Wood Nails (Fastener): Popular 16 Types, Sizes, and Uses

Wood Nails

Wood Nails: The nail has been used since ancient times and is still the most used fastener today. Its use is maximum because of its low cost and easy use. Nails are available in different sizes of small, thin, large, thick, etc. Its basic and initial standard size is 2d, 4d. Here d means penny. The word penny is English and means a special copper coin of England.

Another meaning of a penny is the pound which indicates the weight of the nail. The penny determines the size of the nail. It says 100 nails weigh 2 pounds. At this weight, the pound size determination symbol (2d) is used. Here 2d means the thinnest and smallest nail, and 100d means the thickest and biggest nail. (d) The more the nail, the thicker and longer it will be, and the more it will grow proportionally.

Nail is used to fasten or attach two or more parts to wood at the same time. Most nails are made of mild steel. Again no nail is made with a metal sheet. Nails used for roofing or outdoor work, i.e., in contact with watery weather, are coated with zinc. The method of applying such a coating is called galvanizing. Copper or brass nails are used to build ships. Nails of different sizes and shapes are made for special purposes. The head of any nail is shaped like smooth, curved, round, small, big, medium, etc. Nails come in different sizes or lengths.

Parts of a wood nails

A nail has three parts. E.g.

  • Head
  • Shank
  • Points

The uppermost part of the nail is called the head, the lower part is called the shank, and the lowest part is called the point.

Types of wood nails

Nail sizes are usually 12 mm to 150 mm (1 “/ 4 to 6”) long and range in size from 120 to 00 gauge or 250d, 100d, etc. Nails vary according to the size of the head and the shank. E.g.

  1. Over Wire Nail
  2. Round Wire Nail
  3. Floor Nail
  4. Dry Nail
  5. Wood Shank Nail
  6. Flooring Nail
  7. Masonry Nail
  8. Roofing Nail
  9. Duplex Head Nail
  10. Clout
  11. Panel Pin
  12. Veneer Pin
  13. Two Side Pointed Pin
  14. Escutcheon Pin
  15. Deck Head Nail
  16. Fiber Board Nail

1. Oval Wire Nail

Its head is tiny, and the shank is oval. It includes finishing head nails. The wood does not crack by using this wood nail. The head and shank are almost identical, so they easily penetrate the wood and stick well.

Oval Wire Nail
Oval Wire Nail

Size: They range in size from 2 to 9, especially from 12.5 mm to 75 (1 “/ 2 to 3”).

Uses: Used in framework packing, roofing work, furniture, etc.

2. Round Wire Nail

The head of this nail is big, round, and flat. This wood nail is called common nail. Its shank is round. Due to their large head, the oval wire can stick more firmly to the wood than other nails, and this is why it is used more.

Round Wire Nail
Round Wire Nail

Size: It is available in sizes from 4d to 6d, from 35 mm to 150 mm (1.1 “/ 2 to 6”) in length, with different diameters.

Uses: Round wire nail is used for framework packing box, picture binding, etc.

3. Floor band

It is made of sheets of mild steel, and it is the shortest size nail. The shape of the head varies and becomes wider in width. 

Floor band
Floor band

Size: It varies in length from 36 mm to 75 mm (1.1 “/ 2 to 6”).

Uses: It is used for decking wood.

4. Flooring Nail

Flooring nail looks like a lot of screws, but they do not have any grooves on their heads.

Flooring Nail
Flooring Nail

Size: Available in different sizes from 6D to 90D and different lengths from 50mm to 230mm (2 “to 9”).

Uses: It is especially used in floor work.

5. Dry Wall Nail

Dry Wall Nail looks like a screw, but there is no groove in the head, and the head is flat. The threads below the nail are fairly sharp.

Dry Wall Nail
Dry Wall Nail

Size: It comes in different sizes from 4d to 6d and different lengths from 25mm to 65mm.

Uses: These are not easily inserted into the wood. Nail is hard to get out of after sticking.

