Skip to content

Deck Fastening System Comparison

CAMO has systems to help you build a better deck—but what’s the best one for your job?

You’re a hard worker, but that doesn’t mean you’d choose to work harder than you have to. Instead, you’re likely to pick up fasteners and tools to help you get the job done quickly so you can tackle even more projects.

At CAMO, we recognize your work ethic and have created innovative deck fastening systems to make your work even smarter, faster, easier, and better. But which deck fastening system is the best for you? Let’s compare CAMO’s ClipDRIVE®, DRIVE, and MARKSMAN Systems to see which suits your job.

 

CAMO ClipDRIVE™ STAND-UP DECK CLIP FASTENING SYSTEM

Set Rows of Clips

Lock boards in place with Lever

Fasten Clips with ClipDRIVE

If installing grooved decking is your forte, the CAMO ClipDRIVE stand-up deck clip fastening system is a must-have to maximize productivity. The system includes CAMO Universal Deck Clips that work with any grooved deck board and the one-of-a-kind ClipDRIVE tool.

CAMO Universal Deck Clips are available in EDGE® Clips for 90° deck patterns, EDGEX® Clips for any deck pattern, and EDGEXMETAL® Clips for installations on steel framing. They are one-pass fasteners, which means you place them on the joist or in the board’s groove and they stay put without partial installation. That way, you can set multiple rows of boards, lock them in place with the CAMO LEVER® tool, and fasten a field at one time—a significant time-savings.

While you can fasten clips with the included NEVER-MISS™ Guide, you can speed up your installation even more by using the ClipDRIVE, which was exclusively designed for CAMO Universal Deck Clips. This innovative tool is simple to assemble, attaches to your drill, and is the perfect fit for your whole crew thanks to its height-adjustable handle. With its lightweight design and weighted nose, you can easily swing the ClipDRIVE from joist to joist, quickly targeting screw heads, while the no-mar nose protects the board from rings or scuffs. ClipDRIVE also reduces arm fatigue since there’s a short distance to compress the drill while fastening. Long story short, if you want to have the best experience fastening grooved decking, ClipDRIVE is the answer.

 

CAMO DRIVE™ STAND-UP 3-IN-1 FASTENING SYSTEM

edge fasten with drive

Face fasten with DRIVE

Fasten clips with Drive

If your crew takes on various decking projects, the award-winning DRIVE stand-up 3-in-1 fastening system is right for you. This affordable system delivers reliable speed and comfort on the job as you install better-performing CAMO Collated Edge Screws, Collated Face Screws, or CAMO Universal Deck Clips in no time.

DRIVE is easy to set up: install the bit and nose piece for the type of fastener you’re using, attach your drill, and load the screws in the tool or place the clips in the boards. Then, you’re ready to quickly secure the boards with CAMO’s premium fasteners.

To achieve a fastener-free surface on pressure treated, cedar, redwood, uncapped composite, and PVC deck boards that won’t crack or splinter, use DRIVE with CAMO Collated Edge Screws driven into the edge of the board. If you prefer a face-fastened deck, secure boards with the innovative Collated Face Screws that are available in two varieties for pressure treated and composite decking. The pressure treated screws feature a rake tip to auger wood out of the board to reduce splitting and cracking, while the composite screws have a fast-starting slash point to eliminate board mushrooming. For any screw install, keep in mind that the DRIVE tool leaves no spacing between boards, so you may need secondary spacers to follow the board manufacturer’s guidelines. Finally, if you’re installing grooved decking, use DRIVE to speed up fastening CAMO Universal Deck Clips. That’s a triple-threat tool worthy of placement in any tool crib.

 

CAMO MARKSMAN HIDDEN EDGE SCREW FASTENING SYSTEM

bend & lock boards with Lever

place marksman tool

drive edge screws through the guides

For a craftsman’s experience installing decking that can still be completed in a few hours, pick up the CAMO MARKSMAN Hidden Edge Screw Fastening System. This hand-driven system of MARKSMAN tools and Edge screws is an economical and perfect way to achieve a fastener-free surface that won’t split, crack, or splinter on any square deck board.

The heavy-duty MARKSMAN tools clamp to the deck board and create spacing between boards. They feature screw channels that direct the Edge screws into the board’s edge, creating a strong v-lock connection into the joist while leaving a hidden fastener finish. The best part? There’s no pre-drilling required for pressure treated, cedar, redwood, PVC, and uncapped composite boards as the Edge screw scrapes and penetrates the board with light pressure. However, given the density of capped composites and hardwoods, we recommend pre-drilling these boards, which is as easy as running the pre-drill bit through the screw channel before dropping in the Edge screws.

