What Is a Drive Pin Anchor?

by Tom Wallek September 09, 2020

Understanding what drive pin anchors are and how to use them is important because it helps you make informed installation decisions. Let’s learn the function of a drive pin anchor, the role of the drive pin anchor set tool, and how to use an anchor setting tool to install a drive pin anchor.

Understanding Drive Pin Anchors

Anchoring is the process of attaching fixtures to a target surface, such as a wall, floor, ceiling or beam. The type of anchor you choose will depend on various factors, including the application, the types of materials involved (concrete, wood, etc.), the positioning of the anchor (walls, ceilings, floors) and the equipment/components to be anchored.

Here are some general characteristics to help you better understand how anchors work, and their typical application:

Some anchors are reusable, which makes them removable and re-installable. Others are permanent anchors not designed for removal without damaging the anchor or the surface where they’ve been installed. There are anchors that come with machine screw threads. Others are meant for use with various types of screws, including lag screws, sheet metal screws or wood screws. In these instances, installers supply the screw of choice.

Some are self-drilling anchors. Others, as with drive pin anchors, require pre-drilled holes prior to installation. Some anchors require pre-drilled holes equal to the length of the anchor. Depending on the application, such as for toggle bolts, other anchors might require extra depth holes. In those instances, the hole drilled should be larger than the screw size.

Most anchors, such as the drive pin anchor, require a special tool – called the drive pin tool, to “set” the anchor in place.

At a very high level, a drive pin anchor is like a nail or a screw used to fasten or anchor concrete, masonry or other building, engineering, and construction components to each other. Installation occurs in a pre-drilled hole in the target surface, using a strike action (typically a power rotary hammer or percussion drill using a drive pin anchor tool), which drives the pin into the body of the anchor. That action expands the anchor, forming a tight fit that anchors the load to the target surface.

The drive pin anchor is typically comprised of two pre-assembled pieces. The top portion is the nail or pin, usually manufactured in stainless steel, high-grade carbon steel, or other similar material. The lower part, which forms the anchor, is usually manufactured from a corrosion-resistant alloy such as zamac.

Drive pin anchors are available in various sizes and shapes. They vary from light-duty to heavy-duty. You’ll find them in self-drilling design, as well as those that require pre-dilled receiving holes in the surface where they’re installed. In some instances, the anchor comprises of just the body – where you’ll need to provide the appropriate nail or pin. Others come as a pre-assembled two-piece unit.

Using the Drive Pin Anchor With a Setting Tool

Some anchors, such as drive pin (or nail-pin) anchors, require a driver tool when installing them. The drive pin tool, available from Set It FAST, is a single piece tool that can quickly and conveniently be slid on and off the hammer/power tool, making anchoring operations seamless. The tool, when manually attached to a percussion drill apparatus or a power rotary hammer, helps set the anchor into the concrete or other targeted surface.

Typically, a drive pin anchor tool is a single-piece tool made up of two distinct segments – a shaft end with a bore and a hollow sleeve. A hole is drilled into the target surface, and the anchor is dropped into the hole. The shaft of the tool is attached to a rotary hammer or another percussion device (such as a power drill).

The sleeve of the drive end of the tool is then placed on the pin of the anchor. The force of the hammer is transferred from the drill, into the tool and to the anchors’ pin, driving the pin into the tool’s sleeve, which causes the anchor to set into the target surface.

Our drive pin tool system is the choice of professional contractors in all trades- coast to coast. It provides a safe and efficient method for installing anchors overhead, in walls, or in floors. Our setting tools significantly reduce the risk of damage to the anchor threads during installation.

How to Install a Drive Pin Anchor

The drive pin anchor is an expansion anchor designed for use in concrete or other masonry applications. It is a permanent-fasten anchor, which means the only way to remove it is either by destroying the anchor (cutting the head) or destroying the surface where it resides.

Below are the broad steps required to install a drive pin anchor. They are general guidelines for setting drive pin anchors and the actual steps may vary, depending on the application, the surface and the type of anchoring required. Make sure to seek out specific installation and safety instructions prior to working.

Step 1 - Surface Prep

Proper and consistent holes are extremely important for secure anchoring. To help you drill the hole correctly, use the depth gauge on your drill/hammer, or wrap tape around your drill bit to demark the desired depth.
The diameter of the hole must equal the diameter of the anchor.
Read the manufacturer-supplied instructions carefully before you drill. Some anchor manufacturers suggest drilling a hole slightly larger or deeper than the anchor.

Step 2 - Drill

Drill the hole, using a hammer drill, into the target surface. Remember to set the drill to the “rotate” position when performing this operation.
Before inserting the anchor into the hole, clean any debris, dust, dirt and residual material from the hole.
You may use a brush or compressed air to perform the cleaning operation. However, using a vacuum cleaner (or another suction device) may deliver better results.

Step 3 - Install

Place the anchor in the hole, carefully aligning the body into the hole.
Install the drive pin tool on the hammer/drill, and place the sleeve end over the head of the pin on the anchor.
The strike motion will drive the anchor into the pre-drilled hole, while the pin will cause the anchor to expand and fit snugly into the target surface.

Ready to Install Drive Pin Anchors?

With this information, you now know why a drive pin anchor is important and how to leverage a drive pin anchor setting tool to install one quickly and easily. Set it Fast has the fastest anchor setting tools on the planet, including the drive pin anchor set tool. This is the one-size-fits-all drive pin tool of choice for contractors and professionals across the United States. Get your drive pin anchor set tool here.