Abstract: A fastener installation tool and related method are provided for installing fasteners in boards. The tool can include a feed mechanism that automatically and sequentially feeds collated fasteners to a nose assembly. The nose assembly can include a guide having an alignment projection extending downwardly from the guide, and configured to engage a board corner and/or side surface, so as to align an angled bore through which fasteners are guided with the board corner and or side surface. The nose assembly can include a magnetic element located adjacent a path on which the collated fasteners are advanced. The magnetic element can exert a magnetic force on an individual fastener, aligning it for precise entry into the angled bore. The nose assembly can include a guide pocket to positively constrain a fastener as it rotates to ensure a desired advancement trajectory. A related method of installation is provided.

Abstract: A fastener including a chisel point that pre-bores a hole in a work piece to prevent damage to the work piece as the fastener advances. The fastener can include a head, a shaft and a chisel brake point formed at an end of the shaft. The chisel brake point can include first and second opposing inclined surfaces disposed at an angle of about 80° to about 150° relative to one another. A thread can begin adjacent the chisel brake point and form an extension of an inclined surface and/or a chisel edge. The chisel brake point can scrape material from a work piece while pre-boring a hole. The material can be transferred to the thread, and subsequently fed up the thread, out of the pre-bored hole. The chisel brake point can also selectively retard advancement of the fastener into the work piece. Methods of installing the fastener also are provided.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool and related method are provided for installing fasteners in boards, where the boards are installed immediately adjacent one another, without a gap established therebetween. The tool can include an alignment projection that projects a preselected distance downwardly from a lower surface of the tool. The alignment projection can be disposed between opposing corners of first and second boards to install a fastener without establishing a gap between the boards. This construction can be suitable for installing boards constructed from materials that shrink over time, such as wet, treated lumber or other materials, and even non-shrinkable boards where tighter spacing is desired. A related method of installation is provided.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool including a guide that guides a fastener into a side of a work piece at an angle, while optionally restraining the fastener from wobbling due to rotation, even upon initial entry into the work piece. The guide can define an angled bore including a fastener entrance opening and a fastener exit opening which is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the work piece. The guide can include a material ejection port between the openings, through which material bored from the work piece can be evacuated from the angled bore to prevent binding of the material with the fastener. The tool can include a clamp assembly that clamps opposing sides of the work piece to precisely align and steadily hold the angled bore as a fastener is being installed in a side surface. Related methods of using the tool to install fasteners also are provided.

Abstract: A fastener including a chisel point that pre-bores a hole in a work piece to prevent damage to the work piece as the fastener advances. The fastener can include a head, a shaft and a chisel brake point formed at an end of the shaft. The chisel brake point can include first and second opposing inclined surfaces disposed at an angle of about 80° to about 150° relative to one another. A thread can begin adjacent the chisel brake point and form an extension of an inclined surface and/or a chisel edge. The chisel brake point can scrape material from a work piece while pre-boring a hole. The material can be transferred to the thread, and subsequently fed up the thread, out of the pre-bored hole. The chisel brake point can also selectively retard advancement of the fastener into the work piece. Methods of installing the fastener also are provided.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool including a guide that guides a fastener into a side of a work piece at an angle, while optionally restraining the fastener from wobbling due to rotation, even upon initial entry into the work piece. The guide can define an angled bore including a fastener entrance opening and a fastener exit opening which is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the work piece. The guide can include a material ejection port between the openings, through which material bored from the work piece can be evacuated from the angled bore to prevent binding of the material with the fastener. The tool can include a clamp assembly that clamps opposing sides of the work piece to precisely align and steadily hold the angled bore as a fastener is being installed in a side surface. Related methods of using the tool to install fasteners also are provided.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool including a guide that guides a fastener into a side of a work piece at an angle, while optionally restraining the fastener from wobbling due to rotation, even upon initial entry into the work piece. The guide can define an angled bore including a fastener entrance opening and a fastener exit opening which is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the work piece. The guide can include a material ejection port between the openings, through which material bored from the work piece can be evacuated from the angled bore to prevent binding of the material with the fastener. The tool can include a clamp assembly that clamps opposing sides of the work piece to precisely align and steadily hold the angled bore as a fastener is being installed in a side surface. Related methods of using the tool to install fasteners also are provided.

Abstract: A fastener including a chisel point that pre-bores a hole in a work piece to prevent damage to the work piece as the fastener advances. The fastener can include a head, a shaft and a chisel brake point formed at an end of the shaft. The chisel brake point can include first and second opposing inclined surfaces disposed at an angle of about 80° to about 150° relative to one another. A thread can begin adjacent the chisel brake point and form an extension of an inclined surface and/or a chisel edge. The chisel brake point can scrape material from a work piece while pre-boring a hole. The material can be transferred to the thread, and subsequently fed up the thread, out of the pre-bored hole. The chisel brake point can also selectively retard advancement of the fastener into the work piece. Methods of installing the fastener also are provided.

