| Nails may look like simple things but in fact, there | | | | choice, and so on. |
| are dozens of different types, each suited to a | | | | What size of nail do I want? |
| particular job. Knowing the right one to use will | | | | Nail size is usually expressed as a length. The |
| help to make sure your work is fixed properly - | | | | length you choose is mostly a matter of |
| and permanently. | | | | judgement, but a rule of thumb is that the nail |
| Nailing is quick - you do not have to make | | | | should be three times as long as the thickness of |
| elaborate preparations to do it - and nails are still | | | | the timber it is fixing. The thickness of the nail is |
| the cheapest way of joining tow pieces of wood | | | | generally related to its length although varying |
| together. Unfortunately 'hammer and nails | | | | thickness is available. It is as well to check - you |
| carpentry' is often used as a derogatory term | | | | do not want a thin, spindly nail if you are fixing |
| when in fact correctly used, nail provide a | | | | think boards; and equally, a think nail could split thin |
| perfectly sound joint. | | | | boards. |
| For instance, there is nothing slipshod in nailing | | | | How many will I need? |
| palings to a fence. Screws would be impractical, | | | | This governs the way you buy the nails. If you |
| not just they are more expensive and | | | | only need a few of one type then a prepack will |
| time-consuming to use, but because you would | | | | probably be the most convenient, but is usually |
| not get a better job - the fence certainly would | | | | the most expensive option. Otherwise nails are |
| not last any longer. | | | | normally sold loose and by weight, this works out |
| Nails are most frequency associated with | | | | much cheaper. But if you do by nails in this way |
| woodwork, yet they are also the standard as well | | | | remember to label them and pack the so they |
| as a number of other specialist jobs. Head size | | | | are kept clean, otherwise they will soon corrode |
| and shape can be matched to the job in hand, as | | | | and they can be tedious to sort out the size once |
| can the finish - although are made of a mild steel | | | | they have been mixed. |
| wire, they are often coated to prevent rustling, | | | | There are of course many different nail types |
| usually by galvanizing or sherardizing. | | | | such as a Clout nail, a Flooring brad and a |
| Before buying any nails, you must yourself the | | | | masonry nail. Don't worry however, we will be |
| following questions: | | | | covering them all soon in a future article. |
| What type of nail do I need? | | | | In summary a lot of using a hammer and nail is |
| This is governed by the materials your are fixing. | | | | very much common sense, not rushing and |
| For example if you are doing rought constructional | | | | stopping to think about a job, before wading in |
| wood work or outdoor jobs your would use | | | | with a big hammer. Remember the old saying of |
| round wire nails; for planed timber that is to be | | | | measure twice cut once. |
| painted, finer oval wire nails would be a better | | | | |