Camo Deck Fastening System: Easy Way to Install Cheap Decking

When I wanted to install decking in the front of my house, near my garden pond, I wanted to do it as inexpensively as possible, while maintaining a certain level of quality. This meant hitting a sweet spot between the outrageously expensive clip-mounted ipe deck boards that I really wanted and the face-nailed or -screwed pressure treated boards that I didn’t want.

Eventually, after pricing out composite and exotic wood deck boards, I surrendered to the pressure-treated wood option and chose standard 2 x 6 boards. But I absolutely did not want to face-fasten the boards. I decided to try the Camo Deck Fastening System.

What Is Camo Deck?

Camo Deck Fastening System consists of a jig and special proprietary screws that fit into the jig. A jig is any kind of guidance system that holds another tool in place long enough for that tool (in this case, a drill) to drive a screw. The jig is called a Marksman. While it looks complicated, it is just a jig. The benefit is that this jig is specially designed for decking:

• It has a spacer that automatically creates the perfect space between the boards.
• It has a clamp that allows you to secure it to the board you are attaching.
• It guides the screw at the perfect angle so that it will reach the joist below.

Camo Fastener screws are necessary because only these screws will fit in the Marksman.

Why Hidden Fasteners Are Important

Nailing or screwing your deck boards straight down, with the fasteners perpendicular to the boards and the heads exposed, is far less desirable than practically any type of hidden fastener system. some problems with exposed fasteners:

1. Deck screws are not inherently attractive on their own.
2. Screws create divots and splinters, which can hasten the deterioration of the deck boards.

Three Levels of Marksman

Camo does not have a one-size-fits-all Marksman tool. You must know, in advance, which type of deck boards you will be using.

• Marksman Pro Tool: For deck boards ranging from 5 1/4 inch to 5 3/4 inch width. Spacing: 3/16-inch.
• Marksman Pro-X1: For deck boards ranging from 5 1/4 inch to 5 3/4 inch width. Spacing: 1/16-inch.
• Marksman Pro-NB (NB = Narrow Board): For deck boards ranging from 3 1/4 inch to 5  inch width. Spacing: 3/16-inch.

How to Use the Camo Deck Fastening System

Fully squeeze the handle on the Marksman to open up its calipers.

Place the Marksman on the board that you intend to fasten.

Release the handle on the Marksman. Adjust the board to that it is snug against the adjacent board.

Put the Camo bit in your drill.

Put the fastener in the back of the Marksman, point down.

Drop the fastener until it stops on its own.

Do the same with the second fastener at the front of the Marksman. If you wish, you can wait until after you have driven the first screw to do this.

Drive the first fastener into the deck. Drive as far as you can go. The Marksman will automatically regulate depth.

Drive the second fastener.

Squeeze the handle of the Marksman to remove it. The fasteners pass through the Marksman.