Rawl

Rawl Zamac nail anchors fasten lightweight signs, furring strips and other light fixtures to masonry walls. They’re for homeowners and contractors doing light-duty fastening. With Zamac Nailin, driving the nail expands the anchor body, securing the fixture through a straightforward nail-drive installation.

Rawl Fasteners made and sold the original Rawl-Bolt anchor. The legacy Rawl name also appears on Zamac anchors. Powers Fasteners calls its standard nail anchor Zamac Nailin.

Match the anchor to the wall and the load

Zamac Nailin can be used in concrete, block, brick or stone, so brick and block walls are both within its applications. Furring strips, downspouts, screens, covers and lightweight signage are typical jobs. Keep the fastening light-duty.

For wall jobs where vibration resistance matters, Rawl Spike is a one-piece, tamper-resistant and vibration-resistant anchor for concrete, brick, block or stone that needs no secondary tightening after setting.

Overhead fastening, life-safety work and sustained tensile loads require another anchoring approach. That includes loads that keep pulling on the anchor over time.

Account for the fixture thickness

Choose the anchor length with both the fixture thickness and the required embedment in mind. A thick furring strip uses up more anchor length before the anchor reaches the masonry. Zamac Nailin length is measured from beneath the anchor-body shoulder.

Drill, clean and set

Use the proper-diameter bit and drill at least 1/4 inch deeper than the required embedment. Remove drilling dust and debris during or after drilling. Dust packed at the bottom takes up room the anchor needs, so clean the hole before inserting it.

Insert the anchor through the fixture into the cleaned hole. Seat its head firmly against the fixture at the proper embedment, then drive the nail into the body to expand it. Keep the anchor square to the surface and avoid overdriving the nail.

Zamac Nailin specifications

Detail	Specification
Anchor body	Corrosion-resistant Zamac alloy
Drive-nail options	Carbon steel or stainless steel
Head options	Mushroom head or flat head
Typical diameters	3/16 inch and 1/4 inch
Item 02806-PWR	1/4-inch diameter × 3/4-inch length
Item 02808-PWR	1/4-inch diameter × 1-inch length
Item 02826-PWR	1/4-inch diameter × 2-inch length
Length measurement	From beneath the anchor-body shoulder
Hole depth	At least 1/4 inch deeper than required embedment

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use wood screws with Rawl plugs?

The Zamac nail anchor uses its own drive nail, so you don’t pair it with a wood screw. That nail expands the anchor body when you drive it in. If you’re fastening a furring strip, the anchor goes through the wood and into the masonry.

What is a Rawl plug?

A wall plug gives a fastener something to grip in a drilled hole. The Rawl Zamac version is a nail-drive anchor for light-duty fastening in concrete, block, brick or stone. Match it to jobs such as screens, covers and lightweight signage; overhead fastening and loads that keep pulling outward over time fall outside its recommended use.

How do you install Rawl drive anchors?

For a Zamac nail anchor, drill the proper-diameter hole at least 1/4 inch deeper than the required embedment, then clear out the dust and debris. Insert the anchor through the fixture, with its head seated firmly against it and the body at the proper embedment. Drive the nail into the body without overdriving it, keeping the anchor square to the surface.

Can you use Rawl plugs to attach wood to masonry?

Yes, fastening furring strips to masonry is a typical use for Zamac nail anchors. Account for the wood’s thickness when choosing the anchor length, because only the portion that reaches into the masonry provides embedment. The hole still needs to extend at least 1/4 inch beyond that required embedment.