6. Wood Shank Nail

These nails look almost like dry wire nails, but they are thinner and longer than dry wire nails.

Wood Shank Nail
Wood Shank Nail

Size: 2d to 90d in different sizes and 12mm to 150mm (1 “/ 2 to 9”) in different lengths.

7. Masonry Nail

The shank of this wood nail has spiral grooves (from the bottom of the head to the point), and the nails are smooth.

Masonry Nail
Masonry Nail

Size: They range in size from 4D to 60D and from 25 mm to 75 mm (1 “to 3”).

Uses: Used in packing boxes, and floor work, etc.

8. Roofing Nail

These wood nails look a lot like missionary nails, but the grooves and threads are thicker, and the head is like a countersunk.

Roofing Nail
Roofing Nail

Size: It is available in different sizes, like the size of a missionary nail.

Uses: It is used in various types like missionary nails and is mostly used for roofing.

9. Duplex Head Nail

This wood nail has two heads for which becomes difficult to open after being stuck in the middle of the wood.

Duplex Head Nail
Duplex Head Nail

Size and uses: The size and use of this wood nail are almost the same as a round wire nail.

10. Clout

It will look like a round wire nail, but it is relatively small, and its head is much larger. It has anti-rust galvanizing.

Clout
Clout

Size: 10 mm to 36 mm (3 “/ 6 to 1.1” / 2) long and 13 gauge to 10 gauge.

Uses: Used for making metal sheets, wood cloth, and leather.

11. Panel pin

It is made with thin wire.

Panel pin
Panel pin

Size: 12mm to 50mm (1 “/ 2 to 2”) long and gauge no. 20 to 15 “.

Uses: It is used in plywood, plywood, dry, smooth work.

12. Veneer pin

It looks like a panel pin but has no head.

Veneer pin
Veneer pin

Size: It is usually 25 mm to 36 mm (3 “/ 6 to 1.1” / 2) long and gauge 13 to 16.

Uses: It can be used to set the veneer to prevent small molding.

13. Two sides pointed pin

The flattened sheet of mild steel raids it. It is pointed on both sides. This is called a barbed wire or nail.

Two sides pointed pin
Two sides pointed pin

Size: It is available in size as per requirement.

Uses: Used to make boat decks, butt joints.

14. Escutcheon Pin

These wood nails are small and made of brass or nickel coated. 

Escutcheon Pin

15. Deck Head Nail

It is made of soft steel and tends to be galvanized.

Deck Head Nail
Deck Head Nail

Size: It ranges in length from 36 mm to 200 mm (2.1 “/ 2 to 6”).

Uses: Used in building decks for boats and ships.

16. Fiberboard nail

It is made of iron. It looks a lot like a veneer pin but much smaller and thinner than a veneer pin.

Fiberboard nail

Size: 8mm to 20mm (1 “/ 4 to 3” / 4) tall.

Uses: Used in framing work, fiberboard sheets, and hard boards.

In addition to the above nails, there are many other types of nails whose head and point shapes are given below. These are used for special purposes in addition to general work.

The length of the nail refers to the distance from the point to the top of the head. The length of the nail is expressed in centimeters or inches.

Rules for nailing wood:

  • The nail is hit with a hammer or beaten and placed on wood or any other object.
  • When the head of the nail is about 15 mm (1 “/ 16) above the wood, it is necessary to hit the nail’s head with a nail punch and insert it into the wood.
  • If you want to put nails on hardwood, you have to make holes smaller than the nail’s diameter. As a result, the wood does not crack during nail installation, and the nail is not likely to bend.
  • If the nail is bent while inserting, it has to be removed with the help of a hammer.

About Fast Carpenter Team

Woodworking is the special activity or skill of making items from wood. It includes wood carving, joinery, carpentry, and woodturning. With the advances in modern technology and the demands of industry, woodworkers has a great opportunity in this field. In this website, we'll help you better woodworking.

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