There’s a MARKSMAN Tool to fit and space any board. The MARKSMAN Pro® is for composite, PVC, capped composite, cedar, redwood, hardwood, and KDAT deck boards that require 3/16 in. spacing. Use the MARKSMAN Pro®-X1 to achieve 1/16 in. spacing with pressure treated deck boards. The MARKSMAN Pro®-NB creates 3/16 in. spacing for narrow composite, PVC, capped composite, cedar, redwood, hardwood, and KDAT deck boards. Finally, the MARKSMAN Edge single-shot tool attaches to your drill and leaves no space between pressure treated deck boards.

To sum it up, the MARKSMAN System has an affordable price point, is easy to use, creates strong connections, and results in a beautiful fastener-free and long-lasting surface, great for any deck builder.

So when it comes to picking the right system for your crew, it all comes down to function. But no matter what CAMO deck fastening system you choose, you’ll experience huge time-savings and excellent performance, which is why it’s the better way to build a deck. 

Buckle Up: The Top Five Car Mounts to Keep You Rolling

Safety is a concern in every aspect of our lives, and when it comes to designing new products for everyday use, it becomes a top priority. Whether you’re commuting to work, heading to a job site, or embarking on a road trip, ensuring your safety on the road is essential. We understand the importance of staying connected while on the move, and that’s why we’ve curated a list of the top 5 car mounts that not only keep you connected but also adhere to hands-free laws, ensuring your safety is never compromised.

1. iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic Dashboard Car Mount Holder:

The iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic Dashboard Car Mount Holder tops our list for its sleek design and powerful magnetic hold. This mount attaches securely to your dashboard, providing a stable and easily accessible location for your device. The magnetic feature ensures quick and effortless attachment, allowing you to focus on the road while staying connected.

2. iOttie iTap 2 Air Vent Car Mount Holder:

For those who prefer a vent-mounted option, the iOttie iTap 2 Air Vent Car Mount Holder is an excellent choice. Its compact design doesn’t obstruct your view, and the adjustable cradle allows for a customized viewing angle. The air vent placement ensures your device stays cool during long drives, and the secure grip keeps your phone in place, even on bumpy roads.

3. iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic CD Slot Car Mount Holder:

If your car has a CD slot that rarely sees any action, repurpose it with the iOttie iTap 2 Magnetic CD Slot Car Mount Holder. This mount seamlessly integrates into your car’s CD player slot, providing a stable base for your device. The magnetic attachment ensures a quick and secure connection, making it easy to mount and dismount your phone with a single hand.

4. Scosche MAGDMB MagicMount Magnetic Car Phone Holder Mount:

The Scosche MAGDMB MagicMount Magnetic Car Phone Holder Mount stands out for its versatility and strong magnetic grip. With its adjustable base, this mount can be attached to various surfaces in your car, offering flexibility in placement. The powerful neodymium magnets ensure your device stays in place, even on rough terrains, providing a worry-free driving experience.

5. Kenu Airframe Pro | Universal Vent Car Phone Mount Holder:

Compact and efficient, the Kenu Airframe Pro is a universal vent car phone mount holder that provides a secure grip on your device. Its sleek design blends seamlessly with your car’s interior, and the expandable grip accommodates a wide range of smartphones. The adjustable arms make it easy to insert and retrieve your device with one hand, ensuring a hassle-free and safe driving experience.

In a world where staying connected is essential, prioritizing safety on the road is equally crucial. These top 5 car mounts have been carefully selected to help you stay connected safely while adhering to hands-free laws. Whether you prefer a dashboard, air vent, CD slot, or versatile mount, these options cater to diverse preferences, ensuring that your focus remains on the road ahead. Drive safely, stay connected, and make your journey enjoyable with these reliable car mounts.

An Overview of Structural Screws

There are a lot of structural screws on the market—see how CAMO’s structural screw line can help you build better.

As its name suggests, a structural screw is a fastener used in building an exterior or interior structure. CAMO structural screws are rigorously tested and are capable of doing some pretty heavy lifting and making critical connections in everything from house framing to deck building.

While there have been fastening solutions for these connections before, like lag screws and nails, innovation has led to various structural screw lines on the market that are code-compliant, perform well, and offer some more features and benefits than fasteners of the past. Let’s look at CAMO® structural screws to get a sense of what these screws can offer.

