
Collated nails are assembled in a standard order, usually in strips, to be used with pneumatic nailers. The material used to hold the nail strips together is called the collation, and it can be made of paper, plastic or wire. Paper collated nails are clean and have a tip coating, which means better holding strength. Plastic collated nails are cheap, but can leave a mess when they break apart. Wire collated nails are also available.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Assembled in a standard order |
| Use | For pneumatic nailers |
| Material | Paper, plastic, wire |
| Advantages | Easier to insert into pneumatic nailers, less mess, more resistant to humidity and precipitation |
| Disadvantages | More expensive, inferior nails can cause more jams and premature wear and tear, can be brittle in cold conditions |
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What You'll Learn
- Collated nails are assembled in a standard order and are designed to be easily inserted into pneumatic nailers
- Paper collated nails must be clean to collate them with paper
- Plastic collated nails are cheap to purchase, but can leave a mess when they break apart
- Wire collated nails are also available
- Collated nails with a wider band are driven into the surface along with the nail, leaving a smoother surface

Collated nails are assembled in a standard order and are designed to be easily inserted into pneumatic nailers
Collated nails are assembled in a standard order, usually in strips, and are designed to be easily inserted into pneumatic nailers. The term 'collated' means 'assembled in a standard order', and collated nails are held together by paper, plastic or wire. Paper collated nails must be clean to collate them with paper, and a clean nail and tip coating mean better holding strength. Manufacturers often add a proprietary polymer tip coating to the cleaned nail for easier penetration.
Plastic collated nails are cheap to purchase because they are simple to manufacture and plastic is a common product. They are also resistant to humidity and precipitation, unlike paper collated nails, which tend to fall apart in such conditions. However, plastic collated nails can leave behind a big mess when they break apart, and they can become brittle in cold conditions.
Wire collated nails are also available, and for the most part, all paper, plastic or wire collated nails will fit the same tools. When framing, using the right type of framing nails is just as important as choosing the right type of wood.
The wider band on some collated nails sits higher on the nail and eliminates many of the issues that the plastic strip offers. The band tends to be driven into the surface along with the nail, so it does not stick out from the head, leaving a smoother surface.
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Paper collated nails must be clean to collate them with paper
Collated nails are "nail assembled in strips", with the term "collated" meaning "assembled in a standard order". Paper collated nails are held together by paper, plastic collated nails are held together by plastic, and wire collated nails are held together by wire. Paper collated nails must be clean to collate them with paper. This is because a clean nail and a tip coating mean better holding strength. If there is oil on the nail, it will lessen its holding power. Many manufacturers add a proprietary polymer tip coating to the cleaned nail for easier penetration.
Paper collated nails are simple to manufacture and cheap to purchase, but they are not resistant to humidity and precipitation. They tend to fall apart in such conditions. Plastic collated nails are resistant to humidity and precipitation, but when they break apart, they leave behind a big mess that needs to be cleaned up. They also tend to become quite brittle in cold conditions.
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Plastic collated nails are cheap to purchase, but can leave a mess when they break apart
Collated nails are "assembled in a standard order" or "nail assembled in strips". These strips hold a certain number of nails and are designed to be easily inserted into pneumatic nailers. The material used to hold the nail strips together is called the collation, and it can be made of paper, plastic or wire.
A wider band that sits higher on the nail can eliminate many of the issues that the plastic strip offers. The band tends to be driven into the surface along with the nail, so it does not stick out from the head, leaving a smoother surface. It also eliminates the messy cleanup as common with the plastic strip. However, this type of collated nail is more expensive.
Paper collated nails must be clean to collate them with paper. A clean nail and a tip coating mean better holding strength because there’s no oil on the nail to lessen its holding power and the heat generated by driving the nail helps bond the polymer coating to the wood.
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Wire collated nails are also available
Collated nails are assembled in a standard order, with the nails held together in strips. The strips are designed to be easily inserted into pneumatic nailers. The material used to hold the nail strips together is called the collation, and it can be made of paper, plastic or wire. Paper collated nails must be clean to collate them with paper, and a clean nail and tip coating mean better holding strength. Plastic collated nails are cheap to purchase, but they can leave a big mess that needs to be cleaned up. Wire collated nails are also available and, like the other types, they will fit the same tools.
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Collated nails with a wider band are driven into the surface along with the nail, leaving a smoother surface
Collated nails are assembled in a standard order, with the nails arranged in strips. This makes them easy to insert into pneumatic nailers. Collated nails are held together by paper, plastic or wire. Paper collated nails must be clean to collate them with paper, and a clean nail and tip coating mean better holding strength.
Plastic collated nails are popular because they are cheap to manufacture and plastic is a common product. However, they can be messy to clean up and become brittle in cold conditions.
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Frequently asked questions
Collated nails are assembled in a standard order, usually in strips, to be used in pneumatic nailers.
Collated nails are held together by paper, plastic or wire.
Plastic collated nails are cheap to purchase and resistant to humidity and precipitation.
Plastic collated nails can leave a mess when they break apart and can become brittle in cold conditions.











































