Product Info Blog

Product information, demos, videos and more.
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What are the two most expensive fasteners in the world?  You might have one of them on your shelf right now, the other I know you don’t have.  The first most expensive fastener in the world is the wrong one.  I still see enough guys using the wrong fastener or at the very least one that is a poor choice for the job.  For instance, wedge anchors in hollow wall, lead or zamac anchors overhead and the wrong length Tapcon anchors to name just a few.  Usually, they become expensive right away when you try to install and find out they won’t hold and you have to find something that will.  Sometimes, they become very expensive down the line if they fail!  The expense can range from sending a tech to reattach something to much, much worse.  Read up on the Big Dig Ceiling Collapse for some sobering information on what the wrong anchor can cost.  Make sure the anchors you install are correct for the application or they be much more expensive than you thought.

The second most expensive fastener in the world I know you don’t have.  That’s the fastener you don’t have but you need now.  It always amazed how one or two boxes of anchors can bring a multi-million dollar to a screeching halt.  I have driven up to sites with five or six techs sitting on boxes of cable waiting for the fasteners to start the install, because they didn’t have the fasteners needed to work!   Fasteners are such a small percent of the budget that many times they are often overlooked, or assumptions are made of how the install will be done or who is supplying the fasteners.  So now the scramble begins.  We ship many packages each week via UPS air to get the fasteners to a site to keep the job going.  While it’s not my money being spent on the shipping, it still pains me to see cost to ship an item rival the cost of the product itself.  And it can get even more expensive when you find what you need has a lead time or is on a nationwide backorder.  Extra shipping, techs not being able to work and unexpected product delays start making the fastener you don’t have very expensive.

The Takeaway.  So how do you avoid spending money on the two most expensive fasteners in the world.  Know what the right fastener is for the job.  Partner with a supplier that knows the application or is at least willing to do a little research and make sure you are using the right fastener.   Keep a stock on hand or in your guy’s trucks.  Again, not having what you need on hand can get expensive very fast.  And don’t’ just keep the standard items on hand.  If you see a tool or fastener that you think you may need someday, or you could have used on that one job, buy it!  It will be much cheaper now than when you don’t have it.

Find the right fastener for your application at ConstructionFastening.Net


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If you are using one of the collated drywall screw guns from Hilti, Milwaukee, DeWalt or Makita, you know they can save some serious time.  Now you can mount the tool on a pole tool for overhead use.  Check the video below and see if the SGP Screw Gun Pole would make your life a little easier.  Available in two different lengths.  Click here to learn more on the  SGP Screw Gun Poles for collated drywall screw guns.


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What is a DeWalt STICK-E Cable Tie Donut? Well, if you are hoping for a glazed donut, you will be disappointed. If you are looking for a fast clean way to bundle cable, you will be pleasantly surprised at this simple little piece of plastic. As you look at the design you will see the slots are large enough for your standard ties and up to ½” hook and loop cable ties. As you look at the side view, you see the mount is scalloped a little bit to seat the cable. You will also notice no sharp metal edges like a ceiling clip. There are a few ways to mount it quickly to concrete, wood and steel.

Concrete & Masonry Materials. The DeWalt DFD405902 STICK-E Cable Tie Donut is designed to be used with the DeWalt, DC890P2 battery concrete nailer and the STICK-E contact probe. These tools are becoming more common in the low voltage, electric and mechanical fields. They are expensive but more and more tradesmen are finding this a nice addition to their toolbox. They are quieter than powder actuated tools and require no license to operate. For this application, the tool has a magazine of pins, and you stick the donut cable mount on the probe and fire away. A simple fast and easy way to attach you bundle to the concrete.

Wood. While intended for mounting quickly to concrete, the cable tie donut can be mounted to wood with a simple #6 coarse drywall screw. Just start the screw and it will pull its way through the donut and cinch down tight. If you are going to a plywood backer board, you would want either a #6 x ¾” or 1” coarse drywall screw. If you are mounting to a wood stud through drywall, a #6 x 1-1/4” or 1-5/8” should work.

Metal. There may a few different applications where you could be mounting to metal. If you are mounting to a metal stud through drywall, a sharp point fine drywall screw may work but if it is a heavier gauge stud, you may need a self-drilling drywall screw. If you are mounting to something like a cabinet or a rack, a self-drilling screw with a #3 point may be needed.

