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The use of wood-based connectors as a possible substitute of metal fasteners, for specific applications, in modestly loaded and moderately dense timber components, in new timber assemblies as well as for restoration works, is discussed. The densification technique has been used to obtain a wood-based material with higher mechanical performance with respect to the natural wood. A dedicated research has been carried out to monitor the compression behaviour of the wooden nails. The progress of pushing force during insertion of the wooden nails into wood samples was analysed and served for insertion process control. 600 compression tests were carried out to evaluate the mechanical behaviour of densified wooden nails, obtained from four different hardwood species and with different densification ratios. Beech, densified at 0° ring angle, 60% densification ratio, was selected for the further experimental campaign on the joints. Ten push-out tests have been performed on timber-to-timber joints. Results in terms of rigidity, resistance and post-elastic behaviour are discussed. The observed variability (slip modulus CoV = 26.7%, maximum load CoV = 23.7%) is mainly dependent on the occurrence of geometric flaws during nail insertion. Ductility exhibited by a group of joints was given by nail embedding into the wood before failure as well as by the bending resistance of the nail. The choice of an optimized technology for wood densification and for nail insertion is considered as a key factor for the optimal employment of the novel connectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]