximum load applied to a fastener’s axis before it will fracture or split, essentially causing the fastener to break in half.  Shear strength is usually specified in pounds per square inch (PSI).  Single shear values for fasteners are typically calculated based upon the nominal body diameter or body shear area, BSA.

·  Interior or temporary, use (YZ) yellow zinc dichromate.

·  Exterior use in ACQ or MCQ treated lumber, use PT2000^®, PPG 1500™, or 410 stainless steel with PPG1500™.

·  Around salt water or brackish water, use 305 or 316 stainless steel only.

·  Wire coil and sheet coil tools give you 200 – 225 Ballistic NailScrews^® (BNS) per coil, reducing the amount of reloading required during production. 

·   Plastic strip tools usually have a magazine angle of 20° to 22° and can hold two strips of 25 BNS allowing the application of 50 BNS before reloading.  Plastic strip collations allow for better color matching options. 

·   Tools that have a 30° to 34° magazine can hold two plastic strips of 25 BNS allowing the application of 50 BNS before reloading.

Versatility is the main advantage for Ballistic NailScrews^®.  The application possibilities are endless!  Applications range from decking (wood, composite, or PVC), crating, pallets, concrete forms, fencing, fiber-cement siding, roofing, subfloor, shear walls, sheathing, manufactured housing, and many more.