The DeWalt DFD405902 STICK-E Cable Tie Donut is a nice alternative to a ceiling clip with a more finished look and no sharp edges. And keep in mind it’s not just limited to it’s original mounting option with the DeWalt battery concrete nailer. With the right screw the STICK-E Cable Tie Donut makes an excellent mount for cable ties and hook and loop alike.   Visit ConstructionFastening.Net to see these and other products in the DeWalt Stick-E Line up.


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Adhesive anchoring or chemical anchoring has been around for some time. It offers some of the highest strength anchoring available in concrete. It used to be a little tricky to use but products like the Simpson Strongtie AT-XP10 makes it much easier. The AT-XP10 can be used in any good quality 10-ounce caulk tool. The better install tool is the CDT10S that Simpson offers. It has a better ratio and is well built. If you are just going to do a couple installs a good quality caulk gun will work just fine. While the tube looks like a single tube, it is a two-part formula, there is an inner tube that contains the hardener.

Installation is simple. Drill your hole and prepare by blowing the hole, brushing the hole, and then blowing one more time. Just remember blow, brush, blow. Your goal is to knock off the dust and loose particles of the side wall of the hole. Now install the nozzle on the cartridge of AT-XP10. Dispense some of the material until you can see one consistent color. Fill the hole to about 2/3 or so and twist the rod in. You goal is to have the chemical just oozing out of the hole. Once the adhesive fully sets you are good to go. The product comes with one nozzle, which will do the entire tube: IF YOU DON’T STOP! Depending on the temperature, you will have about 4-5 minutes or less before the chemical starts hardening in the nozzle. So, obviously the trick is to get all your holes laid out cleaned and ready to roll before you start.

The video below gives you a nice overview of the product and installation. We have a customer that uses chemical anchoring and routinely uses a 5/8”-11 x 8” 304 stainless steel cut stud in his application. So, we started stocking them for him and now have them on our website if that size fits the bill.

This is just a basic overview of the Simpson Strongtie ATXP10. You can find more information including test data and design recommendations at Simpson Strongtie. You can find the AT-XP10 along with extra nozzles, injector tools and pre cut all thread studs at ConstructionFastening.Net


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Extension Pole For The DeWalt DeWALT® DCF620We now offer an extension to fit the DeWALT® DCF620. When couple that with the DCF6202 Magazine attachment, you can quickly screw off drywall overhead. The SGP screw gun extension pole tool comes in two lengths. The SGP-3 extends from 3′-6′ in 2″ increments. The SGP-4 extends from 4′-8′ in 2″ increments.

So you may think what is the advantage of a screw gun like the DeWalt DCF620 on an extension pole? After all, you have to go the ceiling to install the drywall. That is true, but consider a couple of points. First off, if you can have one crew tack up the panel, move along and then have a second crew on the floor screwing it off, you have cut your man hours on ladders, carts and lifts substantially. Holding a screw gun overhead generates a lot of fatigue especially in the shoulders and neck. With the SGP extension poles for your screw gun, you won’t be holding your screw gun overhead and then bracing with your other hand on the ceiling. With the screw gun on a pole tool you will also be further away from the work surface as well as any debris or dust that may result.

The drywall application is just one of the uses for the SGP extension poles for screw guns. One thing we have found with any of the specially extension poles we have offered is that our customers are very resourceful and find many uses that we have never thought of! While we don’t currently offer the DeWALT® DCF620 or the DCF6202, you can rind them easily online at Amazon or other retailers. The SGP screw gun pole has been tested to fit the following tools: Hilti® SD 5000-A22 w/ Magazine attachment, DeWALT® DCF620 w/ DCF6202 Magazine attachment, Milwaukee® M18 Fuel 2866-20 w/ Magazine attachment 49-20-0001, Makita° XSF03 w/ Magazine attachment 01519.  Visit our online store, to shop for the SGP Screw Gun Poles.
Screw Gun Pole Tool. Extension Poles



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Stiffy Tool Powder Actuated ToolThe Stiffy Tool has been around for a while, and we have just added it to our site.  Let me share a few things that we really like about the Stiffy Tool and why you may want to consider it for your next powder actuated tool for overhead work.

When I say the Stiffy Tool (sorry that is its real name) has been around for some time, I am not kidding.  The tool itself goes back decades.  First it was red in it’s Steelcon version, then Ramset grabbed it and turned it orange.  CEAS attachments has this old standby in gray.  It is a time proven time-tested design that is quiet, lightweight and super easy to service in the field.  So here is what we like about the Stiffy Tool.

