Any carpenters out there

37chief · Jul 18, 2014

I go into my local hardware store to pick up some #16 nails. I have a choice of: box nails, common nails coated, or sinkers coated, then there are galvanized, and zinc coated. I guess the galvanized, and zinc coated are for outside, but what about the others?What are the different classes of nails used for. I usually grab the closest box and head for the checkout. It's a little late in life to find out I have been making wrong choices in selecting nails, but it will be good for future selections. thanks, Stan

MarkB_MI · Jul 18, 2014

I use 16 penny "ardox" nails for everything. These are galvanized twist nails intended for exterior construction. The twist holds well in both end grain and cross grain, unlike ring shank nails which don't hold well in end grain. You can use galvanized nails indoors but you can't use bare nails outdoors. Try to get US-made nails if possible.

Another nail I use a lot are 10d Maze galvanized "siding" nails, available at Lowes. These are also twist nails and are good for spots where a 16 penny nail is overkill.

Billy NY · Jul 18, 2014

Commons are usually for rough framing, 16d, 12d 10D, 16d's are the most common for most nominal lumber. Shorter but the same shank size, may be used for thinner lumber or materials. The rest are thinner, have other purposes, trim, cedar shakes, sheathing, underlayment. Tninner so they don't split. Coated, I think add grip when set, you know I worked in a busy lumber yard for 4 years and dealt with these, filling orders, I'm starting to forget !!!! LOL !

Galvanized are for exterior applications but you have to check to see if they are compatible with some of these newer wood preservatives, some are not I believe.

It may help to look that up on the net, there has to be a fastener and or nail chart, I'll see if I can find one, easy reference ought to make it simple to understand.

Here is one, there are a bunch for you to look at, use the web to do a search, you'll enjoy reading the information
Nail chart

teddy52food · Jul 18, 2014

A 16 sinker is the same size as a 12.

bison · Jul 18, 2014

(quoted from post at 08:32:56 07/18/14) I use 16 penny "ardox" nails for everything. These are galvanized twist nails intended for exterior construction. The twist holds well in both end grain and cross grain, unlike ring shank nails which don't hold well in end grain. You can use galvanized nails indoors but[b:a8f0da2bb8] you can't use bare nails outdoors.[/b:a8f0da2bb8] Try to get US-made nails if possible.

Another nail I use a lot are 10d Maze galvanized "siding" nails, available at Lowes. These are also twist nails and are good for spots where a 16 penny nail is overkill.

ll of my 7500 feet corral board on my place is nailed with plain 6" spirals.
The boards do rot over time but i never saw a rusted trough nail yet.

Dick2 · Jul 18, 2014

Since they came out with cordless screwdrivers, I use more screws than nails.

JRSutton · Jul 18, 2014

always kinda wondered what the difference was between galvanized and zinc coated.

Phil in Pa · Jul 18, 2014

There's so little difference in price that I almost never use bright common anymore. We often use coated or galvanized even for form carpentry.

Common nails will start to rust in the box if they're not in a real dry environment.

MarkB_MI · Jul 18, 2014

True hot-dipped galvanized nails are electroplated then dipped in molten zinc.

MarkB_MI · Jul 18, 2014

>all of my 7500 feet corral board on my place is nailed with plain 6" spirals.

Let me guess: you don't live east of the Mississippi, do you?

It's your fence and you can build it however you like, but if I was spending 20 grand on fencing materials I don't think I'd skimp on the nails.

bison · Jul 18, 2014

(quoted from post at 11:38:54 07/18/14) >all of my 7500 feet corral board on my place is nailed with plain 6" spirals.

Let me guess: [b:596c1751f1] you don't live east of the Mississippi, do you[/b:596c1751f1]?

It's your fence and you can build it however you like, but if I was spending 20 grand on fencing materials[b:596c1751f1] I don't think I'd skimp on the nails.[/b:596c1751f1]

Nope, i didn't think it mattered.

Like i said, plain nails don't really rust off here in Northern Alberta.

