Clip-heads were the original type of collated (in a strip) nail for air tools. They were first introduced to the market in the late 1960s and they still remain a popular choice in most parts of the USA.
FRH nails came on the scene in the late 80s as a popular product in the earthquake/hurricane markets like the west coast states and the coastal areas in the gulf and east affected by hurricane threat. In these markets, local code changes required many builders to change from the clip-head to the FRH nail. Building inspectors started to discriminate against the use of the clipped-head nail. It was felt the FRH would help prevent an overdrive into shear wall (structural sheathing).
Today, it seems the FRH nails are the dominant format on the West Coast, Florida, and the South Atlantic regions. Again, FRH is the product of choice in the earthquake and hurricane prone markets.
Independent lab research results yield no significant difference in performance between both nail types. Even more important, today’s tools offer a depth-of-drive control feature, so it’s easier for the operator to properly set nails when driving plywood or other sheathing products.
FRH nails come in the strip or coil format. The FRH strips are collated with a plastic material; the coils are collated with wire. Clipped-head nails are only available in a strip format and are collated with paper and adhesive. The FRH strips will leave some plastic debris on your job site, and some plastic chunks embedded into your work surface trapped by the nail head (flagging). The paper-collated clipped-heads are a bit cleaner, some flagging, but most of the paper seems to disappear.
The clipped-head tools have a shorter magazine track because the nails are right next to each other. In addition, the clipped-head tool has more weight forward (slightly nose heavy), which means less recoil. The FRH tools feature a longer magazine track, which protrudes several inches beyond the rear of the tool body. Some users prefer the shorter magazines for the maneuverability they offer, and some users like the longer magazine tools for the exceptional balance.
