Thread: Nails

Yes nails still have there place.
Pre battery tools, there was a lot of time spent in drilling holes and putting in screws.
Nails can be ideal depending on the material, but also consider there holding power and visibility.

Its a matter of using the right fastener (type, gauge, length, angle) in the right location for the job.

I was always told use a nail where the stress is of a shearing type, and a screw where the stress is a pulling type.

That's what I've been told, long time ago now, and I believe it has to do with the differing strengths and weaknesses of each fastener type.

Most of my nail collection come from cleaning out Dads shed about 20 years ago (he was very big on using nalls) but apart from galv mails are all slowly rusting and I have chucked out a couple of packs of the worst ones. The last time I used some was last year, short flat head galvs to reattach the base of a thin MDF drawer that had fallen out of a cheap IKEA drawer unit. I sometimes use then as pins in various metal work projects.

Tonto

The use of nails has probably tended to morph into those fixed by the use of a nailing gun as opposed to those driven by a hammer. It was a few years ago my carpenter son explained to me I needed to get back on the planet and invest in a nail gun. Bought a Hitachi DA nailer (very good all purpose tool) and have never looked back. I still use the traditional nails but increasingly infrequently for the purpose of holding two pieces of timber together.

The last time I used a nail it was to make an improvised rivet.

Staples driven by an air stapler are also used instead of nails in many areas too.

Regards
Paul

I have all my Dad's claw hammers and I can't remember the last time I used one to drive a nail but I do have three nails guns and they get used often especially when I need three or four hands to do something.

I use hand driven nails for drawer bottoms . Nail gun is too risky . The drawer back is only 9.5 thick most of the time . Pre drill with a nail in cordless and skew them in slightly . Nails for holding cabinet backs on as well . I reform the heads so they look like 1780 heads . Sometimes use the nail gun as well for backs . Depends if I’m trying to impress or not there . Installing drawer runners in traditional side boards is another thing for hand driven nails . The runners and guides can be carefully glued into place . When dry pre drill the holes and fit nails strong enough to hold things up if the glue ever let’s go . Drawer stops is another thing for brads . Nail guns can be to big to get in there and accuracy is not as good . Some mouldings get nailed on . A gun can be good with that . Any time careful fitting where you need the extra strength old nails win . Very accurate with pre drilling works well and is a great way of doing it .

As Midnight Man said above; nails tend to be best for shearing forces and screws for pulling forces.

Although, with batt. drills people often use just screws, as they find it quicker to bang in two screws than drive one nail. (Unless they have a nail-gun, of course!) Not my idea of best practice, but it's what happens.

Mind you, if you do any woodwork in a location without a reliable electrical supply to recharge batteries or plug a cord into, I'm betting you'd quickly discover a spot in your workshop for claw or tack hammers.


Oh... yeah. As a bonus, it's often easier to conceal a nail - a punch and a small dab of filler - than countersinking and plugging a screw head. Especially on fancier mouldings or where the grain itself is a highlight.

I use nails for my picture frames and small boxes

Speaking of nails, I ran across this some time ago.

The last cut nail factory in the US is still producing nails, and these might be appropriate for traditional period pieces or restoration work: Welcome to Tremont Nail Company - Steel Cut Nails for Authentic Restoration Projects and Remodeling

Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kQsyf6rj60

Pin nails are PERFECT for temporary bracing things into square

I seem to never have very small drill bits around (they break too easily) when needing to drill holes for small box hinges and clasps. A small panel pin as a replacement for a drill bit works wonderfully. So yes, I still use nails, just not as what they’re intended for

When making jigs though, the brad gun is a wonderfull thing.

Lance