I just replaced a section of rotted boards on my corral system., they been on there for 18 years,..most of the nails i pulled out were still shiny and i would've re-used them if it wasn't such a PITA straitening them

Prawn Farmer · Jul 18, 2014

Sold this brand for 30 years. Don't know who owns them now, but back then they were a family owned business up in northern Illinois.
Some good info here:

ryanwheelock · Jul 18, 2014

I've seen nails rust threw here in northern Michigan but they did last more than 40-50 years.

Bret4207 · Jul 18, 2014

I just did a google search and I can't find the old standby nail charts from high school shop in the 60's/70's that had every type and size of nail ever used. What's happened to this world! Anyway, find a set of Audels Carpenters Guides and you'll find out all about nails.

JRSutton · Jul 18, 2014

I always use maze stainless steel nails for cedar siding, and other outdoor projects.

Not cheap, and probably overkill in many cases, but it feels good using them.

MarkB_MI · Jul 18, 2014

I've seen interior nails rust out in a few years under the right (or rather wrong) conditions. I got in the habit of buying only galvanized or stainless steel nails when I lived on the beach in North Carolina. The lifespan of a bright nail there is measured in days rather than years.

I've been working on a house we bought at a tax foreclosure auction. Naturally all the pipes were broken, so I was fixing the leaks one at a time. I found one leak right in a floor plate, so I cut out the pipe and replaced it. Looking at the bad section, I was surprised to see not a split, but rather a neat pinhole. Someone had hit the pipe with a finish nailer, but the nail plugged its own hole. As the house sat vacant for a few years, the nail rusted away and opened the hole. There was no trace left of that nail, save a rust stain.

C Kain · Jul 18, 2014

What is best nail to attach framing to treated 4x6 posts, as in starting a pole building ?

Billy NY · Jul 18, 2014

Probably best to ask for a little more info, any shear loads involved, and or what are the posts treated with ? CCA or copper chromated arsenate was ok with galvanized nails, its these newer preservatives you have to check to see what is compatible. Allegedly you can still get CCA for Ag and industrial purposes. I think its ACQ preservative that has issues with galvanized fasteners.

I would venture a guess, you may want to research the type of wood framing you plan to use, see if you can find any technical information on fastener sizes.

The above chart has some loading and other information, though not friendly to the layman, besides the wood preservative, you may want to check the loading first, could be common nails or larger barn spikes you are after.

Hammer house · Jul 18, 2014

Interesting subject on the nails.
Long time ago I was looking for A job. I went to Galveston, Tx. to see my cousin, he worked at A nail factory.We went there and I was interview for the job. The man said be here at 8:00 AM. Monday.

Well I went to work there in the nail factory making nails. {All new to me}
After A week working with another man, I was asigned to 6/8 machines by my self. Yes I did learn how to make nails. That was A noisey place to work.
I did not know there was so many difference kinds of nails.

I worked there until I was drafted in the Army. I did not go back there when I got out of the Army.

Hammer Man

Paul from MI · Jul 18, 2014

I have an ongoing problem with my deck, built of treated lumber, not creosote. Screws with dacrotized finish are rusting off after 25 years. I'm replacing them with newer ones made specifically for decks, but no idea how long they'll last. The hot dipped twisted galvanized nails I used to build the original deck 30 years ago are still good, but do work up over time. Good thing I can still con my 14 year old grandson into helping me fix the problem.

ss55 · Jul 18, 2014

What kind of equipment did the factory use, rotary continuous motion machines, or four slide machines?

john in la · Jul 18, 2014

I agree with you Dick2.
About the only nails I use anymore shoot out the end of a nail gun. Other than that I use screws.

Dr. Walt · Jul 19, 2014

Bret4207:

Try this:

https://www.google.com/webhp?
source=search_app#q=nail+sizes+chart

Doc

Hammer house · Jul 19, 2014

These machines was very old. I don t know what kind you would call them .
The co. name, Dickerson weatherproof nail Co.
They had A nail factory in, Galveston, Tx, Houston Tx, Evanston, Illinois.

That was in 1951/1952 when I worked there.
I think they have closed down now.

I search Google to see if I could find A pic. like the ones I worked on. But all I could I could find was later model.

Hammer Man

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