First and foremost, the tool is time tested and reliable.  The fact that it is lightweight, quiet, and easy to service when need are all real plusses.  To see what I think are a couple of the big advantages of the Stiffy Tool, you have to look  a little deeper.  First, it is a bump fire tool.  That means there is no trigger, you simply deliberately raise the tool up to the work surface and push up and the tool fires.  It is a true bump fire tool as there is no trigger slide like on the Ramset Viper 4 or a lever like some other tools that can be adapted to a pole tool.   That means you can mount the tool to a telescopic pole tool.  The telescopic pole tool means you can collapse the tool to 4’ and fit it in your gang box.  When needed, you can extend the pole tool up to 12’.  Or you can get a 6’-18’ telescopic pole if you have taller ceilings.

We recommend the Lagmaster Plus pole tool that has interchangeable heads.  So, while you would have a telescopic pole for your Stiffy Tool, you could change the head and now you can install eye lags into wood or steel, install and tie bar joist and purlin clips as well as Sammy Screws from the floor.  The combination of the Stiffy Tool and the Lagmaster Plus will allow you to handle most any type of ceiling  you are suspending  grid wire.  Of note as well is the manual load advance which will cut down on you skipped load count.

Shooting wood with the Stiffy Tool.  By switching to the wood nose piece (sold separately) you can suspend from wood structure with the tool.  The special timber clip and pin is ring shanked and is designedStiffy Tool Ramset Timber Pins specifically for this application.

Cons for the tool.  I would be hard pressed to offer any complaints on the Stiffy.  Yes, it is only an overhead tool, but that is what makes it so good at what it does.  The piston is a gravity return so you will need to clean the tool a little more often, but it is easy to do.  The load advance is manual which some see to not like but truly it lowers your skipped load count and really is a simple thing.

You can find the Stiffy Tool along with the Lagmaster Plus pole, clips, pins, loads and parts online at ConstrucgtionFastening.Net


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If you are installing fire alarm cable or other life safety systems, the HPH series of j hooks in red may be just what you are looking for.  These red j-hooks are available 1″ and 2″ sizes and a variety of pre assembled styles.  Espeically popular is the Red HPH 1″ j hook with a multi clip or “bat wing” attached.  These clips will clip on to pencil rod, grid wire and 1/4-20 all thread and stay put.  The built in closure keeps the cable in place and can be reopened to add more cable.  The Red HPH j hook cable supports are UL listed, TIA compliant and approved for use in air handling spaces.  The standard HPH hook in red is a good choice for running the wall.  You can mount them with any number of screws depending on the wall.  The mounting hole in the hook will accept up to 1/4″ standard hardware.  For concrete walls, you can use nailin anchor, blue cones, Tapcon or if you have a Hilti or Ramset tool, you can shoot them up with a pin.  I would go with a 1″ pin with a washer.  If you are mounting direct to the ceiling, the j hooks can be assembled to an angle bracket and the screw or fastener of your choice.

While red j hooks may not be a requirement, they will not only keep you cable separate but will make your install stand out from the others.  Some low voltage contractors who are running multiple systems will utilize the same support rod or wire and split the systems out by color.  Maybe using the blue HPH j hooks for voice and data, a white HPH j hook for sound masking or other applications and then adding the Red HPH j hook for alarm work.

The HPH series of j hooks offers the best fit and finish in the industry and continue to grow in popularity.  If you would like a sample of the Red HPH j-hooks, click here and fill out our sample request form.


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From time to time we have our customers request white j hooks.  While we don’t we don’t offer a white j hook per se, we do handle the HPH series of j hooks that are for the most part white.  While you can see the metal backbone of the j hook, they are white for the most part.  If your customer is asking for a white j hook because they want a nice clean finished look in their exposed application, the HPH series of j hooks may fit the bill.  They are available in 1″, 2″, 3″ and 4″ sizes and are offered with a variety of attachements pre assembled to speed your install.  The HPH white j hooks are UL listed, TIA compliant and have a built in retaining latch.  A key feature of the HPH hooks is that they are ready available.  If you have tried shopping for white j hooks, you were likely as shocked by the lead time as the price!  You can find more info here on our ecommerce site.  Would you like a sample?  Click here and fill out our sample request form.

https://www.constructionfastening.net/HPH_High_Performance_Hybrid_J_Hooks_For_Data_Cabling_s/192.htm


Construction Fastening Systems, Inc.

Specialty tools & fasteners for the trades.
952.230.7725Toll Free 1.877.212.2377

cfsdelivers.com

contact@cfsdelivers.com

Serving the entire U.S.

Based In Twin Cities, MN



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