When Should I Choose Screws to Fasten Pallets?

Choosing a pallet fastener can be a delicate balancing act. Ideally, you want to land somewhere between a lower price-per-pallet and a fit secure enough to safely do the job.

Let's first look at nails. They're commonplace and often the fastener of choice. Why? Well, nails tend to flex with the wood and help maintain strength. Nails are usually cheaper. But, nails can also fail - especially if a lot of vertical force is expected on the load. We're talking product loss or handler injury. Yikes. So... are screws better? Sometimes, yes.

A case can be made for faster or cheaper pallet fasteners. When precision matters, screws provide the best drive accuracy.

​3 Reasons for Choosing Screws over Nails
Sometimes a nail just isn't the right fastener for connecting pallet components. This is especially true when the build application requires added grip or the pallet will be reused. That's because the right fastener can actually extend the life of a pallet.

A screw is the better pallet fastener when you need:
  

1. Better Connection Quality
   Most handbuilt pallets are nailed using pneumatic nail guns. These time-saving tools use a set air charge to fire nails into the lumber. While depth is generally good, a screw can be driven in much more skillfully for a higher-quality connection.
    
2. Greater Withdrawal Strength
   While nails and screws are available in the same length, a construction screw will have larger threads for a better grip. Screw heads are often larger than a nailhead making them less likely to get pulled through the board. Nails can work too but skip common nails in favor of helical or ring shank for better withdrawal strength.
    
3. Increased Accuracy
   Plain and simple, screws can be driven with better accuracy. But, precision comes at the price of slower production. Screw guns will expedite the build over a cordless drill and driver bit. Just make sure you first understand load conditions before putting in the time. Screws can be less effective and even break if significant horizontal shifting is expected.

The wrong fastener can be a costly mistake. 
Over-engineer your pallet with the wrong fastener and your price per pallet needlessly goes up. On the other hand, cheap fasteners or fast-tracked pallets can risk injury or damage loads. If you're unsure about choosing a pallet fastener, speak with a pallet professional to identify priorities and find that perfect balance.

Do you need help deciding on a pallet fastener? Ask us in the comments below.

Post by: Jonathan Haynes, Regional Sales Manager