Nails

Nails, the most common type of metal fasteners, are available in a wide range of types and sizes.

Basic Nail Types

Some basic nail types are shown in Figure 45. The common nail is designed for rough framing. The box nail is used for toenailing and light work in frame construction. The casing nail is used in finished carpentry work to fasten doors and window casings and other wood trim. The finishing nail and brad are used for light wood trim material and are easy to drive below the surface of lumber with a nail set.

The size of a nail is measured in a unit known as a penny. Penny is abbreviated with the lowercase letter d. It indicates the length of the nail. A 6d (6 penny nail is 2 inches long. A 10d (10 penny nail is 3 inches long as shown in Figure 46. These measurements apply to common, box, casing, and finish nails only. Brads and small box nails are identified by their actual length and gauge number.

Specialty Nails

Figure 47 shows a few of the many specialized nails. Some nails are specially coated with zinc, cement, or resin materials. Some have threading for increased holding power. Nails are made from many materials, including iron, steel, copper, bronze, aluminum, and stainless steel.

Annular and spiral nails are threaded for greater holding power. They are good for fastening paneling or plywood flooring. The drywall nail is used for hanging drywall and has a special coating to prevent rust. Roofing nails are not specified by the penny system; they are referred to by length. They are available in lengths from 3/4 inch to 2 inches and have large heads. The double headed nail, or duplex head nail, is used for temporary construction, such as form work or scaffolding. The double head on this nail makes it easy to pull out when forms or scaffolding are torn down.

Nails for power nailing come in rolls or clips for easy loading into a nailer. They are coated for easier driving and greater holding power. Table 10 gives the general size and type of nails prefered for specific applications.