ASTM F680: test methods for nails (including the MIBANT test)
ASTM F680 is the ASTM standard for testing nails: dimensions, tension, bend, impact bend, hardness and zinc coatings. Its impact bend test is the MIBANT test pallet makers use to check nail stiffness. F680 gives methods only; the product spec sets the pass values.
A wood pallet usually fails at the joints before the lumber breaks, and joint strength depends heavily on nail quality. ASTM F680 is the standard set of test methods for nails. Its title is Standard Test Methods for Nails. It sits under ASTM Committee F16 on fasteners, and the current designation is F680-20.
What does ASTM F680 cover?
F680 is a methods standard. It tells a lab how to run each test; it does not set pass or fail values. The tests are:
| Test | What it measures | Why a pallet buyer cares |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensional tests | Length, wire diameter, head diameter, thread dimensions | Confirms the nail on the drawing is the nail in the pallet |
| Tension test | Tensile strength of the wire | Relates to shank strength |
| Conventional bend test | Ductility when bent | Brittle nails snap in handling |
| Impact bend test (MIBANT) | Bend angle after a standard impact | Nail stiffness, the main quality check for pallet nails |
| Rockwell hardness | Hardness of the steel | Stiffness and brittleness |
| Coating weight and adherence (zinc-coated nails) | Galvanizing thickness and bond | Corrosion resistance for outdoor or wet use |
Nail withdrawal and lateral (shear) load tests are not in F680. They are in ASTM D1761.
The MIBANT test
MIBANT is the Morgan Impact Bend Angle Nail Tester. The nail is clamped, a weight is dropped on it from a set height, and the resulting bend angle is read. A stiff nail bends less and gives a lower angle. Virginia Tech's unit-load lab links joint durability to withdrawal resistance (driven by wire diameter and thread geometry) and shear resistance (driven by wire diameter and stiffness). In one comparison it published, a nail with a 36° MIBANT angle gave a far more durable pallet than one with a 60° angle.
Pallet nail specs therefore usually state a maximum MIBANT angle. The value comes from the product standard or the buyer's spec, not from F680.
How it relates to other standards
| Standard | Role |
|---|---|
| ASTM F680 | Test methods for nails |
| ASTM F1667 | Product specification for nails, spikes and staples; refers to F680 for testing |
| ASTM F1575 | Bending yield moment of nails, used in engineering connection design |
| ASTM D1761 | Withdrawal and lateral resistance of fasteners in wood |
| Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets | Pallet nail types, quality and minimum counts, using these tests |
| ISO 12777 series | International test methods for pallet joints and nails |
When should a buyer cite ASTM F680?
You rarely need to cite F680 by name. You cite the property it measures. It matters when:
- you want incoming inspection of nails at a pallet plant or on a sample of pallets,
- a durability problem (loose boards, nail pops) points at fastener quality,
- you switch nail suppliers and want proof the new nail matches the old one,
- you buy high-trip reusable pallets where joint life dominates cost.
How to reference it on a spec sheet
Put the nail spec on the drawing, then name the test:
- "Deck nails: helically threaded, [length] × [wire diameter], [thread length], MIBANT angle [value]° maximum per ASTM F680."
- "Nail dimensions verified per ASTM F680 on [n] nails per lot."
- "Galvanized nails: coating weight per ASTM F680 test method, minimum [value]."
See pallet nails and fasteners for typical pallet nail sizes and how helically threaded and ring-shank nails compare.
Frequently asked questions
What is a MIBANT test?
MIBANT stands for Morgan Impact Bend Angle Nail Tester. A weight drops on a clamped nail and the bend angle is measured. A smaller angle means a stiffer nail, which holds joints tighter and resists pallet damage. It is the impact bend test in ASTM F680.
Does ASTM F680 say what MIBANT angle a pallet nail needs?
No. F680 gives the test method only. The required angle comes from the product specification you buy to, such as the Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets or your own pallet spec.
Does F680 test nail withdrawal strength?
No. Withdrawal and lateral load tests are covered by ASTM D1761, not F680.
Sources and references
Related
- GlossaryMIBANT (nail bend test)MIBANT (Morgan Impact Bend Angle Nail Tester) is an impact-bend test for nail stiffness, run under ASTM F680. A weight strikes a clamped nail and the resulting bend angle is recorded; a lower angle means a stiffer, better nail.
- GuidesPallet nails and fasteners: types, sizes, MIBANT and nail countsMost wood pallets use threaded nails: helical (screw shank) for dense hardwoods, annular (ring shank) for softwoods. A typical deck nail is 2-1/4 in long with 0.112–0.120 in (11.5–11 gauge) wire. The Uniform Standard requires at least 2 nails per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and 3 on wider ones.
- StandardsASTM F1667: specification for nails, spikes and staplesASTM F1667 is the ASTM product specification for driven fasteners: nails, cut nails, spikes and staples. It classifies them by type and style and sets dimensions, material, properties and coatings, with testing to ASTM F680. The current edition is F1667/F1667M-21a.
- GlossaryHelically threaded nail (pallet)A helically threaded nail has spiral flutes rolled into its shank so it rotates as it is driven, which locks it into the wood. It is the most common pallet nail, recommended for medium- and high-density hardwoods.
- GlossaryWire diameter (pallet nails)Wire diameter is the diameter of the steel wire a nail or staple is made from, measured on the shank before threads are rolled. Pallet nails are commonly 0.099 to 0.120 in (2.5 to 3.0 mm), or 12.5 to 11 gauge.
- GlossaryNail (pallet fastener)A nail is the standard fastener for wood pallets, driven through deckboards into stringers or blocks. Pallet nails are specified by shank type (helical, annular or plain), length, wire diameter, head diameter and bending strength.
- StandardsUniform Standard for Wood Pallets (Woodpack Global, formerly NWPCA)The Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets is the North American industry standard for specifying, building and repairing wood pallets: terms, lumber quality, tolerances, fasteners, notches, repair and performance. Woodpack Global (formerly NWPCA) publishes it; it is voluntary and was revised in 2025.
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Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 603 words.