We are Hebei Leeter Import and Export Co., Ltd ("Leeter"), a construction wire and fastener manufacturer in Dingzhou, Hebei, China, exporting since 2006 to North America and Europe. Construction nails — both coil and stick collated — are a core line, and the specs below are what we quote when hardware importers build a nailer-fastener assortment.
Coil vs stick at a glance
| Spec | Coil nails | Stick nails |
|---|---|---|
| Collation | Wire-weld or thin plastic-sheet coil | Paper (glue) strip or plastic strip |
| Collation angle | 0°/15° (coils lie flat, wound) | 21°, 28°, 30°, 33°, 34° |
| Nails per load | 120–350 (typical 200–300) | 20–40 per strip, 2 strips racked |
| Reload frequency | Low — long runs | High — frequent strip changes |
| Common guns | Roofing, siding, pallet, fencing, flooring | Framing (stick framers) |
| Length range | 3/4"–3-1/4" (19–83mm) | 2"–3-1/2" (50–90mm) |
| Best for | Volume, repetitive fixing | Framing, tight access |
Coil nails: wire collation for volume
Coil nails wind flat into a disc that drops into a round drum magazine, so a single load holds 200–300 nails against a stick's 60–80. That capacity is why production lines — roofing, fibre-cement and vinyl siding, pallet assembly, and fence-panel guns — run coil. Most coil nails are wire-collated: two thin steel wires are resistance-welded across the shanks at roughly 15°, which is what lets the strip curl into a coil. The wire stays with the nail head as harmless offcuts. Typical coil roofing nails run 3/4" to 1-3/4" (19–45mm), 11–12 gauge, ring or smooth shank, with a large 3/8"–7/16" flat head; coil siding and pallet nails run 1-1/4" to 2-1/2" (32–65mm), ring or screw shank for withdrawal hold. Diameters commonly sit at 0.083"–0.120" (2.1–3.1mm).
Stick nails: strip collation for framing
Stick (strip) nails glue 30–40 nails into a straight strip, two strips racked in the gun's long magazine. They are the framing format: 2" to 3-1/2" (50–90mm), 0.113"–0.148" (2.9–3.8mm) shank, in smooth, ring or screw pattern. The strip's collation angle sets which gun accepts it, and the angle also controls how far the gun reaches into a stud bay or corner — steeper angles give a slimmer nose. Because the strip is rigid, stick framers are the standard tool for house framing, decking and structural work where reach and driving power matter more than reload count.
Collation angle: matching the gun
The angle is not interchangeable — a gun built for 30° will not seat a 21° strip. Match the nail angle to the customer's tool:
| Angle | Collation material | Head type | Typical guns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15° coil | Wire weld | Full round | Roofing, siding, pallet coil guns |
| 21° | Plastic strip | Full round head | Framing (full-head framers) |
| 28° | Wire weld / paper | Offset / clipped | Framing (wire-weld framers) |
| 30°–34° | Paper strip | Clipped / offset head | Framing (paper-tape framers) |
The key trade-off: 21° plastic-collated nails keep a full round head (favoured by codes that require full-head nails) but the strips are shorter, so more reloads. 30°–34° paper-collated nails pack tighter with a clipped or offset head, giving the highest strip count and the slimmest nose for tight framing. 28° wire-weld sits between the two.
Wire vs paper vs plastic collation
The bonding material affects performance and jobsite cleanliness:
- Wire weld — used for coil nails and 28° framing strips. Strongest bond, tolerant of heat and moisture in storage; leaves small wire offcuts.
- Paper (glue) strip — standard for 30°–34° framing nails. Burns off cleanly on driving, leaves almost no debris, and lets nails pack tightly. Sensitive to damp storage, so pack sealed.
- Plastic strip — standard for 21° framing and some coil formats. Robust and moisture-proof, but ejects small plastic tabs on each shot and can be brittle in cold weather.
Advise buyers to match collation to climate and site rules: paper for clean interior framing, plastic or wire for wet or cold conditions and for guns spec'd to those strips.
Common sizes and gauges to stock
For a first export assortment, cover the high-runners in each format:
| Format | Length | Gauge / diameter | Shank | Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coil roofing | 3/4"–1-3/4" | 11–12 ga (0.105"–0.083") | Ring/smooth | Asphalt shingles |
| Coil siding | 1-1/4"–2-1/2" | 0.083"–0.092" | Ring/screw | Fibre-cement, vinyl |
| Coil pallet/fencing | 1-1/2"–2-1/2" | 0.099"–0.113" | Ring/screw | Pallet lines, fence panels |
| Stick framing 21° | 2"–3-1/2" | 0.113"–0.148" | Smooth/ring | House framing |
| Stick framing 30°–34° | 2-3/8"–3-1/4" | 0.120"–0.131" | Smooth/screw | Framing, decking |
Finishes follow exposure: bright for interior and pallets, electro-galvanized for dry-service, hot-dip galvanized (HDG) or stainless for roofing, siding and treated lumber. The same finish logic applies when you add fence staples or handled construction nails to the container.
Speccing for export buyers
Quote each collated line as: format (coil or stick), collation angle, collation material (wire/paper/plastic), length, diameter or gauge, shank (smooth/ring/screw), head type, finish, and pack (nails per coil/strip, coils or strips per box, boxes per carton). As the manufacturer we draw and head the wire, weld or tape the collation to the ordered angle, and hold shank and hardness to spec — so the strips feed without jamming a customer's gun. MOQ runs from one pallet to a mixed 1×20' container, lead time 15–35 days FOB or CIF, with mill test reports, AQL sampling and pre-shipment inspection on request. Confirm the exact gun models your market uses before ordering, because the collation angle, not the nail itself, decides compatibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between coil nails and stick nails?
Coil nails are wire-welded (or thin-tape) into flat 15° coils of 120–350 nails that feed high-volume roofing, siding, pallet and fencing guns with few reloads. Stick nails are glued into straight strips of 20–40 nails at angles of 21° to 34° that feed framing guns. Coil wins on magazine capacity and long runs; stick wins on framing reach and driving power.
What collation angle do I need for a framing nailer?
Framing nailers accept one angle only, so match the nail to the gun: 21° for full-head plastic-collated framers, 28° for wire-weld framers, and 30°–34° for paper-tape framers. A 30° gun will not seat a 21° strip. Steeper angles give a slimmer nose for tight access and pack more nails per strip.
Is wire, paper or plastic collation better?
Each suits a different job. Wire weld is strongest and moisture-tolerant, used for coil nails and 28° strips, but leaves wire offcuts. Paper (glue) strips burn off cleanly for tidy interior framing but need sealed, dry storage. Plastic strips are robust and moisture-proof for cold or wet sites but eject plastic tabs and can turn brittle in cold. Match collation to climate and site rules.
What sizes do coil nails come in?
Coil nails run 3/4" to 3-1/4" (19–83mm). Coil roofing nails are 3/4"–1-3/4" in 11–12 gauge with a large flat head; coil siding nails are 1-1/4"–2-1/2" with ring or screw shanks; coil pallet and fencing nails are 1-1/2"–2-1/2" at 0.099"–0.113" diameter. Shank diameters commonly sit at 0.083"–0.120" (2.1–3.1mm).
How do I spec collated nails for a container order?
State format (coil or stick), collation angle, collation material, length, diameter or gauge, shank pattern, head type, finish, and packing (nails per coil or strip, packs per box). Confirm the gun models your market uses first, since the collation angle decides compatibility. MOQ runs from one pallet to a mixed 1×20' container, with mill test reports and pre-shipment inspection available.
