What kinds of nails are there?

Answer 1

Nails are usually used for joining pieces of wood or for fastening other materials to wood. Nails are simply hammered into place and are held there by friction. There is a tremendous variety of nails, since they are used for so many different purposes.

The ordinary all-purpose nails most of us use are called common nails.

Finishing nails, used in furniture and cabinetwork, have very small heads that do not show on the finished work.

Roofing nails have very large heads. They are used for nailing shingles or tar paper to a roof. The large head holds the thin material and keeps it from tearing loose. They are usually galvanized, which means they are coated with zinc to prevent rusting.

Cut nails are cut from sheets of metal. They are rectangular rather than round.

Two-headed nails have two heads, one above the other. The nail is driven only as far as the first head. The top head of the nail remains above the surface of the work to make it easy to pull the nail out. They are used to hold scaffolding and other temporary structures together.

Most nails are made of steel. Masonry nails, used on concrete or masonry, are made of especially hardened steel.

Nails on boots must be extra waterproof. They are usually made of brass or bronze.

Large nails are called spikes, and are usually over six inches long.

Answer 2

There are various types of nails used for different applications, such as common nails for general construction, finish nails for trim work, roofing nails for securing shingles, and concrete nails for masonry projects. Other types include brad nails for delicate trim work, spiral nails for decking, and ring-shank nails for increased holding power.