We're not easily impressed with hidden trim systems. While they provide a very good finished product, many systems require clamps and extra work, which results in longer work hours, more training, and generally increases the cost of delivering the finished product. However, with the CAMO concealed deck fastening system, we have redefined the concept of what is possible with concealed deck fastening systems. The CAMO system using Marksman or Marksman Pro installation tools eliminates the need for clips and wiring or cutting the edges of the board and simplifies the method of deck board installation. In short, they devised a way to secure the planks by driving in screws at an angle along the edges of the plank – directly into the joists. In this way, the board is protected and the whole process is simplified. In short – it's impressively fast.
We're not easily impressed with hidden trim systems. While they provide a very good finished product, many systems require clamps and extra work, which results in longer work hours, more training, and generally increases the cost of delivering the finished product. However, with the CAMO concealed deck fastening system, we have redefined the concept of what is possible with concealed deck fastening systems. The CAMO system using Marksman or Marksman Pro installation tools eliminates the need for clips and wiring or cutting the edges of the board and simplifies the method of deck board installation. In short, they devised a way to secure the planks by driving in screws at an angle along the edges of the plank – directly into the joists. In this way, the board is protected and the whole process is simplified. In short – it's impressively fast.
With this review, what we did was try out the Marksman and Marksman Pro tools. But really, the way they use the CAMO concealed deck fasteners makes this a review of the fasteners as well. To ignore fasteners is to review a firearm without any bullets. In reality, it's the fasteners that hold everything together and make the system work – the Marksman tool just has to hold the angle steady so the screws go in at the correct angle and at the correct depth. In this way, the system is somewhat integral and indivisible.
build quality
Both the Marksman Pro and the Marksman tool will do the job, but we would only recommend the standard Marksman (Model #345005) if your job is small and done in one go. For charging, the Pro model offers more durability and confidence. Not that the Marksman isn't a decent product, but it simply doesn't have the flexibility or metal bushings and surfaces that make the Marksman Pro a confidence-inspiring tool that will last through many deck projects.
The way the marksman Pro works is that the tool actually allows you to create as much as 3/16 of the space you need between trim panels, whether it's pressure treated lumber, composite, IPE or hardwood. This spacing is just what is needed to drive the CAMO concealed deck fasteners at an angle through the sides of the board, virtually hiding them, creating the seamless look of a deck without top fasteners. While spacing the boards, it also provides precise alignment for the fasteners, so the included bit can drive the fasteners through the wood. The tool has a built-in stop and works with CAMO bits to drill to the exact depth every time. While this stop on the Marksman Pro is metal, the standard Marksman relies on plastic to do the same job. It worked in our tests, but I don't want to trust it to use it over and over again.
Mechanically, the tools are also different. The Marksman's trigger activates a simple spring-loaded mechanism that closes the plastic gap, essentially grabbing the wood when the handle trigger is pulled. Both the trigger and the corresponding spacer are made from the same piece of plastic. However, the Marksman Pro uses a more complex system of spring-loaded levers to open the front spacers. This means you can use the trigger to clamp the tool against a trim panel, then release the pressure and let the tool secure itself to the panel. Now all your efforts are focused on aligning the boards instead of grabbing your handles. We also like the way the spacer teeth on the Pro model are made entirely of metal. It looks and feels like it will last a long time.
On the side of the Marksman Pro is an adjustable thumb dial that lets you adjust the tool to make it the perfect fit for whatever deck width you're using, even if they differ by 1/8 inch or so. On the bottom are metal "tool feet" that hold the tool precisely on the plate and give it the exact height, which together with the spaced teeth and the angle of the screw guide give you the perfect tightening drive every time.
use tools
We waited a long time until a trim job appeared that would use the tool, but it failed at the last minute. We ended up having to go ahead and do some deck restoration work, which we ironically did initially with a competition concealed fastening system. I have to say the restoration was equally impressive as it allowed us to use the Marksman Pro to power down the boards that had been ejected from the clip based system due to wood shrinkage. Using the CAMO system, we simply push the boards down with the Marksman Pro, then drive in a screw on each side to pull the boards back into place and attach them securely to the joists. This is a really cool way to maintain our clean fastener-free surface look while eliminating pop-up pop-up panels.
