This looks pretty handy. Tiger introduced their new hidden fastener gun. Here’s their press release and I also included their video demonstration.

BRISTOL, CT–(Marketwire – March 23, 2009) – Tiger Claw Inc. today announced the general availability of a new semi-automatic installation tool that dramatically reduces the already-quick installation of Tiger Claw’s groove fasteners. Professional builders and do-it-yourselfers can now build a beautiful nail-free surface deck four times faster than they can through traditional surface screwing. Tiger Claw’s fastener gun is currently the only pneumatic fastener gun on the market today.

The installation gun is used with Tiger Claw’s TC-G hidden deck fastener for pre-grooved boards.

“We recently attended the International Builders’ Show, in Las Vegas, and were thrilled to see the excitement in builders’ and journalists’ eyes when they saw and tried the new fastener gun,” said David Hartmann, president and co-founder of Tiger Claw. “They validated that we have a winning product in our hands. With the speed of the fastener gun, the ease of the TC-G hidden deck fasteners and the convenience of pre-grooved deck boards, builders can decrease their labor time, increase their profits, and ensure happy customers. It’s an ideal building package for those looking for beautiful, quick-and-easy-to-build, nail-free decks.”

The Tiger Claw hidden deck fastener gun was named one of the “Seven Top Picks” from the 2009 International Builders’ Show, by Allen Lyle, Co-Host / Producer of Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford.

About the fastener gun

The fastener installation gun drives a UFO Ballistic NailScrew® in like a nail, but can be removed like a screw. Simply slip the hidden deck fastener into the nose of the gun and position it in the groove of the board. The gun automatically enables perfect positioning of fastener and screw installation with the pull of a trigger. Builders now have a one-step installation process for hidden deck fasteners

Tiger Claw’s inventors say, when compared to manually inserting the hidden deck fastener into the groove with your fingers, the gun decreases installation time by about 50%.

About Tiger Claw Hidden Deck Fasteners

Tiger Claw offers a complete line of innovative and versatile hidden deck fasteners. The TC-1 is a coated steel hidden deck fastener and the TC-2 deck fastener is made of stainless steel. Both are ideal for soft woods and pressure treated lumber. The TC-3 is used with composite decking materials and medium density hardwoods, such as Meranti and Cambera mahogany. It may also be used with used with cellular PVC decking materials. The TC-4 is perfect for exotic hardwood decking lumber like Ipe and Teak. The TC-G offers the fastest installation available today with pre-grooved decking or square edge boards using a router or biscuit joiner. All Tiger Claw hidden deck fasteners are manufactured in the United States.

About Tiger Claw Inc.

Tiger Claw Inc. was founded in 1999 and currently offers seven hidden deck fasteners, including the Proclip Cellular PVC Fastener and the Trex Hideaway. Its products are designed to greatly increase the value of construction projects without significantly increasing overall project costs. Tiger Claw is headquartered in Bristol, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.deckfastener.com or call (800) 928-4437.

Shortly after it was posted, Claire Guappone of Osmose contacted me regarding “MCQ Shows Signs of Rapid Decay” and asked if I would like to receive a follow up press release on the matter.

“Sure,” said I. So, here it is.

Consumer Safety and Product Performance of Micronized Copper Technology Confirmed

GRIFFIN, Ga., Feb. 11 — On Feb. 9, 2009 in a negative public relations document apparently intended to scare users of treated wood, Charlotte, NC-based Viance criticized the effectiveness of micronized copper wood preservatives. “Viance is once again attempting to create unfounded concerns about consumer safety and product performance, using statistically insignificant and suspect data,” said Paul Goydan, President of Osmose, Inc.

Extensive laboratory and extended field testing have confirmed the effectiveness of micronized preservatives. Several world renowned scientists have confirmed the strong performance of this technically advanced preservative technology and have published their comprehensive findings, which support the micronized technology’s efficacy in providing wood protection for both above ground and ground contact applications.

So why this unfounded attack by a competitor? An attack based on an insignificant sample of a few posts selected by this competitor — out of the millions of posts in service? One might conclude the competition has not been able to create a viable alternative product to compete with our patent pending technology and the ever-increasing market penetration of the micronized copper preservative systems. Rather than offering similarly advanced technology, they have resorted to needlessly alarming the public.

MicroPro(R) Treated Wood Facts:

• Over 5 Billion board feet of MicroPro treated wood has been sold since the product introduction in 2006.
• Over 10 Million 4 x 4 micronized treated wood posts are presently in service and performing.
• MicroPro copper based preservative systems have been independently tested and evaluated in accordance with AWPA, ASTM and other internationally recognized laboratory and field test procedures.
• Micronized copper preservative systems are certified by the International Code Council Evaluation Service, Inc. (ICC-ES).
• Osmose’s micronized technologies have earned the Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) certification from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS).
• Osmose provides a Residential and Agricultural Limited Warranty on MicroPro treated wood products.

Bottom Line

Extensive laboratory and field testing has confirmed the effectiveness of micronized preservatives. International experts have confirmed the legitimacy of this technically advanced preservative technology and published their findings in support of it. Billions of board feet of micronized treated lumber are in service and performing. Since the introduction of micronized copper technology, Viance, the only copper based preservative manufacturer that does not have the micronized technology to offer, has waged a desperate campaign against it in an effort to discredit it. Meanwhile, more and more consumers and retailers continue to embrace the environmental and performance benefits offered by our technically advanced micronized products.

Since 1934, Osmose has produced quality, tested, reliable wood preservatives such as MicroPro. We fully stand behind our products and back them with industry leading warranties.

For additional information regarding MicroPro, please contact Osmose at (800) 241-0240 or visit http://www.osmosewood.com.