Plain shank nail (pallet)
Also called: smooth shank nail, smooth nail, bright nail
A plain shank nail has a smooth shank with no threads. It has the lowest withdrawal resistance of pallet nails, so on pallets it is mainly used where it is clinched, such as block-pallet deck mats.
In depth: Pallet nails and fasteners: types, sizes, MIBANT and nail counts
A plain shank nail relies only on friction between the shank and the wood. In the Uniform Standard (2012) Annex F, its withdrawal characteristic Cw is 1.0, compared with about 2.5 to 3.7 for threaded pallet nails on real spec sheets.
Key values
| Factor | Plain shank | Threaded |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal characteristic (Cw) | 1.0 | Often 2.5 to 3.7 |
| Minimum Cw, reusable / single-use (Table 4) | 1.9 / 1.5 | 1.9 / 1.5 |
| Moisture factor if driven green and used dry (or the reverse) | 0.25 | 1.0 |
Why it matters
A plain nail does not reach the Table 4 minimum withdrawal characteristic on its own. And when a smooth nail is driven into green lumber that then dries, the wood shrinks away from the shank: the Annex F equations cut its withdrawal strength to a quarter. That is why threaded nails dominate pallet deck assembly. Plain nails remain in use as clinched mat nails, where the bent tip, not friction, holds the joint. Vendors describe 1-5/8 in (41 mm) smooth clinched mat nails on block pallets.
On a spec sheet
Fastener type "Plain", with length, wire diameter, head diameter and MIBANT angle. If a quote lists smooth nails for deck-to-stringer joints, ask why.
Related
- GlossaryClinched nail (pallet)A clinched nail is driven all the way through the parts it joins and has its protruding tip bent over flat. Block-pallet deck mats (deckboards plus stringerboards) are commonly assembled with clinched nails.
- 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.
- 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.
- GlossaryGreen lumber (pallets)Green lumber is freshly sawn wood that has not been dried, with moisture content above the fiber saturation point of about 28%. Many hardwood pallets are built from green lumber because drying adds cost.
- 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.
More in Fasteners
- GlossaryAnnularly threaded nail (pallet)An annularly threaded nail, or ring shank nail, has a series of rings rolled into its shank that lock into the wood fibers. It is generally recommended for low-density hardwoods and most softwoods.
- 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.
- GlossaryNail head diameter (pallet nails)Nail head diameter is the width of a nail's head. It sets how well the nail resists pulling through the deckboard; the Uniform Standard requires the head to be at least 2.25 times the wire diameter for reusable pallets.
- GlossaryNailing pattern (pallet)A nailing pattern is the number and position of fasteners at each joint of a pallet. The Uniform Standard sets minimums by deckboard width: 2 fasteners per joint for boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and 3 for 5-1/4 to 7 in.
- GlossaryScrew (pallet fastener)A screw is a threaded fastener turned into the wood rather than driven. On pallets, deck screws, lag screws and washer-head self-drilling screws are used for heavy skids, plastic lumber pallets and designs that must be taken apart or repaired.
- GlossaryStaple (pallet fastener)A staple is a two-legged wire fastener joined by a crown, driven by a pneumatic tool. Some pallets are stapled instead of nailed, often with adhesive-coated staples of round or rectangular wire.
Last reviewed 2026-09-24. 217 words.