Lost Art Press Excerpt: Nail Types and Techniques for Woodworking
An excerpt from the book 'Smalls: 18 Well-designed, Easy Projects for an Afternoon in the Workshop' details the use of four nail types: cut nails, square-shanked die-forged nails, and 18-gauge and 23-gauge nail-gun nails. Cut nails, made by Tremont, include headless brads and clout nails. Square-shanked Rivierre nails are recommended for decorative use due to their diamond-shaped heads. Both cut and square-shanked nails require pilot holes drilled to two-thirds the nail's length. For cut nails, the wide side must align with the grain to prevent splitting. Hammers such as vintage Plumb (16 oz) or Exeter (8-10 oz) are suggested. Air-driven brads and pins need no pilot holes but require careful alignment to avoid blowouts.
Key facts
- Four nail types are used: cut nails, square-shanked die-forged nails, 18-gauge brads, and 23-gauge pins.
- Cut nails are made by Tremont, the only remaining manufacturer.
- Square-shanked Rivierre nails have diamond-shaped heads for decorative use.
- Pilot holes for cut and square-shanked nails should be two-thirds the nail's length.
- For cut nails, the wide side must be aligned with the grain to prevent splitting.
- Recommended hammers: 16 oz vintage Plumb or 8-10 oz Exeter.
- 18-gauge brads have rectangular heads resembling cut nail holes.
- 23-gauge pins leave tiny holes but have low holding power.
Entities
Institutions
- Lost Art Press
- Tremont
- Rivierre
- Plumb
- Exeter