Very few projects made out of wood can be finished with only glue as the fastening material. The different parts of a project are put together with the help of nails, screws, bolts, catches, drawer pulls, knobs, hinges, etc. These metals are called hardware. Hardware is sold at hardware stores.
Kinds and Uses of Hardware
Nails. These are usually made of steel. Others are made of brass, copper, zinc, and galvanized iron. Nails vary in sizes and shapes. It has a head and a pointed shank.
The length of the nail ranges from 2.5 cm (1 inch) to 15.24 cm (6 inches). A nail which is longer than 2.5 cm or 1 inch is called brad. The kinds of nails and their uses are:
1. Common wire nail is used for general carpentry and outdoor works. The head is hard to conceal.
2. Finishing nail has a round small head which is hammered in flush to the surface so it is partly concealed. The head is punched down by a nail set below the surface of the wood and the hole filler. It is used for furniture, flooring, and cabinets.
3. Brad nail is shorter and smaller. It is used in fixing fabric to the wood and small projects. Other kinds of brad nails are:
a. Tack nail has a large head like that of the common nail but the short shank of body is trimmed down to the point. It is used for upholstery and other similar projects.
b. Staple of U-nail is used for fixing wire, cable and netting.
4. Concrete or masonry nail is used in concrete and brick works.
5. Galvanized iron roof nail is used for roofing purposes.
Reminders in Driving Nails
1. Clean the face of the hammer from glue, grease, or dirt. Greasy and dirty face will cause the hammer to slip and hit your fingernails.
2. Nails to be driven in line should be staggered or else the wood will split.
3. When driving small nails in hardwood, first punch a hole using a bit with the same size.
4. If the point of a nail comes outside of the surface, drive it back with a set until its head protrudes just enough to be pulled out with a claw hammer.
5. Put a wooden block under a claw hammer to protect the surface of the wood when pulling a nail.
Screws. These are like nails which are also used for fastening. In some delicate work, screws are used because they hold firmly, looks better, and can be removed easily without damaging the wood. Screws are made of different sizes, shapes, and materials such as mild steel, brass, copper, metal, or aluminium. They are galvanized or plated with nickel, tin, zinc, or chromium.
The size of the screw is determined by the diameter of the shank from the rim of the head to the thread tip.
The most common screws are flat head, round head, oval or raised head, Philips head, eye screw (open or closed), and screw hooks.
1. Flathead screw is for general woodwork, hinges and other hard materials. It is driven until the head is totally or slightly imbedded. Size: 6 to 120 mm.
2. Round head screw is used for fixing hardware fittings without countersunk holes. Head protrudes from wood. It can be decorative if all slots are aligned. Size: 6 to 60 mm.
3. Oval or raised head screw is used to fix door handle plates and decorative hardware. It must be countersunk to rim. Size: 12 to 60 mm.
4. Philips head screw has a flat or oval head with two slots crossing each other but not extending to the edge of the screw head. It requires a similar screwdriver.
Bolts. These are used for making strong joints especially if the wood is to be fastened to metal or masonry (concrete).
Bolts commonly used in woodworking are machine bolt, coach or carriage bolt, stove bolt, and toggle bolt.
1. Machine Bolt is used for lighter work. It is used when fastening two pieces of wood at both ends since the flat head does not bite into the wood or push through in the wood. It is also used as a pivot for moving parts and its tightened with washer at both ends. The shape of the head is either square or hexagon. Size: up to 500 mm long, 5 to 18 mm in diameter.
2. Carriage or Coach Bolt is used for making strong joints which can be dismantled easily. The round head with a square collar locks in the wood to prevent it from turning while the nut is tightened. It uses a washer under the nut to prevent it from sinking into the wood while tightening. Size: up to 500 mm long, 5 to 18 mm in diameter.
3. Stove Bolt used for small woodworking projects. It has either round or flat head slotted for a screwdriver. The threads run from the whole length. Size: 6 to 75 mm.
Washers. These are used to prevent the wood from tearing and to allow nuts turned easily.
Nut. This is a hollow metal collar. Its internal surface carries a thread that fits the thread of a bolt. If the threads are not in conformity, the thread will become stripped or crossed when the nut is tightened.
Hinges. These are used for doors, windows, cabinets, and screens. They are sold in different sizes and shapes. The longer ones are used for attaching and fixing doors and windows. Light and small projects use smaller hinges. Hinges with screws are usually attached in pairs.
The most common hinges used on carpentry work are butt hinge, strap hinge, T-hinge, chest hinge, piano or continuous hinge, screen hinge, pivot hinge, and double-acting hinge.
1. Butt hinge has two types: the loose pin and the fixed pin. Both types are used for doors, window screens, and cabinets. A butt hinge has two rectangular leaves joined together with a pin inserted through the knuckle, the round central part of the hinges. The fixed pin has leaves that cannot be separated. Size: 30 to 100 mm.
2. Cabinet hinge is used for flush doors and cabinets that contain drawers or pull-out shelves. Hinge knuckle extends beyond the cabinet frame, allowing the cabinet frame to open through 180.
3. Chest hinge is a butt hinge with one leaf at right angle in the centre. It permits easy removal of doors for cleaning and repainting.
4. Continuous or piano hinge is another butt hinge sold by the meter. It is used for cabinets and in hinging the lids on pianos.
5. Strap hinge has long tapered leaves and is used for garage doors or large tool boxes. Size: 100 to 350 mm long.
6. T-hinge is also used for heavy doors. One of its leaves is like the butt hinge and the other leaf is like the strap hinge. Size: 100 to 350 mm long.
