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How To Choose Nails & Screws

Part 5

Table 4 - Nail Types - Cont'd
Type	Usage & Features	Appearance
Siding	Used to attach wood siding to furring strips or studs Ringed for extra grip Galvanized for outdoor use Sizes - 2 to 3 1/2 inches
Sinker	Vinyl coated Easy to drive Designed so that top of head is flush with top of wood Excellent griping. Sizes - 1 1/4 to 5 3/4 inches
Spike	Used to fasten large dimension lumber Available galvanized for outdoor applications Available as bright smooth, bright ringed and bright spiral Sizes - 7 to 14 inches
Tack	Very sharp point Blued to prevent corrosion Common application is fixing carpeting to wood stairs and floors. Sizes - 1/2 to 1 inch
Trim	Used to install hardwood molding and trim Easy countersinking Sizes - 1 to 2 1/2 inches
Truss	Thinner than a joist hanger nail Available bright ringed or smooth Used to mount trusses Sizes - 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches
Underlayment	Used to fasten wood or composite underlayment to wood joists or wood floors Ringed shank Sizes - 1 to 2 1/2 inches
Upholstery	Decorative heads - designed to provide decoration to upholstery Thin shank allows penetration through fabrics without tears Hundreds of different styles, finishes and colors
Wrought Head Cut	Antique looking nail Primarily used for restoration work 3 sided head Sizes - 2 & 2 1/2 inch

Screws:

Screws Construction:

Screws have four parts, as shown in Figure 2:

screw parts

Figure 2 - Parts of a screw - drive, head, shank, point

Table 5 provides a listing of the different styles of screw drives that are available along with the features of each.

Table 5 - Screw Drive Styles
Appearance	Name	Features
	Slot	The earliest and most common of all drives. Available in many slot sizes.
	Phillips	Designed so that the bit should spin loose before over tightening. Popular with power drive bits.
	Square or Robertson	The square drive provides the ability to provide a lot of torque to the screw. It also allows the screw driver or power bit to grip the screw for single hand operation.
	Phillips/Square Combination	A drive of convenience allows for the use of either a Phillips or square drive screw driver.
	Star	The star head provides for a lot of torque and can be pushed on to the bit for single hand operation.
	Hex	Allows for the use of nut drivers, sockets and nut driver bits for tightening.
	Hex/Slot Combination Hex/Square Combination	Allows for the use of a different types of drivers.

Screws continued.....