Abstract: A star shaped fastener having at least three fins radiating from a central core with the fin-included angle in a five finned embodiment being between 72 to 98 degrees which configuration reduces the fabricated material by 50% and increases the surface area by 15%-85% compared to a common round nail of equal radius.

Abstract: A wire straightener and multiple preform rollers prepare a continuous length wire for further forming by multiple form rollers having multiple spaced apart notches formed in an annular edge of the rollers. Some notches skip a section of the wire to be headed, and other notches serve to form barbs in the wire. In a first embodiment, after the formed wire is fed to a gripper housing where the wire is cut to a predetermined length, the skipped section is punched to create the fastener head. In a second embodiment, the formed wire is cut and fed to a rotary heading machine.

Abstract: A plurality of fasteners each having an enlarged head with a slot or a passageway there through to accommodate and cage the shank of another like fastener so that the plurality of fasteners form a self-contained collated strip. Preferably the fastener has at least three spaced vertical cups and edges about a central core with a pair of adjacent edges of one fastener caged in the complimentary slot of the adjacent-like fastener. A notch is provided on such pair of edges to releasably lock the fasteners together in the strip.

Abstract: A star shaped fastener having at least five spaced vertical cups and edges about a central core with the included angle being 90.degree. reducing the fabricated material by 50% and increasing the surface area by 15% compared to a common round nail of equal radius. The holding power is significantly enhanced by compression laterally and vertically into cups, shoulders therein and/or a taper of less than 14.degree..