NAILS: A simple question???

Terry King <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> ...you can tell I'm building something 'cause I got lotsa questions!
>
> This one: What's the best type of nail to use in freshly-cut
> hemlock? This is mostly for floorboards; the frame is post&beam.
> Also will be for SOME small framing for siding, and for roof
> purlins before metal roofing.
>
> Are Galvanized common nails needed or desireable? I got one
> opinion that said "The wood is going to dry and stay dry and
> the common nails will rust just a bit and then they'll grab
> better than the galvanized. What's your experience / opinion??
>
> The nails look OK on a small shed I built with common nails, but
> this is more important to me.
>
> Thanks!

Well, I don't know from rusted common nails, but I know that if you
can get a galvanized ring shank nail to even *sink* into wood (I could
barely drive them through T111 into fir 2x4--they were 8d and I bent 2
for every one I drove) that that sumbitch ain't NEVER COMING OUT.
Never.

Other than that, for 2x framing (never done Post & Beam) I use common
nails just because galvanized are harder to drive. If you've got time
and patience, hot-dipped galvanized (not electro-plated) hold much
better, IME.

However, if you're relying on a nail to keep 2 pieces of wood from
literally pulling apart, you should be using a screw or a lag bolt or
a drilled hole with a bolt and nut (with washers).

Hope I didn't serve to confuse you further. Good luck.

-Phil Crow