Which nails go with which project
Q. My house needs a lot of repairs. I am going to need a selection of nails. There is an entire aisle of various nails at the hardware store. Which type should be used for which projects?
A. There are literally hundreds of different sizes and types of fasteners from which to select. Many of them may look similar, but there actually are slight design variations making one or another best for different types of projects and materials.
There are just four basic categories of nail designs with many design variations within each category. These types are common, casing, finishing, and brads. Once you understand the basic differences among these, it makes it easier to select the proper fastener.
When you think of a typical nail with a flat head, it usually is common nail. Builders use common nails to build the framing for walls and other projects where strength is required. The heads are reasonably large and unattractive, so common nails are used where the heads are hidden from view. The nail heads are typically hammered down just flush with the wood surface, but not recessed.
The size of common nails is referred to as "penny", such as 2d, 3d, etc. A certain penny size nail has a definite shaft diameter and length. The penny size probably used to refer to the weight of a given number of nails in pennies, but now it is just a generic number.
Since common nails are used for strength, selecting the proper size for a specific project is important. If you are nailing two pieces of wood together, the length of the nail shaft should be three times the thickness of the thinner piece of wood. The nail should be driven in through the thinner piece so most of the nail grips in the thicker piece.
Casing nails are also designed for strength, but they have a much smaller head than a common nail and the shaft may actually be thicker. These are used on cabinets or interior trim where the head is exposed. Generally, the head of a casing nail is countersunk (driven in below the wood surface) and then the hole is covered with wood filler.
Finishing nails are used in the same way as casing nails, but they have a slightly rounded head. They are driven in flush with the wood surface so no wood filler is used. Brass ones can be attractive in the wood. When using these, try to space them as evenly as possible across the wood surface.
Brads are short, thin nails with a small head similar to a finishing nail. They actually look like a short piece of wire. Brads are not strong, so they are used to hold lightweight trim together or to hold pieces in place during assembly. The sizes of brads are designated by their length instead of by penny size.
Wood filler works well for filling in over a countersunk nail head when the finished work will be painted. When assembling a project where the wood will be just stained, peel up a sliver of wood with a sharp knife. Drive the nail into the groove where the sliver was removed and countersink the head. Glue the sliver back over the groove so the grain matches perfectly.
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