Easy Woodworking Fundamentals – Nails

Nails are one of the most basic materials in woodworking. But you want to get the right one for the job you have in mind. Nails come in different types for different uses and there are things you should know when choosing them and practices to avoid when using them.

Some of the different types of nails include common, finish, casing, brads, cut flooring, roofing, masonry, gutter spikes, drywall, and duplex. Common nails are heavy-duty and thick with large flat heads. They are used in rough work such as framing carpentry. Finish nails have a small, cupped head and are used with wood filler when you don’t want the head to show. Casing nails are thicker and heavier finish nails used for larger work. Brads are tiny finishing nails used for lighter work. Cut flooring nails have a rectangular shape and blunt tips to avoid splitting the wood. Masonry nails, also known as concrete nails, are very hard and thick with a fluted shaft. Gutter spikes are large, six to eight-inch nails used to hold gutters in place. Drywall nails, with large round heads and fluted shanks, are used by professionals to nail drywall to studs. Duplex nails have two heads on the same shank, one below the other. They are usually used for the temporary bonding of materials.

When choosing a nail, you want to consider what it is used for and whether or not it is galvanized. The above paragraph lists the uses for each type of nail that you would want to consider. For example, you would probably want to use finish nails  on cabinetry because you would not want the heads to show. It is also important to consider whether or not the nail is galvanized, or rust-proofed, when doing an outdoor project such as decks. If a nail is galvanized, it is coated with zinc but may have a shiny or dull finish. Make sure to check the label.

There are also practices to avoid when using nails. Using the wrong nail for the wrong type of job is always a bad idea. For example, if you use a nail with a fluted shank for a temporary purpose, you will damage the wood when you remove it because of the sharp rings in the shank. One misconception in woodworking is that you should nail a thicker board over a thinner one. The opposite is actually true. The nail should go into the thinner board first and should be three times thicker than the thin board. That way, two thirds of it will go into the thicker board and create a stronger bond.

It is important to know the different types of nails, their uses, what to look for in them, and how not to use them. It is one of the fundamentals of easy woodworking.

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