Technical Questions Fasteners
Have a question about your SENCO fasteners? Here are some frequently asked questions. If your particular question isn’t answered, send us an e-mail.
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Q: SENCO has introduced several new framing nailers in recent years. What’s the best way to determine what nails go with certain tool models?
A: With the addition of full round head strip nailers and coil nailers to the SENCO product line, you need to be extra careful that you sell the correct style of nail for your customer’s tool. In this article, we will outline the three main styles of framing nails available, with some suggestions on how you can make sure your customers select the correct nail type for their tool.
Each kind of tool has a distinct look that should help you choose the correct fastener type.
For instance, a D-head stick nailer, like the FramePro 701XP, features a steeper (35°) magazine, while a full round head (FRH) strip nailer, like the FramePro 602FRH, has a longer and flatter (about 20°) nail magazine. The coil nailers, like the SCN65, feature a round canister to allow the loading of the SENCO flat-wound coil nails.
If you need a carton of nails for a SENCO framing nailer, you should ask a few questions to ensure you pick the right product. One of the best to ask is, “How are your nails collated (held together)- with paper, plastic, or wire?” The answer will indicate the nail style:
Paper = D-head stick nails
Plastic = FRH strip nails
Wire = Flat-wound coil nails
Look for the markings on the tool for the product codes for the nails. The SN60/65 tools feature lettering just to the left of the nail slot, located at the rear of the magazine. The other tools are equipped with stickers which show basic fastener product code information.
Take a close look at the carton label on any box of SENCO nails to find a short list of the tool models that drive that nail.
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Q: What are the three nail types and what tools drive them?
A: There are three basic nail styles, and it’s extremely important that you use the correct style nail with the correct tool. Clipped head stick nails, which fit the FramePro 601/651/701/751 and SN70, are paper-collated and angled for the steeper 35° magazine. The FramePro FRH 602/652/702 and 752 take full round head strip nails, which are plastic-collated and designed for the longer, flatter 20° magazine. And finally, flat-wound coil nails are wire-collated and fit the round canister of the coil nailers, like the SCN60 and SCN65.
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Q: What is the difference between the brad nail and the finish nail?
A: Brad nails are a fine 18-gauge wire, while finish nails offer a heavier 16- or 15-gauge wire (more structural). See the fastener chart (web site or catalog) for the actual size illustrations of both brads and finish nails.
The “first tool” choice of most customers is some kind of brad nailer to attach finish moldings. Heavier finish nails may split smaller moldings, so brads are preferred.
The brad nail also has a smaller head, which may not need to be concealed with carpenter’s putty.
Finish nailers are needed for the larger crown and base moldings which require the heavier nail for proper installation.
Most finish carpenters have both a brad nailer for small moldings, and a finish nailer for larger base or crown moldings.
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Q: What are the pros and cons of clipped head and full round head nails?
A: The clipped vs. full round head (FRH) nail question:
1) Clip heads were the original type of collated nail for air tools, and still remains popular in most parts of the USA.
2) FRH nails came on the scene in the late ’80s as a popular product in the earthquake/hurricane markets (SoCal-Fla). In these markets, discussions about possible code changes led many builders to change from the clip head to the FRH nail. Building inspectors started to discriminate against the use of the clipped head nail. They felt the FRH would help prevent an overdrive into shear wall (structural sheathing).
3) Today, it seems the FRH nails are the dominant format on the West Coast, Florida and the South Atlantic regions. Again, FRH is the product of choice in the earthquake and hurricane prone markets.
4) Independent lab research results yield no significant difference in performance between both types.
5) FRH nails come in strip or coil format. The FRH strips are collated with a plastic material; the coils are collated with wire. Clipped head nails are only available in a strip format and are collated with paper strips and adhesive. The FRH strips will leave some plastic debris on your job site, and some plastic chunks embedded into your work surface trapped by the nail head (flagging). The paper-collated clipped heads are a bit cleaner, with some flagging, but most of the paper seems to disappear.
6) The clipped head tools have a shorter magazine track because the nails are right next to each other. The FRH tools feature a longer magazine track, which protrudes to the rear of the tool body. Some users prefer the shorter magazines for the maneuverability they offer, and some users like the longer magazine tools for the exceptional balance.
Our advice: Buy the format that is popular in your market, so it’s easy to buy the nails where and when you need them. Our dealers tend to stock only the popular format for the specific market you are in, so if you buck the trend, you might have difficulties finding the nails designed for your tool.
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Q: What nails does SENCO sell for installing wood furring strips or sill plates to green (newer) concrete?
