This blog is about hardware that I didn’t even know existed ten years ago. Now I rarely complete a building project of any size without them. HeadLOK structural screws have been a game changer when it comes to quickly building things that are reliable and strong. Here are 15 reasons that HeadLOK can bring your construction game up a notch.
1. Sheer strength
HeadLOKs replace 3/8-inch construction screws. Sheer strength refers to its ability to withstand force. Think, ‘How much would it take to snap this thing or to make the head come off’. Considering that a quality 3/8-inch bolt can withstand up to 7000 pounds of pressure (and the average car is around 4000 pounds), HeadLOK’s more than do the trick.
2. Code compliant
HeadLOK were first introduced in 2007 and have quickly become a building crowd favorite. They were the first flat headed fastener to meet code. They are compliant most of the time– meeting International Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code (IRC). You will still want to double-check your local building codes though.
3. Thin profile
HeadLOK shank diameter (the thickness where the threads are) is far less than its 3/8-inch lag screw equal. HeadLOK diameter is 0.190 inches verses the 3/8-inch lag screws coming in at .3750 inches. This reduces splitting and makes predrilling unnecessary.
4. Wide head
A HeadLOK has a wide, thin head (kind of like my friend, Darin). It’s 5/8- inch wide and about 3/16- inch thick. (a 3/8-inch lag head is just under ½-inch – .469 inches).
Because it has more surface and is incredibly strong, the HeadLOK head has more pulling power. Its flat profile and aggressive downward pull (thanks to deeper threads) leads to a flush surface. No countersinking needed most of the time.
5. No pre drilling needed
This is a result of a thinner shank as well as a supped-up design. HeadLOKs have a sharp gimlet point (that bores and digs in quickly) and deep-thread design (that pulls and holds with a lot more power) making building fast and effective with no prep needed.
Authors note: I saw ‘gimlet point’ on the box and had no idea what it meant. As an adjective it means having a piercing or penetrating quality. As a noun, gimlet is a drink consisting of sweetened lime juice and gin or vodka, and sometimes carbonated or plain water. They probably mean the adjective.
6. Quick building
With the bit that’s provided and an 18V drill or higher, you’re ready to build. Point and squeeze. In some applications, HeadLOKs can take the place of joist hangers (see below). This saves a ton of time and pulls everything tightly together.
7. Aggressive pull
The deep thread and quality metal makes HeadLOK a giant in the pulling and holding department. In the project below, 10” HeadLOKs were used to fasten a beam (3 glued and screwed PT 2x 6) to posts, used for a foundation for the Water Shed. These were countersunk to avoid any slight unevenness when it was time to lay the floor joists.
8. SpiderDrive
HeadLOKs uses an internal drive (they call it SpiderDrive). A special bit fits into the drive, making 8 points of contact. This makes things fast, easy and reliable.
9. 8 point driver
This fits into the SpiderDrive. The driver is included in boxes of 50 screws or can bought separately (2 for about $8.50).
10. Reusable
At a big box store this week, a single 8” HeadLOK was $2.72. A box of 50 was $50.57 – or $1.02 for one. Fortunately, it’s very easy to back HeadLOKs out and use them again in order to save a few bucks. The Spider drive may grind down after many uses but it takes awhile for this to happen. (I’ll use them to fasten temporary brackets when putting on a metal roof).
I know I’ll use them eventually, so I usually go with boxes of 50.
11. Pulls things square
Because of their pulling power, HeadLOK pulls framework together and holds it there. With good straight cuts, this can go a long way toward squaring things up, squeezing out small spaces to make things more uniform.
12. A quick and easy way to level a deck
There are no level spaces on our property and rocky ground makes it almost impossible to level by hand. HeadLOK give a quick and easy way to put up the deck for smaller buildings not needing foundations.
Place concrete deck blocks. Build a frame the dimensions of the building using HeadLOKs. Put 4 x 4s in the deck blocks. Raise the frame until level. HeadLOK the frame to the posts. Add the rest of the floor joists with (drumroll) HeadLOKs!
13. Multiple lengths to choose from
HeadLOKs are readily available in 2 7/8” up to 10”. 4 ½ “ work well for attaching to a 4 x 4 post. For fastening at the perpendicular (see photo above) 6” are perfect. You will want to be certain that they are long enough to hold but aren’t long enough to punch through the other side.
14. Corrosion resistant
HeadLOKs are designed to resist rust and corrosion for the life of a project (which, if all goes well, will be a very long time). They’re made from carbon steel with a coating that increases corrosion resistance.
They are ACQ approved – which means they’re designed to be used with treated wood without premature corrosion.
15. Multiple Uses
I’ve used HeadLOKs for a variety of projects. To hold foundations together. To fasten bunks to a wall. To attach walls when framing. When building decks, etc. The common theme is needing structural strength that can be relied upon.
Ten years ago we were strangers. Now HeadLOKs are my good friends and live with me in their own plastic box.
Happy Building
I hope you find HeadLOK construction screws as useful as I have. It’s always great to hear from you via the Glampsite Joe Contact page to hear your thoughts.
Let’s raise a gimlet and toast to building faster and stronger!
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Photo by Jenny Pace on Unsplash