Coil Nail Types For Timber Decking

[Mike Heap]

I have been receiving conflicting advise re whether to use galvanised nails or stainless steel nails for my deck. Decking is 19mm hardwood going into f17 hardwood joists. Nail gun is a Hitachi nv 65AF3 (hired) with a hired compressor. Used the compressor with a fraiming gun to do deck frame. Worked a treat.
Deck joins our pool so I thought I'd use stainless steel screw shank nails. I like the appearance and having spent about $5000 on materials I thought the additional cost was worth it. I have now heard stories that the s/s nails bend easily and also dont go all the way in resulting in having to be finished by hand. I would have thought that problem was due to the nail gun / compressor. Would like to hear from anybody who has had experience with using s/s nails in a hardwood environment.

[OBBob]

Hi Mike ... I don't know the answer I'm afraid, however if the gun takes the Senco style nails then Bunnings sell small packs of a few hundered of the various types, which don't cost much. So you could try them out. Just a thought.