When you think of a hammer and nails nearly everyone forms the same picture in their mind. Since childhood nearly everyone has been brought up on what a hammer and nail should look like. In a previous article we explained the different types of hammer. But did you know there are many different types of nail too? Lowes stocks all kinds of nails and they are either sold pre-packed by count or by the pound. Using a Lowes Printable Coupon from We Are Coupons you can save money on buying nails at Lowes. But before you shop it maybe useful to know that the different types of nail are.
Different Sizes
Penny size is how nails are measured and comes from the fact this was once the price for 100 nails and is nearly always referred to as “d” and ranges from 2d (1 inch) to 60d (6 inch). Nails shorter than 1 inch are called “brads” and those longer then 6 inches are called “spikes”. It is important to select the correct length of nail baring in mind that at least 2/3 of the nail should be driven into the largest piece of material in terms of thickness.
Nail Types
The Common Nail: Used for moat construction work these nails have thick heads and the be hammered through and into tough materials. Made from wire and cut to length you can find common nails in many sizes and lengths.
The Box Nail: These popular nails are designed for and are ideal for light construction work and household purposes.
The Finishing Nail: The are light nails with a small head and are ideal for installing panelling or for other uses where you do not want the nail to show.
The Roofing Nail: These galvanized nails have a particularly large head and they are designed to prevent damage or asphalt shingles
The Drywall Nail: These are nails specifically designed for drywalling. They have indented heads and ridges along the shaft to improve holding power.
The Masonry Nail: these common nails are designed for use with concrete and brickwork and come in round, square and fluted designs. Masonry nails deliver tremendous strength however when fastening to brickwork or masonry screws or lag bolts are a better choice
The Tack: These small sharp nails are generally used to attach carpet or fabric to wood.
The Corrugated Fastener: Sometimes called wiggly nails, corrugated fasteners are used for light-duty joints where strength is not important.
