The design of a ring shank nail is similar to that of a screw, but the difference is that it has a flat head. The pattern of the grooves along the shank of the nail can vary depending on the manufacturer and the intended function of the nail. There are brands that have very shallow rings to offer a small amount of additional grip while others have larger ridges. There are those with spiral grooves and others have a neat set of ridged rings.
What are ring shank nails?
Ring shank nails are also referred to as deformed shank nails. These are nails that contain grooves or ridges along the shank, which are the parts of the nail that penetrates the material. Ring shank nails have a better holding power compared to nails that have smooth shank. This is because the grooves act as wedges that keep the nail firmly held in place to prevent popping out.
Therefore, ring shank nails are mainly used in construction, especially for roofing. You can easily find these nails in hardware stores in the form of boxed loose nails and strips to be used with nail guns. There are also other stores that prefer selling them in bulk bins to enable customers to purchase a few at ago. Also, you can find nails in different sizes.
Different uses of Ring Shank Nails
- Softwoods have trouble with nails since nails tend to fall out over time. Using ring shank nails with softwoods helps them stay in place better. The nails are hard to remove and thus will stay in place for longer. At the same time, the construction using the ring shank nails will split the wood slightly. This means that using the nails on softwood should be done in projects where the overall appeal is not required.
- These nails are also used in drywall, although not as often as softwood. However, you should use these nails with thicker drywall. This is because the ring shank nails will cause damaging cracks to the thin drywall.
- Ring shank nails have better power and thus are greatly used in decking and flooring. People will walk on floors daily, and this can stress the floor material or wood, leading to wear out around the nails until they become loose. Also, decks have the same fate. Ring shank nails will stay longer, making the flooring and decking projects stay longer and safer.
- Overall, they are best used in permanent construction and not for temporary projects. Ring shank nails should not be used with temporary construction because they can make the project difficult. The nails are difficult to pull out, making deconstruction take longer and harder. If the staying power of ring shank nails is not enough for a project, it would be recommended to use spiral shank nails as they will work better.
Advantages of ring shank nails
- They have a strong holding power
- They are multi-purpose steel nails
- They are available in different sizes
- They are mostly used in construction
Application of Ring Shank Nails
Ring shank nails are widely used in underlayment, roofing, decking, plywood, and siding applications. These nails are designed to be used permanently in construction, making them very hard to remove. The shanks make it even harder for the nails to be removed compared to conventional nails. Removing these nails will leave a large and ragged hole behind. Although they look like screws, they are not meant to function the same way as screws. This is very important to remember.
When you are working on softwood, ring shank nails are very useful. Conventional nails under pressure will pull out easily from woods such as pine. The deformed shanks will put the nails in position, even when used under intense pressure. Enough pressure or weight will cause either the nails or the wood to fail, but when using a ring shank nail, it offers around 40% more holding power compared to nails with smooth shanks.
Final Thoughts
It can be useful to have a box of ring shank nails in your home for different home improvement projects. It is possible to find treated or galvanized nails that resist corrosion along with basic steel nails. Treating nails can be done using oil for storage to prevent rusting. When you use ring shank nails, ensure that you use them for permanent construction rather than temporary construction.
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