When you are framing your interior walls, the size of nail you use is quite important. Sure, you can use any old nail, but one that is too thick or too thin, or too long or too short, can cause issues. Therefore, using the right size of nail is extremely important. Let’s get right to it and tackle this issue of nail sizes for framing walls.
Nail Sizes and Their Purposes
We want to go over the various nail sizes and what each size is best used for when it comes to framing. Some of the most common ones include 16d nails, 10d nails, 8d nails, and 6d nails, so we will be focusing mainly on those.
6d Nails
6d nails are some of the smaller ones that you are going to use for framing. There are 6d common and 6d box nails. Now, these things feature a shank length of 2 inches with a diameter of 0.12 inches. The diameter of the head here is 17/64 inches.
They don’t have the largest diameter, so they are not used as much as some other sizes, but they still get used. These are great to use for small interior framing needs, for those times when you might need a small nail. They are great if you need something small that won’t crack smaller boards and studs.
8d Nails
8d nails are fairly commonly used in framing walls. These nails feature a length of 2.5 inches, with diameter of 0.134 inches. They feature a head diameter of 9/32 inches. These are great for tasks that don’t need a huge nail, but do need something substantial.
These 8d nails are best for attaching furring strips, to attach subfloors to other materials, for attaching studs to wall plates, and for driving nails at an angle. These are often used when angled nailing is required, such as for attaching studs. This is a very common type of nail you should be able to find in any hardware store.
10d Nails
10d nails are larger than 8d nails, and they feature a shaft length of 3 inches, with a diameter of 0.148 inches. The head diameter on 10d nails may be slightly larger than the head size on 8d nails, but not by much.
10d nails are best used for joining two flat board faces or for joining studs. These are fairly large, and therefore ideal for attaching two fairly large objects. They are best nailed in a straight fashion, but if necessary, also work pretty well for angled purposes too.
16d Nails
One of the most commonly used nail sizes in framing is the 16d nail. These are generally the largest nails used for framing. 16d nails come in at 3.5 inches in length, with a diameter of 0.162 inches, although there are some specific ones which are a bit narrower. What you need to know here is that 16d nails come in two common types — common nails and sinkers.
Sinkers have a textured head, which can be useful to prevent the hammer from slipping. What is also important to note is that sinkers usually have some kind of vinyl or epoxy coating, so they very easily slide into wood. The most common uses for these 16d nails include fastening various framing materials, like rim joints and wall plates, for those tasks that require a large and hefty nail.
A Word on Metal Anchors
When you are framing an interior wall, you might also need a metal anchor. Metal anchors come in various designs and sizes, which is why they are so great for multiple uses. You can find simple sleeve anchors, molly bolts, toggle bolts, bolt anchors, and more.
Depending on the type of anchor, they can be used with concrete, drywall, cement, and wooden walls, and are often used to secure hand rails, roof rafters, and other such items.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different nail sizes, and each of them has its own specific purposes. So, before you start framing your interior walls, be sure to get the right type and size of nail for the task at hand. Chances are almost 100% that you will end up using multiple nail sizes for framing, so be sure to do your homework before buying any nails.