An explosive assisted fastener for joining steel framing members. The fastener
is comprised of an integrally formed member having a head section, a stem section
and a tip section, such that the head section is disposed at a first end of the
stem section and adapted to be linearly driven by a driving device into the framing
members, and the tip section is disposed at a distal second end of the stem section
and adapted to penetrate the framing members. The fastener further includes an
explosive material embedded in the tip section of the fastener. In operation, the
fastener is driven through the framing members until the head section of the fastener
seats against an outer surface of the framing members. Once driven into place,
the explosive material residing in the fastener is detonated, thereby radially
expanding the tip section of the fastener and preventing removal of the fastener
from the framing members.