CAMO
Hidden Deck Fastening System Installation Instructions – CAMO Marksman Pro®
®
The CAMO Hidden Deck Fastening System is easy to use on
treated wood, hardwood, cedar, composite, or PVC deckboards.
The following instructions will share the simple installation
process to create a beautiful, fastener-free deck surface using the
CAMO Marksman Pro. It is important to note that this is a system
- CAMO Hidden Fasteners, CAMO Marksman® Tools and CAMO
Driver Bits are engineered to work exclusively together. Using
other branded tools or guides, fasteners or bits will impair
performance and not produce the desired results.
Before beginning installation of your deck, you will need the
following:
– CAMO Hidden Fasteners
– CAMO Driver Bit (included with CAMO Hidden
Fasteners; Grooved Board Driver Bits are available
separately)
– CAMO Marksman Pro tool
– Drill (set drill speed to highest setting for maximum
driving ef ciency)
– Optional: L brackets or 2 ½" x #7 trimhead CAMO
Exterior Premium Deck Screws (for the board that
abuts the structure)
CAMO MARKSMAN PRO SCHEMATIC:
It is important to be familiar with the Marksman Pro. This tool is
used to guide CAMO Hidden Fasteners into the side of the
deckboard and down into the joist. It can be used on any 5-1/4"-
5-3/4" wide solid or grooved deckboard.
necessary*, and the Marksman Pro provides automatic 3/16"
spacing between deckboards.
Adjusting the tool:
Adjust the CAMO Marksman Pro to t
the boards you are using. Loosen the
Thumb Dial at the rear of the tool to
adjust the Spacer to t the width of your
deckboards.
most standard 5-1/4" - 5-3/4" solid or
grooved deckboards.
The board abutting the structure:
To begin deck installation, lay the rst board that abuts the
structure into position. If the abutting board runs parallel to the
house or other structure, it may be necessary to face fasten (see
options below).
If so, we recommend using 2 ½" x #7
CAMO Exterior Premium Deck Screws.
You can secure the board abutting the structure in several ways:
(1) When using CAMO Hidden Fasteners, lay the board abutting the
structure in place; at each joist, mark the location for the CAMO
Hidden Fasteners that will be driven toward the structure on the
outside edge of the deckboard; pull the board away from the
structure and position the Marksman Pro on the desired mark at
one end of the board and load one CAMO Hidden Fastener into the
Screw Guide on the outside edge of the deckboard. Steady the tool
and pre-start the screw about ½" into the board. Now squeeze the
Trigger Handle to remove the Marksman Pro, leaving the partially
driven screw in place. Continue this process the entire length of
the deckboard. Once you have reached the end of the board,
reposition the deck board with the pre-started screws on the
OUTSIDE edge with the board snug to the structure. Now, nish
driving the CAMO Hidden Fasteners in the the board manually
(don't use the Pro tool). Finish the deckboard by face fastening the
inside edge.
Exterior Premium Deck Screws.
(2) face fasten the rst board or board and a half
(3) avoid face fastening by using L brackets to fasten the abutted
board from below the deck to the joists.
Once you have secured the abutted board, proceed with installing
the remainder of the deckboards using the CAMO System. It is as
easy as Set, Load and Drive!
No pre-drilling is
SET:
CAMO
tm
tm
Marksman
pro
Tool Handle
1
Trigger Handle
2
TM
CAMO Driver Bit
3
4
Screw Guides
clamps securely to the board. The Tool Feet must be at on the
5
Spacer
surface of the board and the tool centered over the joist.
Tool Feet
6
Thumb Dial
7
With the CAMO Marksman Pro tool in place on the deckboard,
push the deckboard snugly against the previous board. The Spacer
automatically creates a 3/16" gap between the boards.
Load:
The middle setting ts
drive:
trimhead
We recommend using 2 ½" x #7
trimhead CAMO
Beginning on one end of the deckboard
(we recommend a minimum of 1" from
board ends),
squeeze the Trigger
Handle of the Marksman Pro and set
the tool over the deckboard. Release
the Trigger Handle allowing the
Spacers to contract and grip the
deckboard. A properly adjusted tool
With the tool set on the board, place
one CAMO Hidden Fastener into the
Screw Guides on both ends of the
Marksman Pro tool. Note: if the tool is
not set on the deckboard, the screws
will slide out of the Screw Guides.
Set drill to highest speed. A high RPM
drill is recommended.
Begin on the outside edge at the end of
the unfastened deckboard (the edge
furthest away from the installed
deckboard or abutted board).
The handle of the Marksman Pro is not intended to be
weight-bearing. Just steady the Marksman Pro and start drilling,
running the drill at full speed throughout. The CAMO Hidden
Fastener is designed to spin and auger out material for
approximately ½ inch to prevent splitting. Once the screw is
started, you may gently increase pressure and the screw will bite
and drive home quickly. Let the screw do the work. Forcing the
screw can result in mushrooming or splitting.
When the shoulder of the CAMO Driver Bit reaches the Screw
Guide, you are nished driving the screw. The depth of drive is
automatically set and you cannot over drive it.
Once you have fastened the rst screw on the outside edge, repeat
the same drive instructions on the inside edge of the board.
Continue this process down the length of the board until the entire
plank is installed. Do not skip any joists.
ATTENTION:
To ensure proper performance of the CAMO Marksman Pro,
important to regularly check the Screw Guides for deck material
build-up. If material is present, use the Driver Bit to clear the
Screw Guides. If you are installing IPE or other dense deck
product, you will want to perform this action more frequently.
*Pre-Drill Option: The CAMO Hidden Deck Fastening System
does not require pre-drilling; however, when using stainless steel
CAMO Hidden Fasteners with hardwood decking such as IPE,
Cumaru, Tigerwood, Ironwood, or similar deck products, we
recommend pre-drilling.
1. Use a 3/16" drill bit chucked at 2 ¼ " to 2 3/8" from the tip of
the bit to the drill chuck as shown below:
2. Place the Marksman Pro in the correct fastening position
on the deckboard over the joist.
3. Using the Marksman Pro as a guide, pre-drill both sides of
the deckboard.
4. Leaving the Marksman Pro in place, insert CAMO Hidden
Fasteners in the Screw Guides and fasten.
NOTE: Due to the density of these products, it is recommended
that you fasten a minimum of 1" from board ends when fastening
boards to the joist.
To see an installation video for pre-drilling CAMO Hidden
Fasteners with hardwoods, view the Hardwood video in the Video
Gallery on www.camofasteners.com
Butt Joints: Follow deckboard manufacturers' suggested spacing
and fastening installation methods. It may be necessary to block
joist at the butt joint depending on the type of decking you are
installing.
45° Angle Installations: Position the Marksman Pro over the edge
of the high side of the joist so that the fastener remains completely
in the joist when fully driven. You may nd marking the deckboard
where it intersects the joist useful. To do this, draw a line where
they intersect and position the Marksman Pro so the middle of the
Screw Guide rests over the line. Proceed to drive the screw per
above instructions. Repeat this process down the length of the
deckboard on both edges.
To view an installation video or for more information visit
www.camofasteners.com or contact us at (800) 968-6245.
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