I've had similar experiences with galvanized nails—definitely a gamble sometimes. Stainless steel is solid, especially in harsh environments like coastal areas, but another option I've had good luck with is aluminum nails. They're lightweight, corrosion-resistant, and hold up surprisingly well. Did a shed roof about six years ago using aluminum nails, and they're still spotless. Might be worth giving them a shot if stainless feels too pricey for certain projects...
Aluminum nails do hold up pretty well, but I've seen them bend a bit too easily when driving into harder woods. If you're dealing with cedar or something similar, stainless might save you some frustration in the long run... learned that one the hard way.
I recently built a small garden shed using cedar siding and initially went with aluminum nails thinking they'd be fine. Unfortunately, I ran into the same issue—they bent constantly. Switching to stainless steel nails made a noticeable difference in ease and durability... definitely worth it.
Had a similar experience when I built my deck a few years back. Thought aluminum nails would save me some cash and hassle, but they bent like crazy and just didn't hold up well over time. Switched to stainless steel halfway through, and man, what a difference... way sturdier and easier to drive in. Plus, no rust stains down the road. Lesson learned the hard way, I guess.
Yeah, aluminum nails are definitely not the way to go for decking. They're soft and bend way too easily, especially if you're dealing with hardwood or pressure-treated lumber. Stainless steel is a solid choice, but honestly, I've had great results with hot-dipped galvanized nails too. They're cheaper than stainless and still hold up really well against rust and corrosion. Built my fence with them about five years ago, and it's still rock solid—no rust streaks or loose boards yet.
One thing I've always wondered though... has anyone tried coated deck screws instead of nails? I've heard they grip better and reduce board squeaks over time, but I'm curious if they're worth the extra effort and cost. Seems like screws would be easier to remove if you ever need to replace a board or two down the line.