wire nail,
No. 1, common. c. Finishing nail, or brad.]

Wrought nails are worked into shape from hot steel, and have little
or no temper, so that they can be bent over without breaking, as when
clinched. Horseshoe- and trunk-nails are of this sort. They are of the
same shape as cut nails.

Wire nails are made from drawn steel wire, and are pointed, headed,
and roughened by machinery. They are comparatively cheap, hold nearly
if not quite as well as cut nails, which they have largely displaced,
can be bent without breaking, and can be clinched.

Nails are also classified according to the shape of their heads; as,
common or flat-heads, and brads or finishing nails. Flat-heads are
used in ordinary work, where the heads are not to be sunk in the wood
or "set."

Some nails get their names from their special uses; as, shingle-nails,
trunk-nails, boat-nails, lath-nails, picture-nails, barrel-nails, etc.

The size of nails is indicated by the length in inches, and by the
size of the wire for wire nails. The old nomenclature for cut nails
also survives, in which certain numbers are prefixed to "penny." For
example, a threepenny nail is 1-1/4" long, a fourpenny nail is 1-1/2"
long, a fivepenny nail is 1-3/4" long, a sixpenny nail is 2" long. In
other words, from threepenny to tenpenny 1/4" is added for each penny,
but a twelvepenny nail is 3-1/4" long, a sixteenpenny nail is 3-1/2"
long, a twentypenny nail is 4" long. This is explained as meaning
that "tenpenny" nails, for example, cost tenpence a hundred. Another
explanation is that originally 1000 of such nails weighed a pound. The
size of cut nails is usually still so indicated. Nails are sold by the
pound.

The advantages of nails are that they are quickly and easily applied,
they are strong and cheap, and the work can be separated, tho with
difficulty. The disadvantages are the appearance and, in some cases,
the insecurity.

The holding power of nails may be increased by driving them into the
wood at other than a right angle, especially where several nails unite
two pieces of wood. By driving some at one inclination and some at
another, they bind the pieces of wood together with much greater force
than when driven in straight.

The term brads was once confined to small finishing nails, but is
now used for all finishing nails, in distinction from common or
flat-headed nails. The heads are made round instead of flat so that
they may be set easily with a nailset and