Step-by-Step Instructions for Composite Staples

nailers, but the company has models that fit both coil framing nailers and stick framing nailers.

How well do composite fasteners hold?

I performed strength tests on three fasteners: composite nails, common nails, and scrails (11/2" long). In the test, I used two fasteners to attach an overhanging board that was 9" long, added a screw to the end, and pulled down using a hanging digital scale. To my surprise, the composite nails had the strongest hold, even with some splitting. One drawback I observed is that they fail without slipping or bending first. The metal fasteners slip/bend first (but at about half the applied weight of the composite breaking strength), but the joint has still failed at that point.

Is the extra cost of composite fasteners worth it?

If the primary goal is to reduce a shop’s waste footprint, then the answer is 100% yes. Looking purely at dollars and cents, the per-piece cost of the nontraditional fasteners is higher, but the cost of application per scenic unit ends up not being a lot more than with traditional fasteners. We found that in building a 4'x12' flat (no doors or windows), composite staples combined with scrails increased the cost of the flat by $1.14, and the combination of composite staples and composite nails increased the cost by 90 cents. That cost is roughly one-tenth of the cost of a single stick of 1x4 (currently over $11). With three

Notes on the Use of Scrails

sticks of 1x4 needed to make a 4'x12' flat, I can recycle over $30 worth of lumber off of a disassembled flat. This more than justifies the cost of the fasteners and tools needed to install them.

Bottom line

Introducing new fasteners at the University of Memphis has increased our ability to recycle many materials and ultimately had a positive impact on our construction budget. We also have seen other benefits. When lumber gets reused, metal fastener fragments can become projectiles, and if you use a Saw Stop table saw, that metal can also trigger the safety mechanism, increasing down time and adding repair costs. Composite fasteners reduce or eliminate those risks. Finally, composite fasteners benefit anyone building scenery for outdoor theatre as they never rust. n

Materials and Costs

Michael O’Nele has served as the technical director for the University of Memphis Department

He also has worked as technical director or sound designer