Ring shank nails
Sometimes called deformed shank nails, are nails with ridges or grooves along the shank, the part of the nail that penetrates the wood. These nails have a much better holding power than nails with a smooth shank because the rings act as wedges to keep the nail firmly in place so that it cannot pop out. For this reason, these nails are commonly used in construction, especially for roofing, and they are readily available at most hardware stores in the form of boxed loose nails and strips for use with nail guns. Some stores also sell them in bulk bins so that customers can purchase just a few at a time

The design of a ring shank nail looks a lot like that of a screw, except that the head is flat. The pattern of ridges along the shank of the nail can vary, depending on the manufacturer and the intended use of the nail. Some brands have very shallow rings that provide a small amount of extra grip, while others have much larger ridges. Some have spiraling grooves, while others have a neat set of ridged rings

Like other nails, ring shank nails are not designed to be easy to remove — they are used for permanent construction. The shanks make these nails even harder to remove than conventional ones, and their removal will leave a large and ragged hole behind. Although the nails may look like screws, they are not designed to function in the same way, and this is important for the people using them to remember

When working with softwoods, ring shank nails are extremely useful. Conventional nails under pressure tend to pull out easily from woods like pine, which is not desirable. The deformed shanks keep the nails in position, even under intense pressure. Enough weight or pressure will eventually cause either the wood or the nails to fail, but nails with a ring shank will provide around 40% more holding power than those with smooth shanks

Ring shank nails are used similarly to regular nails, but the unique design of these nails make them specialized for certain tasks. Softwoods sometimes have trouble with nails, because the nails frequently fall out over time, but these nails often stay in place better. Another material with which ring shank nails are commonly used is drywall, though not quite as often as softwood. These nails have better staying power, so they work very well for flooring and decking. Overall, they are best with permanent construction and should not be used for temporary projects

When softwood has nails in it, especially if the softwood is walked on or interacted with often, the nails have a habit of falling out because of the wood weakening. One way to overcome this is by using ring shank nails. These nails are difficult to remove because of the ringed shaft, or shank, so they have a lower chance of falling out even if the softwood is used often. At the same time, these nails’ construction means they often will split the wood slightly, so they may not be useful for softwood projects that should be visually appealing

Along with softwood, ring shank nails often are used with drywall. Much like with softwood, this keeps the nails from falling out, though there often is a lower chance of nails falling out regularly. These nails should only be used with thicker drywall, because thin drywall may suffer damaging cracks from these nails

Flooring and decking are two projects that often employ ring shank nails. Floors typically will be walked on daily, which paces stress on the wood or floor material and can wear the area around the nails until they become loose. Decks have a similar situation, because frequent use will cause the nails to eventually loosen with time. These nails are able to stay in longer, making them safer and more durable for these projects

These nails also can be used on many other projects, but they most often are used with any type of permanent construction. Ring shank nails should not be used with temporary construction, and doing so may make the project very difficult. These nails are difficult to pull out, so deconstruction will take longer and will be harder to finish. If the staying power of these nails is not enough for a project, then spiral-shank nails may work better

source:WISEGEEK