What Is the Difference Between Brads & Nails?
The nail has been the common way to attach building materials for centuries. You would have no trouble identifying a nail if you saw one. If you needed some nails for a construction project, however, you would need to do a little research. For instance, if you were replacing the baseboard in a newly painted room, you would need to know the difference between a nail and a brad before making your purchase. Does this Spark an idea?
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Definition
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Nails come in all shapes and sizes. Dictionary.net defines brad as a small nail. Therefore, brad and nail appear to be synonymous. Further investigation, however, reveals that the term brad refers to the brad head nail. This is a specific kind of nail used in construction for interior finish work. Brad head nails have a cupped head that penetrates below the surface of the wood, leaving a smaller hole to fill. This gives a smoother finished appearance. Therefore, "finishing nail" is a more complete definition for the word brad.
Considerations
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Some nails have a flat, circular head. According to Rafael Garcia, a licensed contractor in Florence, Oregon, nails are the preferred fasteners in construction because "nails give, allowing the frame to move with the structure as it shifts and settles." Therefore, common construction nails have a smooth body and are not ribbed like the screw. There must be a certain amount of grab in the nail, however, for it to take hold and fasten the materials together.
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Grab Factor
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Builders must consider the "grab factor" when choosing the appropriate nail for construction jobs. Some materials, like wood, grab the nail better than others. Concrete will break before grabbing a smooth bodied nail, so builders use spiral nails that take hold gradually when hammered into the material. Most nails have a smooth body with a plastic coating added to increase the grab into the wood. Small finishing nails have the same flat heads as common nails. Carpenters grasp the nail beneath this head to protect their fingers while driving the nail into place. These nails leave a larger hole to fill than the brad.
Brad Head
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Molding fills in the gaps between windows and walls. Moldings and door frames are extra pieces added to fill in gaps between ceilings and floors or window and door openings. Carpenters attach them using finishing nails. Regular finishing nails have the same flat head as other nails. Although the head is very small, it still leaves a larger hole to fill than the brad head. Therefore, carpenters prefer the brad head for finishing work.
Modern Technology
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An example of modern technology. Nail design hasn't changed much since the 16th century. Although the nail has remained the same, methods of hammering or driving the nail into place have changed due to advances in technology. This is especially true for the brad head nail. Brad head nails now come in attached rows that can be put into specially designed staple guns used to drive the nails into place. Not only does this save time, it also protects the carpenter's fingers and hands.
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References
- Photo Credit square head nails image by Jeffrey Sinnock from Fotolia.com hammer and nails image by Horticulture from Fotolia.com nails image by Kimberly Reinick from Fotolia.com windows with red frames image by leafy from Fotolia.com heavy duty stapler image by Christopher Dodge from Fotolia.com
