The SPECIES OF WOOD and MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED NAIL LENGTHS tables below show the density of common woods and the recommended RAPTOR® nail lengths for woodworking applications. This information is meant to be a guide and not a guarantee of performance. Each particular application should be tested for suitability for that application.

Drivability of RAPTOR® fasteners depends on the density and hardness of the substrate and the shape of the fastener (length/diameter). Shorter, thicker nails will drive into harder substrates easier than long, thin nails. Longer nails are limited to soft wood applications. Maximum holding is achieved with 3/8” penetration into the substrate. Choose the shortest nail possible for best drivability. Utilize the tables below to assist in determining if RAPTOR®nails of a given length will penetrate particular woods.

RAPTOR® staples will drive into harder substrates if pneumatic tools are used rather than manual tools; however RAPTOR® staples may not drive in very dense woods such as hickory and ash. Woods with very dense latewood growth rings do not give good performance with RAPTOR® products.

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Table 1: Wood Densities by Species

The following lists the density of some woods. The Drivability of RAPTOR® fasteners depends on the density and hardness of the substrate and the shape of the fastener (length/diameter). Shorter thicker nails will drive into harder substrates easier than long, thin nails. RAPTOR®staples will drive into harder substrates if pneumatic tools are used rather than manual tools.

While some customers are using shorter staples and brads in oak and maple (Group l), longer nails are limited to soft wood applications (Group lll & lV). Woods with very dense latewood growth rings do not give good performance with RAPTOR® products.

 

Species Of Wood

Relative Density *→
(Specific Gravity)

Group I
Ash, Commercial White
0.62
Beech
0.68
Birch, Sweet & Yellow
0.66
Hickory & Pecan
0.75
Maple, Black & Sugar
0.66
Oak, Red & White
0.67

Group II
Douglas Fir-Larch
0.51
Southern Pine
0.55
Sweetgum & Tupelo
0.54
Virginia Pine-Pond Pine
0.54

Group III
California Redwood.
0.42
Douglas Fir, South.
0.48
Eastern Hemlock.
0.43
Eastern Hemlock-Tamarack.
0.45
Eastern Softwoods.
0.42
Eastern Spruce.
0.43
Hem-Fir.
0.42
Lodgepole Pine.
0.44
Mountain Hemlock.
0.47
Mountain Hemlock-Hem Fir.
0.44
Northern Aspen.
0.42
Northern Pine.
0.46
Ponderosa Pine.
0.49
Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine.
0.42
Red-Pine.
0.42
Sitka Spruce0.
0.43
Southern Cypress.
0.48
Spruce-Pine-Fir.
0.42
Western Hemlock.
0.48
Yellow Poplar.
0.46

Group IV
Aspen
0.40
Balsam Fir
0.38
Black Cottonwood
0.33
California Redwood, Open Grain
0.37
Coast Sitka Spruce
0.39
Coast Species
0.39
Cottonwood, Eastern
0.41
Eastern White Pine
0.38
Eastern Woods
0.38
Engelmann Spruce-Alpine Fir
0.36
Idaho White Pine
0.40
Northern Species
0.35
Northern White Cedar
0.31
West Coast Woods
0.35
Western Cedars
0.35
Western White Pine
0.40
White Woods (Western)
0.35

Table 2: WOOD SPECIES and MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED NAIL LENGTHS

For Woodworking Applications

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 DENSITY18Ga PINS/BRADS16Ga PINS15Ga FINISH NAILS
SPECIES(103kg/m3)(lb/ft3)7/16"5/8"3/4"1"7/16"5/8"3/4"1/2"5/8"3/4"1"1-1/4"1-1/2"
Ponderosa Pine 0.47 29 • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Poplar 0.51 32 • • •   • • • • • • • • •
Douglas Fir 0.51 32 • • •   • • • • • • • • •
Cellular PVC 0.55 34 • • •   • • • • • • • • •
Loblolly Pine 0.57 35 • • •   • • • • • • • • •
Okoume Marine Grade Plywood 0.57 35 • • •   • • • • • • • • •
Black Cherry 0.60 37 • • •   • • • • • • • •  
Maple-Soft 0.61 38 • • •   • • • • • •   •  
LDF 0.61 38 • • •   • • • • • •   •  
Southern Yellow Pin 0.65 41 • • •   • • • • • •   •  
Mahogany 0.65 41 •   •   • • • • • •   •  
Teak 0.65 41 • •     • • • • • •      
Oak-Red (Southern) 0.70 43 •       • •   • • •      
White Ash 0.71 44 •       • •   • • •      
Maple-Hard 0.70 44 •       •     • •        
Oak-Red (Northern) 0.74 46 •       •     • •        
Pecan 0.74 46 •       •     • •        
MDF 0.75 48 •       •     • •        
Oak-White 0.80 50 •       •     • •        
Hickory 0.83 52 Will not drive into Hickory

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Results may vary from above due to wood variations, season/dryness and operator technique.
Choosing the Right Nail Length: Maximum holding is achieved with 3/8" penetration into the substrate.
Driveability decreases as the length of the nail increases; Holding power stays the same. Choose the shortest nail possible.
- Data source: The Wood Database