Comments on: Stock Your Shop With the Right Nails

By: hfx942

hfx942 — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 01:28:18 +0000

Hi Chris
I’m using the cut nails subject matter to wedge in a question about your recommendation of using cut nails in Woodworking Magazine #6 (Simple Seachest) to nail into end grain as a way of fastening side to front.
I have been taught that it is bad form to fasten into endgrain with nails or screws. Also it’s not worth the effort to glue endgrain. One should try to use dowels (blind, Miller,or otherwise).
Do you care to comment?

By: LJBickett

LJBickett — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:03:48 +0000

Hi Chris, I’m a little late responding to this blog. LaBelle was a fine U.S. manufacturer of Cut Nails for many years. In recent years they were only making Masonry and Flooring nails. On a positive note, we have acquired some of the LaBelle equipment and will continue to provide Hardened Masonry nails to their customers along with our many styles of Cut Nails. Thank you for recommending our nails, which are all made right here in the U.S.A.

Larry Bickett
Production Controller
Tremont Nail Company

By: James3one

James3one — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:36:09 +0000

Also check your local flea market or antique mall. I walked out with a zip-lock bag full of cut nails in a variety of sizes. They were slightly rusted but functional, which is fine by me as I tend to make reproduction furniture and the rust is desired by the clients. This is also the source for most of my hand tools.

By: CallMeAl

CallMeAl — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:10:00 +0000

you can also check with your local blacksmith. (Yes, these still exist.) They can often custom make nails, which most should chuckle about until they realize you are serious.

There are a couple of places to look to find them, as most of them have advanced beyond mere coal for smithing, but I’d suggest checking out SOFA (Southern Ohio Forge and Anvil) for a list. You can also check out your local phone book for Blacksmiths. (They may also be under “metal shops” or “machine shops.”)

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:12:29 +0000

Based on the photos, I strongly suspect those are Tremont nails being resold. Tremont does a fair amount of wholesale business. I’ve seen their nails at Rockler and other hardware suppliers.

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:10:41 +0000

That would explain why they haven’t answered my e-mails.

That is an incredible loss for woodworking.

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:07:57 +0000

Kim,

Pilots are an art. Start with 3/32″ for most of the smaller nails. If you are close to the end of a board, you might need a bigger pilot to keep from splitting the end.

If you are in a softer wood (pine, poplar) you can get away with a smaller pilot because the wood compresses.

When I begin nailing near the end of a board, I usually make a test joint with a pilot and see what works.

By: cdpond

cdpond — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:39:27 +0000

They’re excellent and I’ve personally used them on many projects. On a quasi-related topic they also sell copper nails, which I’ve found great for garden projects, as well as afixing copper trim and postcaps around my property.

Lee Valley typically isn’t the least expensive show in town, but they do carry a lot of unique and hard to find products.

By: cdpond

cdpond — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 01:35:08 +0000

http://www.leevalley.com

They carry four sizes of cut nails, all nicely finished and really nice quality. Price is reasonable as well (in my assessment). If you have a store close to you they’re a great source, otherwise their eStore is fine as well.

By: 14 kmccolly

14 kmccolly — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:56:10 +0000

Another source for cut nails is Lehman’s:

http://www.lehmans.com/store/Tools_Farm___Old_Fashioned_Steel_Cut_Nails?Args=&customField1=W9