You will notice the iron nails have two smooth sides and two rough ones. In using these it is necessary to drive them with the smooth sides parallel with the grain, otherwise they are sure to split the work.
Nails are classified according to their shape and gauge. The only kinds you will probably ever have occasion to use are the Common, or nail for all ordinary work; the Finishing-nail, with the small head used on finish work; and the Brad, or small-sized finishing-nail. You can buy these by calling for the length you require, but it is more businesslike to use the standard terms by which all carpenters know them.
The following table gives these terms, together with the length in inches:—
2-Penny Nails (1 inch long).
3 " " (1¼ inches long).
4 " " (1½ " " ).
5 " " (1¾ " " ).
6 " " (2 " " ).
7 " " (2¼ " " ).
8 " " (2½ " " ).
9 " " (2¾ " " ).
10 " " (3 " " ).
12 " " (3¼ " " ).
16 " " (3½ " " ).
20 " " (4 " " ).
30 " " (4½ " " ).
40 " " (5 " " ).
50 " " (5½ " " ).
60 " " (6 " " ).
All nails longer than three and a half inches (20d to 60d inclusive) are known as spikes.
It is desirable to have
A Screw-driver which will set in the clutches of your bit-stock, besides the ordinary kind, for it is more quickly operated, and screws can be driven in hard wood easier on account of the greater amount of leverage you get with it.
Holes should be drilled in hard wood before driving screws into it.