In the video titled “A forgotten technology from the old days of woodworking! (Cut nails)” by Stumpy Nubs (James Hamilton), viewers are introduced to the fascinating world of cut nails and their advantages over modern wire nails. James dives deep into the anatomy of nails and presents a compelling case for why cut nails should not be forgotten in today’s woodworking practices.
James begins by addressing a common belief among woodworkers: the absence of nails is often seen as a sign of good craftsmanship. This notion isn’t entirely unfounded, especially considering that modern nails don’t come close to matching the performance of their predecessors. The modern wire nail, he argues, is designed for cost-effectiveness rather than quality. While wire nails became popular in the building industry about 150 years ago, they fell short of the performance standards set by the older cut nails, especially for cabinet makers.
One of the primary reasons for the decline in the use of cut nails is simple: over time, price won out over performance, leading many to forget the superior qualities of cut nails. James sets out to remind us of these features, which he believes make cut nails a better choice for woodworking projects.
The Anatomy of Nails: A Closer Look
To understand why cut nails excel, Jamesa takes us on a historical journey, starting with an early Roman-era forged nail. These nails were handmade by blacksmiths and were quite valuable, as homeowners often extracted and took their nails with them when moving. James points out the large head and square shaft that tapers to a point, features that facilitated easy driving into wood.
As time progressed, the manufacturing process improved, leading to the creation of machine-cut nails from flat sheets of iron. James showcases a cut nail that is about 200 years old, emphasizing how its design differs from the ancient forged nail. The modern cut nail has a tapered shaft along only two of its four faces, a change that significantly impacts its performance.
The Performance of Cut Nails
When a fully tapered cut nail is driven into wood, the angled sides act as a wedge, which can split the board along the grain. However, by eliminating the taper on two sides, the risk of splitting across the grain is reduced, provided the remaining tapered sides align with the grain. This design change also enhances the nail’s gripping ability.
James highlights an essential feature that makes cut nails superior: when driven into wood, the tapered sides compress the wood fibers, creating tiny barbs that grip the nail surface and resist being pulled back out. In contrast, wire nails tend to part the fibers radially, which reduces their holding power.
Strength tests have demonstrated that cut nails possess gripping power that is nearly one and a half times greater than that of wire nails. Surprisingly, despite their wedge shape, cut nails are also less likely to split wood compared to wire nails due to their blunt tips. The sharp square corners of cut nails sever fibers and push them downward, minimizing the chances of splitting.
Considerations for Use
While James acknowledges that both cut nails and wire nails may require pilot holes to prevent splitting, he emphasizes that using a pilot hole with cut nails maintains their gripping power. This is because the pilot hole can be bored to match the cut nail’s thickness, eliminating cross-grain pressure and reducing the risk of splits.
Another advantage of cut nails is their design, which requires virtually no head due to their tapered shape that wedges the wood down. This contrasts with wire nails, which rely on larger heads for strength. Anyone who has experienced small-headed finishing nails pulling through wood will appreciate this distinction.
Why Use Nails in Fine Woodworking?
James concludes by pondering why nails are necessary at all in fine woodworking. He suggests that there are specific situations where nails are indeed the best choice for joinery, hinting at a future video where he’ll elaborate on this topic.
In the end, James makes a strong case for the old-fashioned cut nail. They hold better, split less, and offer a traditional aesthetic that many woodworkers appreciate. If you’re interested in enhancing your woodworking projects, consider revisiting the use of cut nails!