A:
Note:
These nails are not to be used to drive into fully cured (old and dry) concrete. SENCO offers the following fasteners for applications in new construction, when dealing with green concrete, sill plate anchoring or T-Nails for furring strip fastening.
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| Nail Code | Length | Diameter | Drive With Tool |
| BJ17AQBF | 1 1/2" | .099 | SCN60, SCN65 (coil) |
| BJ23AQBF | 2 1/4" | .099 | SCN60, SCN65 (coil) |
| FH10AQA | 5/8" | .097 | XL0171 T-Nailer (strip) |
| FH16AQA | 1 3/8" | .097 | XL0138 T-Nailer (strip) |
| FH17AQA | 1 1/2" | .097 | XL0138 T-Nailer (strip) |
| FH23AQA | 2 1/4" | .097 | XL0138 T-Nailer (strip) |
| GC23AHAN | 2 1/4" | .113 | FramePro 601, 651, and SN70 |
| GD23AQBF | 2 1/4" | .113 | SCN60, SCN65 (coil) |
| GD23AHAS | 2 1/4" | .113 | FramePro 602, 652, 702, and 752 |
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Q: I have an older SENCO stapler. Can you tell me what series of staples it can drive?
A: The key to identifying these tools is finding the hand-engraved marking on the magazine assembly (see Figure D). The markings on the main body casting are of minor importance, other than the age of the tool and the series (J,K or L series). Look over the magazine for the hand-engraved marking for the specific model of the tool. Here is a list of staples and the old tool models that drive them:
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| STAPLES | TOOLS |
| A wire | JN |
| B wire | J |
| C wire | JG |
| D wire | JN2330 |
| E wire | JN5 |
| F wire | J5 |
| G wire | JG45, LG45 |
| J wire | L75 |
| K wire | LN3045 |
| L wire | KN4450, LN4450 |
| M wire | KG4450, LG4450 |
| N wire | KG5562, LG5562 |
| W wire | LN2532 |
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Q: When I look at the fastener chart in your SENCO full-line catalog, I wonder why there are so many different sizes and styles of nails and staples. Could you explain the popular uses of all these fasteners?
A: It is useful to have some idea of what the entire range of standard fasteners are commonly used for in the market, so here's the list of the most common fastener applications:
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| STAPLES |
| A - fine wood trim, plastic parts |
| B - upholstery (vinyl or fabric) |
| C - upholstery (fabric), picture frame fitting |
| D - fine wood trim, batten strips |
| E - casebacks, wood baskets, plastic parts |
| F - roof felt, paper-face insulation, upholstery |
| G - upholstery (vinyl), roof felt, paper-to-wood |
| H - roof felt, paper-face insulation |
| J - corrugated box layer-to-layer |
| K - vinyl/aluminum soffit and fascia, casebacks, interior wall panels |
| L - cabinet boxes, floor underlayment, softwood trim |
| M - casebacks, furniture frames, vinyl siding |
| N - sheathing, pallets, crates, wood shingle/shake |
| P - composite roof shingles, wire lath, corrugated box-to-skid |
| Q - subfloor, sheathing, pallets, crates, subframing |
| R - pre-finished hardwood flooring, interior wall panels |
| S - framing, pallets, boxes, crates, furniture frames |
NAILS |
| AX - wood trim, cabinet trim, hobby and crafts |
| AY - wood trim, cabinet trim, hobby and crafts |
| AZ - wood trim, cabinet trim, hobby and crafts |
| BF - pallet, crate |
| BK - pallet, crate |
| BL - subfloor, packaging |
| CZ - beadwork, scrollwork, very small trim |
| DA - crown moldings, baseboard, faceframe, finish nailing |
| EC - wood siding |
| ED - wood siding |
| EL - wood siding |
| GC/GD - sheathing, sub-framing, balusters |
| GE/GL - subfloor, 5/4" exterior deckboards, panel siding |
| HC/HD - framing applications, sheathing, box & crate |
| HE/HL - 2X exterior deck boards, fence framing |
| HF - 2X exterior deck boards, pallets |
| HJ - composite roof shingles, fiber-cement underlayment |
| HK - pallets, box & crate |
| H - pallets, box & crate |
| KC/KD - framing applications (primary framing nail choice) |
| NID - shear wall, framing (.148, 10d common shank thickness) |
| ND - framing applications (.162, 16d common shank thickness) |
| PE - pallets, box & crate |
| PF - pallets, box & crate |
| SC - box & crate, furniture frames |
| SE - box & crate, furniture frames |
UA - crown molding, baseboards, pre-hung door installation
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CLAMPS |
| X - window & door frames, pallet repair, soft wood butt joint fastener |
| Y - picture frames, cabinet face frames, hardwood miter & butt joints |
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