oddball nail size: 8d x 1 1/2inch

[TopJ]

No one at Lowes could help me get 8d x 1 1/2" nails. I know these are not a
standard size, but I'm pretty sure they exist since they are specified in
the instructions of this box of connectors I got at Lowes. The Lowes
people, all the way up to their top guy, say ALL 8d nails are 2 1/2". They
tell me the instructions I showed them are a typo.

The instructions say 8d nails are 0.131" diameter (11 gauge) by 1.5 inches
long.

So what's the story? Is there such a beast? How to get?

Thanks!

[Matthew S. Whiting]

I'd guess the instructions are a typo.

Matt

[Eric Ryder]

That's probably a galvanized joist hanger nail? Home Depot carried them -
look for a green/gray box (I've got 5# here if that helps:).

"TopJ" <t...@notreal.com> wrote in message
news:LREy8.27946$Ez5.6...@typhoon.neo.rr.com...

[BP]

The people a Lowes are idiots. The instructions refer to joist hanger nails.
They come 8d but usually 10d x 1.5". Been around forever. Go to real
lumberyard.

"TopJ" <t...@notreal.com> wrote in message
news:LREy8.27946$Ez5.6...@typhoon.neo.rr.com...

[Lyle B. Harwood]

In article <LREy8.27946$Ez5.6...@typhoon.neo.rr.com>, TopJ
<t...@notreal.com> wrote:

€So what's the story? Is there such a beast? How to get?

There are 1-1/2" nails, and there are 8d nails.

Nails that are sold by the penny (the "d" means eight - *penny*) come
with the diameter and length already set. The only choices are finish,
point, shank, and head.

8d is not a diameter measurement, it is an ancient English way of
selling nails. "Penny" is a corruption of "pound", and the unit of
measure was (and is) per thousand. Therefore, 8 penny nails weigh 8
lbs. per thousand, 4 penny nails weigh 4 lbs. per thousand, and so on.

8d nails are a set length. You can have 8d nails, or you can have
1-1/2" nails.

You can calculate the length of a penny nail by dividing by four, and
adding a half-inch. Therefore, 8d nails are 2-1/2" long. Period.

Today, nails are sold by the pound. You can buy a pound of 8d nails, or
you can buy a bag with as many pounds as you want. Real lumberyard have
a bin on a turntable that you can scoop nails out of, and a scale right
there to weigh it. Also, there are 50 lb. "kegs" of nails, (actually
cardboard boxes) that you can buy. 50 lb. kegs used to be a lower
price, but now Home Depot, Eagle, and Lowe's is spoiling us, by selling
1, 5, 10 and 50 lb. boxes, all at the same price per pound.

Usually, when length is mentioned, you're talking about nails for a
nail gun- "gun nails". These nails specify length and diameter because
different gun manufacturers use different dimensions.

And there you have it. The condensed history of nail sizes, according
to Lyle.

Best of luck, and let us know how your project turns out!

--
Lyle B. Harwood, President
Phoenix Homes, Inc.
(206) 523-9500 www.phoenixhomesinc.com

[David E. Lavelle]

> You can calculate the length of a penny nail by dividing by four, and
> adding a half-inch. Therefore, 8d nails are 2-1/2" long. Period.

Then 16's are 4 1/2" ??!!
--
Dave Lavelle
D.E.L. Drywall, Inc.
Wilmington, DE

[AJ]

>The instructions say 8d nails are 0.131" diameter (11 gauge) by 1.5 inches
>long.
>
>So what's the story? Is there such a beast? How to get?
>
>Thanks!
>

As others have said they are joist hanger nails. The confusion comes
in because they are displayed next to the hangers in almost all
stores. Instead of being in the nail department. Hangers don't meet
code without them, so they really must be sold together.

[Spinman]

You are right David..I don't think that theory works 12D would be 3.5 but
they aren't they are 3.25. It might only work for 8's unless he is leaving
some rule out.
By the way Dave, do you run finishing tools?? How busy are you guys?? and is
it all Mexicans working for ya?

Vince

"David E. Lavelle" <dla...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:3CCB37...@earthlink.net...