The process of using this tool is very simple. Here are the basic steps:
- Protect your starter board. You can do this by face fixing, using an (underneath) L-bracket, or a combination of both.
- Place your first board and hold the Marksman Pro in place by squeezing the handle until it fully grips the board. Release the handle.
- Keeping enough pressure on the tool, push the board snugly into the launch pad, making sure it's perfectly parallel the entire length. You can use a board stretcher for better alignment if needed.
- Mount the Marksman Pro with two screws, one on each side of the tool.
- Using a standard cordless drill/driver set to high speed, drive the screw on the outer edge to push the plate against the launch pad against the spacer teeth. You can keep the speed of the drill at maximum throughout the tightening process (you don't need to drive the screw too hard, it will do most of the work by itself).
- Drilling stops when the shoulder of the CAMO drill reaches the helical guide of the Marksman Pro.
- Screw in another screw from the other side.
- Repeat for each joist and lay the next plank.
What's especially cool about this system is that you can actually unscrew a screw to replace a plate in the middle of the deck. All you need to do is grab a drill and unscrew the ProTech or stainless steel fasteners, and you're ready to put your new board in. The exact spacing and angles of the screws make this possible – which has to be the coolest feature of the whole system in terms of maintenance and upkeep.
We also used the marksman Pro to correct some wood popping issues on a kid's play swing we made a few years ago. The result was the same – the system pulled the planks into place beautifully and restored the integrity of the deck.
However, the real heroes in CAMO systems have to be the fasteners. After all, Marksman Pro just lines them up. CAMO fasteners are actually pretty cool – and surprising. The head is small, much like a decorative head screw, but requires a star drive bit. The threads drive down and end at what looks like a snipped end – as if they were just two end-to-end screws separated from each other with bolt cutters. CAMO calls this a "reverse rake nose". In fact, this abrupt end rips through hard IPE or laminate floors and pulls the fastener through the material effortlessly. No pre-drilling required. If we hadn't seen the fasteners in action during the 2011 International Builders Show, we'd have taken their claims with a grain of salt. The way they drill through various materials is uncanny — and impressive.
The top of the fastener is a nice reverse thread design. There are about three rows of reverse threads that actually pull the plate tightly over the fastener head, and also ensure that the screw doesn't back out over time after sinking into the wood. These threads are shallower than the main threads so they don't interfere with the screw's driving force, but they do a good job of keeping the screw from loosening as the wood or composite ages. Screws are available in 316 stainless steel or ProTech coated versions – both of which are guaranteed against rust (stainless steel is always recommended for coastal environments).
Available lengths:
- 1-7/8″ – Ideal for use with any 5/4″ deck (ProTech coating only)
- 2-3/8″ – Designed for nominal 2×6 trim panels
conclusion and suggestion
Overall, we love using the CAMO decorating tools. What's amazing is the simplicity of this tool. All you have to do is grab it, a drill, and a box of CAMO fasteners, and you're off to the races. I've found that we can work in record time, even just using test pieces of paving material and seeing how quickly we can fasten the lumber pieces to the test joists. When we put the tool in the hands of novice users, the results were equally fast and consistent. The learning curve is very small, and the tool spaces the boards perfectly every time. For all the reasons mentioned in this review, this has got to be our current favorite concealed deck fastening system. For that matter, we gave it a 9/10 for performance and value, which is a rare 10/10 – as CAMO's fasteners are no more expensive than traditional coated deck screws – which makes the whole system much more Easy to use to the masses.
About National Nail Company
National Nail Corp., headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an employee-owned manufacturer and distributor of high-quality, innovative building product and service solutions to the residential and commercial construction industries. Other National Nail brands include Pro-Fit Fasteners, STINGER Cap Systems, and Impressions Storm Doors and Windows.