Abstract: A fastener including a chisel point that pre-bores a hole in a work piece to prevent damage to the work piece as the fastener advances. The fastener can include a head, a shaft and a chisel brake point formed at an end of the shaft. The chisel brake point can include first and second opposing inclined surfaces disposed at an angle of about 80° to about 150° relative to one another. A thread can begin adjacent the chisel brake point and form an extension of an inclined surface and/or a chisel edge. The chisel brake point can scrape material from a work piece while pre-boring a hole. The material can be transferred to the thread, and subsequently fed up the thread, out of the pre-bored hole. The chisel brake point can also selectively retard advancement of the fastener into the work piece. Methods of installing the fastener also are provided.

Abstract: A controlled force drive element, for use with a rotational power tool, including a spring loaded drive line that exerts a preselected force on a fastener engaged by a drive head as the drive head rotates and advances the fastener. The drive element includes a primary drive body including a chuck connector to join with a chuck of a tool, an optional secondary drive body, a tool bit and a biasing element. The secondary body and tool bit are reciprocally joined with the primary drive body. A biasing element is joined with the primary drive body and/or the tool bit, and configured to compress under a force as the drive head engages the fastener to allow the tool bit and the drive head to retract toward the primary drive body. The biasing element is disposed along the spring loaded drive line between the chuck connector and the drive head.

Abstract: A fastener including a head defining a hexalobular drive hole, a shaft, threads and a pointed end. The hexalobular drive hole can include points having an outermost portion, and the head can include an outer surface, where a thickness of about 0.01 inches to about 0.04 inches is defined between the outer surface and each respective point. The outer surface can be cylindrical, and can transition to a tapered portion that is joined with the shaft. The tapered portion can be frustoconical, angled and/or curvilinear. A related method of installation is provided for advancing the fastener into the side of a first board at an angle to fasten the first board to an underlying second board.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool and related method are provided for installing fasteners in boards, where the boards are installed immediately adjacent one another, without a gap established therebetween. The tool can include an alignment projection that projects a preselected distance downwardly from a lower surface of the tool. The alignment projection can be disposed between opposing corners of first and second boards to install a fastener without establishing a gap between the boards. This construction can be suitable for installing boards constructed from materials that shrink over time, such as wet, treated lumber or other materials, and even non-shrinkable boards where tighter spacing is desired. A related method of installation is provided.

Abstract: A fastener installation tool including a guide that guides a fastener into a side of a work piece at an angle, while optionally restraining the fastener from wobbling due to rotation, even upon initial entry into the work piece. The guide can define an angled bore including a fastener entrance opening and a fastener exit opening which is adapted to be positioned immediately adjacent the work piece. The guide can include a material ejection port between the openings, through which material bored from the work piece can be evacuated from the angled bore to prevent binding of the material with the fastener. The tool can include a clamp assembly that clamps opposing sides of the work piece to precisely align and steadily hold the angled bore as a fastener is being installed in a side surface. Related methods of using the tool to install fasteners also are provided.

Abstract: A fastener including a chisel point that pre-bores a hole in a work piece to prevent damage to the work piece as the fastener advances. The fastener can include a head, a shaft and a chisel brake point formed at an end of the shaft. The chisel brake point can include first and second opposing inclined surfaces disposed at an angle of about 80° to about 150° relative to one another. A thread can begin adjacent the chisel brake point and form an extension of an inclined surface and/or a chisel edge. The chisel brake point can scrape material from a work piece while pre-boring a hole. The material can be transferred to the thread, and subsequently fed up the thread, out of the pre-bored hole. The chisel brake point can also selectively retard advancement of the fastener into the work piece. Methods of installing the fastener also are provided.

Abstract: A fastener including a head defining a hexalobular drive hole, a shaft, threads and a pointed end. The hexalobular drive hole can include points having an outermost portion, and the head can include an outer surface, where a thickness of about 0.01 inches to about 0.04 inches is defined between the outer surface and each respective point. The outer surface can be cylindrical, and can transition to a tapered portion that is joined with the shaft. The tapered portion can be frustoconical, angled and/or curvilinear. A related method of installation is provided for advancing the fastener into the side of a first board at an angle to fasten the first board to an underlying second board.

Abstract: A cap assembly for an automatic cap feeder and fastener driver comprises a plurality of relatively thin, domed metal discs that can be pierced by fasteners discharged from a fastener driver such as a nail gun without bending the nail or jamming the driver, with the caps being connected together by a paper backed adhesive tape mounted on the undersides of the concave caps, with the caps having outer edges that are sufficiently sharp that they sever the tape from the strip of caps when the caps are driven into a substrate after a fastener has penetrated the caps. The fastener driver includes improved feeder teeth and an anti-backup pawl that extend into recesses in the track. A cover encloses an open edge of a cap storage basket.