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ISANTA Clipped-Head Nail study

Researchers who tested clipped-head and casing nails at Virginia Polytechnic University found that clipped-head nails perform just as well as full round-head nails. They tested plywood specimens nailed to lumber and loaded in shear, which reflects how nails connecting shear panels to wood framing would be loaded.

The following is from the Conclusions section of their study:

"...there is not a satistically significant difference between the clipped-head and full-head nails, regardless of the orientation of the clipped edge with respect to the load or plywood face-grain direction."

It should be noted that the results of these tests go against what common engineering judgment would predict. Without further knowledge of the testing procedures and results, we recommend using full round-head nails.

You may e-mail ISANTA at Isanta@Ameritech.net or telephone them at (708) 482-8138 and request a copy of the study, which is titled "Cyclic Tests of Casing and Clipped Head Nail Connections."


Thor Matteson, Structural Engineer

California License #S4097
Residential and Commercial Earthquake Retrofit Designs,
Structural Evaluations, & Related Engineering Services

Serving Central California
from Bakersfield/San Luis Obispo north to Sacramento/Santa Rosa

e-mail to thorm "at" sti.net

(209) 966-6644

PO Box 487, Mariposa, CA 95338


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