[harriswest]

Ask for "joist hanger" nails. I've seen 10.5 and 9 gauge locally, both
of which are thicker (exceed the spec.)
--
Mike Harris
Austin, TX

[David E. Lavelle]

> By the way Dave, do you run finishing tools??

Yep. The only way to go.

> How busy are you guys??

I can't remember the last time when I took more than two days off in a
row.

> is it all Mexicans working for ya?

Nope. All American! They have taken over the majority of the work in
this area though. The SOP seems to be one main ( or legal! ) guy who
takes the motherload, and a bunch of underpaid helpers. While I have
seen a few crews who produce decent work, most put out pure garbage.
Are you in the trade?

[tony goldenberg]

Hi, Just get 1 1/2" galvanized joist hanger nails. You can then use
them in or outside and you will be fine. They are referred to as Teco
nails in some places. good luck. tonyg

[Don Linsenbach]

"TopJ"> wrote

> No one at Lowes could help me

<snip>

LOL, for some reason, I believe you !
(Lowes is a Borg)

[BP]

I have no idea about the origins of nail nomenclature, but I do know the
current 20th/21st century system pretty well. (I am basing all info here on
the "size & type chart" on the back of a box of PRUDENTIAL brand nails
[Clous Clavos for you Canadian folks]).
It looks like the d stands loosely for diameter (for each type of nail). The
nails are sold by diameter (d) and length (inches). Every box of nails in my
shed is labeled this way: 8d-2 1/2", 16d-3 1/2", etc. But the diameter is
different for each type of nail. There are 8d common nails, but there are
also 8d box, 8d finish, 8d underlayment, 8d flooring, 8d spiral, 8d cut, 8d
masonry, 8d stainless steel, as well as roofing, drywall, maybe more, but
that's all I gots in the shed now. Every diameter is different for each type
of 8d nail. But a joist hanger nail is labeled (on a box of SIMPSON nails)
as 10d-1 1/2" hot galv. It looks like gun nails are moving-on-up to a more
modern labeling method. My boxes are gun nails are labeled by diameter and
length also, but the diameter is listed as a measure: .120 x 3 1/4". Much
better (?).

"Lyle B. Harwood" <ly...@invalid.phoenixhomesinc.com> wrote in message
news:aafbjr$fh8$0...@216.39.146.232...

> In article <LREy8.27946$Ez5.6...@typhoon.neo.rr.com>, TopJ
> <t...@notreal.com> wrote:
>

> ?So what's the story? Is there such a beast? How to get?

[npj]

as you have seen these are joist hangers nails. we sell them annually by the
ton here at our little real lumber yard here in rural mn. i am not
surprised that the gang at lowes or home depot doesn't know them. they don't
seem to deal with a lot of builders at least out here. most are 10d
galvanized and are way cool to install with a stanley bostich palm nailer.
npj
"BP" <powe...@110.neXt> wrote in message
news:ucnvjvo...@corp.supernews.com...

[harriswest]

npj wrote:
>
> as you have seen these are joist hangers nails. we sell them annually by the
> ton here at our little real lumber yard here in rural mn. i am not
> surprised that the gang at lowes or home depot doesn't know them. they don't
> seem to deal with a lot of builders at least out here. most are 10d
> galvanized and are way cool to install with a stanley bostich palm nailer.

In their defense, I have run into knowledgable folks at the "cash and
carry" stores. Unfortunately, it's usually when the local industry is
in the shitter. When things pick up, those who "can," go out and "do"
and leave the big-box stores staffed with ignorant teenagers and
ex-welfare moms.

Hey, it's great that the chains can hire the formerly unemployable, but
let them get their professional training with the DIYs and leave me out
of the whole equation.
--
Mike "Politically incorrect" Harris
Austin, TX

[endr...@gmail.com]

I try not to say this but, sometimes those guys are terrible. Got to home depot, they're in he nail section.

[jloomis]

Cut it off.
Buy a common 6 or 7 (smaller length)
Could be a typo also.
Are they simpson strong tie nails?
Some are 1 1/2 for Simpson Connectors....Joist nails....
john

wrote in message
news:70f039a0-30d0-4c99...@googlegroups.com...