These should be good for large scale models with thick bulkheads. I could not use them for 4 mm thick plywood bulkheads. Plywood would split apart.
I HAVE THESE, NOT VERY GOOD, M/S KITS OR VERY SOFT BASSWOOD THESE WOULD SPLIT THE BULKHEADS, AND EVEN ON PLY THEY SPIT THEM ALSO, BESIDES THEY BEND. GOD BLESS STAY SAFE DON
I also bought some a year or so ago and have never used them, I think that in future I will try to slow down a bit and make some more bamboo tree nails with the Byrnes draw plate, Has anyone read Harold Underhills book on ‘Plank on Frame models’
Hi Tony, been making treenails myself, but I reckon toothpicks are easier and more cost efficient with my time.
Hi Brian, I find sitting in the sunshine pulling bits of bamboo through a draw plate and getting them down to about 1mm diameter a rather contemplative activity a soothing bit of manual labour whilst allowing the mind to lallygoggle all over the place.. Cheers T
Hi Tony,
are you soaking the bamboo in water before pulling them though the draw plate ?
are you soaking the bamboo in water before pulling them though the draw plate ?
I have bamboo growing in my yard. I've been thinking about using that for treenails. Does it need to be dried out first?.
Ken, better for you to buy bamboo BBQ skewers from the supermarket.
I was using them but found out very soon that they are made of too soft material which bends when tightened and leaves ugly dark marks on planks. So this is why I made my own of small wood screws, scrap pieces of 6 mm dowel & 2,5 mm plywood. On thick bulkheads they work perfectly:
these should have a pilot hole also drilled when using. Anything finer that this thread, would prob just break off.
The screws I was using have coarser threads than those Micro Mark's ones. No pilot holes were necessary for my balsa plywood bulkheads, screw threads are self starting. But in the case of harder material bulkheads pilot holes are necessary.
I have a plastic version of these...probably from the early 80s...they work great and I use them whenever I can't use a clamp...which basically means a lot. I do drill a pilot hole so the bulkhead doesn't split. I have used them on all basic bulkhead materials...solid wood, plywood, and mdf board. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! 
I have a plastic version of these...probably from the early 80s...they work great and I use them whenever I can't use a clamp...which basically means a lot. I do drill a pilot hole so the bulkhead doesn't split. I have used them on all basic bulkhead materials...solid wood, plywood, and mdf board. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!
I have those too and love them and also have the silver ones Sea Burd shows in the first post. They are great for holding things in place while the glue dries, but the pain is that they get in the way of laying the next plank. I've gone low tech and use pin nails or push pins which do the same job but don't get in the way.