Home > Home and Garden > DIY > Useful Information > Screws and Nails > 2 of 2

sign up for free membership
Register
today for full
access to InterSites ...


The Right Nail For The Job

Job Nail
Wood sheet materials
(hardboard, plywood,blockboard)
F, G, H
Plasterboard J
Fixings to masonry M, N
Fixing metal to wood H
Hard roof coverings I, K, L
Roofing felt L
Wire to timber or brickwork Q
Holding glass to wooden frames P
Rough woodwork & heavy joinery A, B, C, D, E
Light joinery & cabinet making B, C, F
Carpet fixing O

A. Round wire nail (or French nail). Strong fixing, large head. Good for general carpentry and carcass making.

15mm 20mm 25mm 30mm 40mm
5/8in 3/4in 1in 1 1/4in 1 1/2in
         
45mm 50mm 60mm 65mm 75mm
1 3/4in 2in 2 1/4in 2 1/2in 3in
         
90mm 100mm 115mm 125mm 150mm
3 1/2in 4in 4 1/2in 5in 6in
         
180mm 200mm      
7in 8in      

B. Oval wire nail (oval lost or brad head). Good for joinery: won't usually split wood if section follows the grain and head can be punched into wood.

20mm 25mm 30mm 40mm 45mm
3/4in 1in 1 1/4in 1 1/2in 1 3/4in
         
50mm 60mm 65mm 75mm 90mm
2in 2 1/4in 2 1/2in 3in 3 1/2in
         
100mm 125mm 150mm    
4in 5in 6in    

C. Round lost head. Good for joinery; head can be punched below surface, leaving only a small hole.

15mm 20mm 25mm 30mm 40mm
5/8in 3/4in 1in 1 1/4in 1 1/2in
         
50mm 60mm 65mm 75mm  
2in 2 1/4in 2 1/2in 3in  

D. Cut floor brad. All purpose nail, strong and secure.

20mm 25mm 30mm 40mm 45mm
3/4in 1in 1 1/4in 1 1/2in 1 3/4in
         
50mm 60mm 65mm 70mm 75mm
2in 2 1/4in 2 1/2in 2 3/4in 3in
         
90mm 100mm 115mm    
3 1/2in 4in 4 1/2in    

E. Cut clasp. Good all-purpose carpentry nail with strong grip.

25mm 30mm 40mm 50mm 65mm
1in 1 1/4in 1 1/2in 2in 2 1/2in
         
75mm 90mm 100mm 115mm 125mm
3in 3 1/2in 4in 4 1/2in 5in
         
150mm 180mm 200mm    
6in 7in 8in    

F. Panel pin. Good for light joinery. Fine gauge and small head easily driven below surface.

10mm 15mm 20mm 25mm 30mm
1/2in 5/8in 3/4in 1in 1 1/4in
         
40mm 50mm 65mm 75mm  
1 1/2in 2in 2 1/2in 3in  

G. Hardboard (deep-drive or diamond point) pin. Head is self-countersinking.

20mm
3/4in

H. Screw nail. For securing sheets of ply, hardboard or metal to timber, e.g. floors.

10mm 15mm 20mm 25mm 30mm
1/2in 5/8in 3/4in 1in 1 1/4in
         
40mm 45mm 50mm    
1 1/2in 1 3/4in 2in    

I. Helical threaded nail. For corrugated sheet roofing. Helical thread gives extra-secure hold and is usually used with shaped washers.

40mm 45mm 50mm 60mm 65mm
1 1/2in 1 3/4in 2in 2 1/4in 2 1/2in
         
75mm 90mm 100mm 115mm 125mm
3in 3 1/2in 4in 4 1/2in 5in
         
150mm 180mm 200mm    
6in 7in 8in    

J. Plasterboard nail. Has jagged sides to help secure it.

30mm 40mm
1 1/4in 1 1/2in

K. Clout nail (slate nail). For fencing, roofing and fixing slates.

15mm 20mm 25mm 30mm 40mm
5/8in 3/4in 1in 1 1/4in 1 1/2in
         
45mm 50mm 65mm 75mm 90mm
1 3/4in 2in 2 1/2in 3in 3 1/2in
         
100mm        
4in        

L. Extra large head clout (felt) nail. For securing roofing felt and external fabrics.

15mm 20mm 25mm 30mm 40mm
5/8in 3/4in 1in 1 1/4in 1 1/2in

M. Pipe (chisel point) nail. For fixing drainpipes and gutters into masonry.

50mm 65mm 75mm 90mm 100mm
2in 2 1/2in 3in 3 1/2in 4in

N. Masonry nail. Made of hardened steel, it will penetrate masonry and concrete but must only be driven in using a hardened engineers' hammer.

20mm 25mm 30mm 40mm 45mm
3/4in 1in 1 1/4in 1 1/2in 1 3/4in
         
50mm 60mm 65mm 70mm 75mm
2in 2 1/4in 2 1/2in 2 3/4in 3in
         
90mm 100mm      
3 1/2in 4in      

O. Cut tack. For fixing carpets. Can also be used for upholstery.

5mm 10mm 12mm 15mm 20mm
1/4in 3/8in 1/2in 5/8in 3/4in
         
25mm 30mm      
1in 1 1/4in      

P. Sprig. A headless tack for holding glass in wooden frames.

10mm 15mm 20mm
3/8in 5/8in 3/4in

Q. Staple. Made of galvanized wire and used for fixing wire to timber. Tenterhook staples have one longer 'leg' for easy fixing.

10mm 15mm 20mm 25mm 30mm
3/8in 5/8in 3/4in 1in 1 1/4in
         
40mm 50mm      
1 1/2in 2in