Another key difference between a drywall nail and a traditional nail is the head. Drywall nails have a cupped head, allowing them to recess below the surface of the drywall. The cupped head allows for easy and neat finishing no matter the drywall application. Cut Nail A layer of zinc over steel will slow corrosion. While eventually the zinc will wear through, the rusting is delayed. There are two different ways in which zinc is typically applied: So, you should know that if the nail is labeled as “bright,” it means that the nail has no coating and should only be used for indoor projects. Cement These are typically used for temporary construction, such as creating a framework for pouring concrete or for theater and production set-ups. Oxidation, or rust, is the enemy of any nail which will be exposed to elements like rain or humidity. Galvanization itself is actually a simple act, in which the steel nails are either electroplated or dipped into a molten zinc mixture to give the required coating.

A nail is a small part made of metal used as a fastener, as a peg for hanging something, or sometimes as a decoration. As everyone knows, nails application is commonly found in woodworking and construction. The typical use for an 8D nail is attaching a wall plate to the subfloor. Since they’re cheaper, they’re also commonly used for attaching chalk lines to sheet goods or to act as hinges when lifting framed wall assemblies. They can also attach furring strips, sheathing, and other thinner materials. Ring Shank - Similar to the fluted masonry nails, a ring shank has textured or raised rings on the shaft of the nail. These rings provide more gripping force to the nail. A ring shank is more expensive than a smooth shank counterpart. With the extra gripping force supplied by a ring shank, it becomes necessary for use in a lot of roofing applications. Nail heads vary according to the application, as well. For instance, roofing nails incorporate thin, wide heads that both lay flat under succeeding shingles and provide a wide bearing surface against the material to keep it from tearing. Finishing nails have small heads that grip the wood slightly but enable the nails to be sunk below the surface and later puttied over. Flooring nails used to install subfloors also have wider, flat heads – and are usually ring shanked as well – again to lie flat beneath the finished flooring and to provide protection from boards working loose and developing squeaks. Due to their thin shank, box nails are not recommended for structural builds because they don’t have the strength to hold two pieces together.Duplex nails are made for temporary structures, and the purpose of the duplex design is to facilitate disassembly. When in use, the nail is hammered only to the first head, leaving a gap with the second head. When you are ready to remove, the exposed and visible second head can be easily removed by the tool. The nail size was named after the actual price of 100 nails of any given size, and the letter “d” represents a penny, from the first letter of the Roman coin denarius. When driving in a panel pin, it is common practice to use a punch to drive the head below the surface of the wood. This allows more gripping strength and the ability to neatly seal over the nail. These nails have heads that are disproportionately large compared to their shanks, helping them hold shingles or other roofing materials in place. Some roofing nails have a small (often plastic) disk, not unlike a washer, underneath the head. This increases the surface area of the material that the nail keeps in place. Annular Ring Nails

These nails are most often used on roofs as they are especially durable and resist the corrosive effects of pollution more than galvanized steel nails. They are more expensive than other options, but given that they can last for decades, they may be a better value over the long run. Brass

Collated Nails

Sinker is another nail that falls under this category. The sinker nail has a narrow shank with a head that can sink into the surface of the wood when hit with a hammer. Finish nails have slightly rounded heads so small they’re barely bigger than the nail shank. This makes these nails very thin, so they do not split the wood. Nails hammered through or up against the grain of the wood secure the nail position. Driving nails against the grain will make them come out easier. These nails, also called common wire nails or construction nails, have straight shanks and flat heads. In home construction, common nails are usually used for framing and they are typically installed with a nail gun. Duplex Nails

Drywall nails are often coated with phosphate, which increases the gripping power of the nails. (Note: phosphate coated nails should not be used on treated lumber.) Cement TIP: When nailing something heavy down or nailing something onto a vertical surface, fluted masonry nails will be the best nails for the job. Besides high-carbon and low-carbon steel, nails are available in types 304 and 316 stainless steel. Stainless steel nails are slightly less strong than ordinary steel nails and are about three times as expensive as galvanized nails, but they are much more rust resistant. Duplex nails, also known as temporary nails, were invented in 1916 by William Arthur Collings. After nearly a hundred years of development and application, duplex nails are becoming more and more popular. It is easier to drive nails into harder wood or into the end of a piece of wood if you drill a pilot hole first.

When purchasing a double-headed nail, it is usually advised to go for stainless steel as opposed to aluminum, as the aluminum can be weak when bending for removal. Drywall nails For example, used for form work when pouring concrete. Let's say you were setting up a form for pouring a section of sidewalk. You'd use this type nails to connect the forms together.