A Solution for Every Structure

Whether you’re working on an interior or exterior project, you can use a fastener from the full line of CAMO structural screws to get the job done. The line includes Framing screws, Multi-Purpose screws, Multi-Ply + Ledger screws, and Truss screws:

  • Framing Screws are specifically designed and load-rated for interior and exterior framing applications and replace 8d, 10d, and 16d nails. They offer better holding power and stronger connections in wood-to-wood framing or deck blocking applications.
  • Multi-Purpose Screws are a reliable option for various general construction projects and replace lag screws in deck posts, beams, and handrails. They are available in flat head and hex head and in 1/4″ and 5/16″ diameters for you to conquer any project.
  • Multi-Ply + Ledger Screws hold strong and finish flush in multi-ply wood headers and beams, interior and exterior ledger boards, and general construction applications. They replace lag screws in general construction and traditional nailing patterns that don’t always draw the wood together.
  • Truss Screws secure the truss and rafters to the top plate, stud to the top plate, and, thanks to their exterior coating, deck joists to beams. They are the ideal replacement for hurricane ties in general construction and decking applications. They are also easy to fasten at the right angle with the hands-free truss guide included in every pail.

Tested and Code-Compliant

Our complete line of CAMO structural screws has been independently tested, audited, and certified as IBC and IRC code-compliant by DrJ Engineering, an accredited certification body. Our screws have received technical evaluation reports (TER) from DrJ certifying code compliance for general screw properties and specific structural applications. They also feature our proprietary PROTECH™ Ultra 4 coating system that has been tested to meet or exceed ASTM G198, withstanding corrosion 2X longer than the industry standard—the only coating on the market to do so. Our hex head screws are also available in the standard hot-dip galvanized coating, which is excellent for coastal applications.

Intentionally Designed for Easy Use

Each type of CAMO structural screw was engineered to start fast, drive smooth, and hold strong with no pre-drilling required, saving you time on the job. They are sleek in their design compared to a beefy lag screw and are heat-treated to add strength. They all feature sharp points that start fast, a Type 17 slash point that reduces splitting, and an aggressive thread TPI and angle for increased holding power. Our Truss screw is fully threaded from head to tip for maximum holding power, while the rest of the screws feature a straight knurl that reduces torque for easy driving in their applications.

Speaking of easy driving, all you need to install CAMO structural screws is your cordless drill and the included driver bit. Be sure to set the drill to the low speed and turn up the torque to the highest setting to let the screw do the work, and you’ll be done before you know it.

So before you pick up another box of lag screws or nails for your next framing or structural project, consider investing in high-performing, code-compliant structural screws to help you build better.

CAMO Structural Fastener Coatings and Standards

When it comes to fasteners, what’s on the outside matters. Learn about coatings and fastener standards so you can use the best for your project.

Safety should be top of mind when you’re building a deck. After all, these are places where families will gather for years to come, so it is crucial to build with the best fastener for the job that will stand against the test of time.

Traditionally for projects like deck substructures, that meant using a big hot-dip galvanized lag screw—end of story. However, innovation has come a long way, and now there are an array of structural screws on the market to replace traditional lags with excellent performance and premium coatings to resist corrosion.

There are a few standards in place to safeguard and ensure the quality of these structural screws: AC257 approval and the ASTM G198 standard.

AC257 Approval: The Industry Standard

It’s no secret that pressure treated lumber is corrosive—the treatment that protects the lumber from moisture, rot, and insects can also cause wear and corrosion on your fasteners if you’re not using the right one. As a result, structural fasteners need to meet AC257 for use in pressure treated lumber, which requires fasteners to either be hot-dip galvanized or have a coating that is as good as or better than hot-dip galvanized.

Why is hot-dip galvanizing the standard? This code-approved coating is tested to meet ASTM A153, Class D, which regulates that the coating is applied thickly and uniformly. While the coating will wear over time, it will still offer excellent and comprehensive protection against corrosion for the lifetime of the exterior application. Hot-dip galvanized fasteners are commonly used for structural projects that utilize larger screws with a greater surface area coming into contact with more wood and for coastal or applications near water, as the coating can withstand direct exposure to water for decades.

ASTM G198 Standard: Above and Beyond

While hot-dip galvanized coatings are proven and reliable, the one potential drawback to using them is that they feature a hex head instead of a recessed Torx™ or star drive that many builders prefer. Some fastener brands, like CAMO®, saw this as an opportunity to innovate and bring a new solution to market, like our Structural Screws that feature our proprietary PROTECH™ Ultra 4 coating.

PROTECH Ultra 4 gained AC257 Approval, the industry standard, but we pushed our fasteners above and beyond, testing to ASTM G198. This standard tests 2X longer and replicates real-world weather tendencies the fasteners will face to see how they hold up while in contact with treated lumber. CAMO has the only coating on the market tested to ASTM G198—it was worth going the extra mile so you can sleep better knowing your structural connections will last thanks to the four layers of corrosion-fighting, UV-resisting, performance-enhancing coating.

Before you tackle your next deck project, remember that people will be gathering and doing life on their decks, and rusted, corroded fasteners have no role in that—especially in the structural connections. Do your research and use fasteners with the proper coating to resist corrosion so that you have peace of mind your job will stand against the test of time and keep families safe.