Fast-track fastening

Want to improve fastening speed by as much as 300 percent? Consider gas-powered tools for shooting pins.

Fastening to concrete, block, or steel can be difficult, expensive and time consuming. “That’s why gas-powered fastening systems have gained a strong foothold in the commercial drywall trade,” says Jim Walz, market manager for drywall systems at ITW Ramset/Red Head, which makes the TrakFast fastening system.

“For the past ten years, drywall contractors have found that using TrakFast increases productivity by saving on labor costs, the biggest variable of any project.

“As other trades have watched how quickly drywall contractors are able to finish jobs, they too have looked at ways of using the TrakFast system in their jobs,” he says. Today, furring strip installers to concrete and block, exterior lathers, and foundation waterproofing contractors have also found ways to integrate the TrakFast system into their work.

Gas vs. powder-actuated tools
It takes a tremendous amount of force to drive a fastener into concrete or steel. Powder-actuated tools will shoot a pin into the work surface, using a gunpowder load. “Gas powered tools use a fuel cell and a battery to drive what is actually an internal combustion engine. The energy produced by the fuel ignition drives the piston assembly into the fastener, and the fastener into the work surface,” says Walz.

Powder-actuated tools should be cleaned every week. “Because the fuel burns completely, TrakFast tools do not need cleaning for 50,000 to 60,000 shots,” he says.

Change how you work
“The tool has allowed work crews to rethink how they do their jobs,” Walz says. “Before, drywall crews would lay out one room at a time and shoot that down before moving on. Now, they choose to layout and shoot many rooms; sometimes a whole floor.

“Because the tool is easy to use and requires no licensing, foreman are comfortable letting apprentices use the tool. That allows skilled personnel to do work that requires more experience,” he adds.

Built for drywall contractors; 
use expands to other trades
The original gas-powered TrakFast tool was designed for fastening drywall track to concrete, block or steel using 1/2"- and 3/4"-long fasteners. In 1997, the tool was changed so it could fasten deep-leg channels.

“Contractors were complaining the tool could not reach down into deep-leg track that was becoming more prevalent on jobsites. We redesigned the tool so that it could be used in the narrow 1 5/8" by 2" high track,” says Walz.

“We also changed the tool’s magazine to accept 1 1/2"-long fasteners,” Walz points out. “This allowed those trades to use the TrakFast system on their jobs.”

Contractors who fasten furring strips to concrete or block walls also saw the tool’s potential, which helped lead in the development of longer 1 1/4" and 1 1/2" fasteners. “The operator can install up to five pins with the unit in the same time it takes a powder-actuated tool user to install two,” he says.

With an accessory, the tool can attach expanded metal lath to concrete or block walls. Here, a round adapter attaches to the nose of the tool so metal washers can be inserted into the adapter. When the user engages the tool against the work surface and pulls the trigger, the fastener penetrates and pinches the washer and the lath to the concrete or block creating a solid, tight attachment to the substrate.

The most recent trade to adopt this fastening system is foundation waterproofing. Two Canadian companies, Cosella Dorken Products Inc. and Big-O Inc., market waterproof barriers for foundations. They recommend the gas-powered TrakFast tool, fasteners, and a special nosepiece to attach their material to foundation walls.

Published in the September/October 2001 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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