7. Hasp hinge consists of two parts. The first part is a square plate where a heavy wire loop is riveted. It has also a hinge with one leaf having screw holes. The second part is like a butt hinge. Its longer leaf has a slot that fits the wire loop. The hasp is a locking device used with a padlock. The leaf which is screwed to the wood is covered by the slotted leaf so that the screws cannot be removed when the hasp is locked. Size and styles vary.
The length of the nail ranges from 2.5 cm (1 inch) to 15.24 cm (6 inches). A nail which is longer than 2.5 cm or 1 inch is called brad. The kinds of nails and their uses are:
1. Common wire nail is used for general carpentry and outdoor works. The head is hard to conceal.
2. Finishing nail has a round small head which is hammered in flush to the surface so it is partly concealed. The head is punched down by a nail set below the surface of the wood and the hole filler. It is used for furniture, flooring, and cabinets.
3. Brad nail is shorter and smaller. It is used in fixing fabric to the wood and small projects. Other kinds of brad nails are:
a. Tack nail has a large head like that of the common nail but the short shank of body is trimmed down to the point. It is used for upholstery and other similar projects.
b. Staple of U-nail is used for fixing wire, cable and netting.
4. Concrete or masonry nail is used in concrete and brick works.
5. Galvanized iron roof nail is used for roofing purposes.
Reminders in Driving Nails
1. Clean the face of the hammer from glue, grease, or dirt. Greasy and dirty face will cause the hammer to slip and hit your fingernails.
2. Nails to be driven in line should be staggered or else the wood will split.
3. When driving small nails in hardwood, first punch a hole using a bit with the same size.
4. If the point of a nail comes outside of the surface, drive it back with a set until its head protrudes just enough to be pulled out with a claw hammer.
5. Put a wooden block under a claw hammer to protect the surface of the wood when pulling a nail.
Screws. These are like nails which are also used for fastening. In some delicate work, screws are used because they hold firmly, looks better, and can be removed easily without damaging the wood. Screws are made of different sizes, shapes, and materials such as mild steel, brass, copper, metal, or aluminium. They are galvanized or plated with nickel, tin, zinc, or chromium.
The size of the screw is determined by the diameter of the shank from the rim of the head to the thread tip.
The most common screws are flat head, round head, oval or raised head, Philips head, eye screw (open or closed), and screw hooks.
1. Flathead screw is for general woodwork, hinges and other hard materials. It is driven until the head is totally or slightly imbedded. Size: 6 to 120 mm.
2. Round head screw is used for fixing hardware fittings without countersunk holes. Head protrudes from wood. It can be decorative if all slots are aligned. Size: 6 to 60 mm.
3. Oval or raised head screw is used to fix door handle plates and decorative hardware. It must be countersunk to rim. Size: 12 to 60 mm.
4. Philips head screw has a flat or oval head with two slots crossing each other but not extending to the edge of the screw head. It requires a similar screwdriver.
Bolts. These are used for making strong joints especially if the wood is to be fastened to metal or masonry (concrete).
Bolts commonly used in woodworking are machine bolt, coach or carriage bolt, stove bolt, and toggle bolt.
1. Machine Bolt is used for lighter work. It is used when fastening two pieces of wood at both ends since the flat head does not bite into the wood or push through in the wood. It is also used as a pivot for moving parts and its tightened with washer at both ends. The shape of the head is either square or hexagon. Size: up to 500 mm long, 5 to 18 mm in diameter.
2. Carriage or Coach Bolt is used for making strong joints which can be dismantled easily. The round head with a square collar locks in the wood to prevent it from turning while the nut is tightened. It uses a washer under the nut to prevent it from sinking into the wood while tightening. Size: up to 500 mm long, 5 to 18 mm in diameter.
3. Stove Bolt used for small woodworking projects. It has either round or flat head slotted for a screwdriver. The threads run from the whole length. Size: 6 to 75 mm.
Washers. These are used to prevent the wood from tearing and to allow nuts turned easily.
Nut. This is a hollow metal collar. Its internal surface carries a thread that fits the thread of a bolt. If the threads are not in conformity, the thread will become stripped or crossed when the nut is tightened.
Hinges. These are used for doors, windows, cabinets, and screens. They are sold in different sizes and shapes. The longer ones are used for attaching and fixing doors and windows. Light and small projects use smaller hinges. Hinges with screws are usually attached in pairs.
The most common hinges used on carpentry work are butt hinge, strap hinge, T-hinge, chest hinge, piano or continuous hinge, screen hinge, pivot hinge, and double-acting hinge.
1. Butt hinge has two types: the loose pin and the fixed pin. Both types are used for doors, window screens, and cabinets. A butt hinge has two rectangular leaves joined together with a pin inserted through the knuckle, the round central part of the hinges. The fixed pin has leaves that cannot be separated. Size: 30 to 100 mm.
2. Cabinet hinge is used for flush doors and cabinets that contain drawers or pull-out shelves. Hinge knuckle extends beyond the cabinet frame, allowing the cabinet frame to open through 180.
3. Chest hinge is a butt hinge with one leaf at right angle in the centre. It permits easy removal of doors for cleaning and repainting.
4. Continuous or piano hinge is another butt hinge sold by the meter. It is used for cabinets and in hinging the lids on pianos.
5. Strap hinge has long tapered leaves and is used for garage doors or large tool boxes. Size: 100 to 350 mm long.
6. T-hinge is also used for heavy doors. One of its leaves is like the butt hinge and the other leaf is like the strap hinge. Size: 100 to 350 mm long.
7. Hasp hinge consists of two parts. The first part is a square plate where a heavy wire loop is riveted. It has also a hinge with one leaf having screw holes. The second part is like a butt hinge. Its longer leaf has a slot that fits the wire loop. The hasp is a locking device used with a padlock. The leaf which is screwed to the wood is covered by the slotted leaf so that the screws cannot be removed when the hasp is locked. Size and styles vary.