Very little need be said about brads and nails. They are made in such a great variety that it is scarcely possible to have use for any form or size which is not for sale by some dealer. Each dealer will have a number of styles and sizes suitable for his own trade, and from these you should make your selection. It is best to become somewhat acquainted with what may be purchased in your own locality before planning any project that will require any hardware beyond the most common grades. This caution is nearly as necessary for those living in cities as for those living in small towns.

There are nails with flat heads in very small sizes. For some work these are better than brads as the heads will not pull through soft wood. Some of these nails are rough or barbed on the lower end or the entire length as shown in Fig. 162-A. These are desirable for nailing such work as the shelf border in lesson 12 (Making The Corner Shelf).

Brads are made in many lengths, and the different lengths are made with different size heads and of different size wire. The larger sizes of this style of nails or brads are called finishing nails. Nails having a smaller size of wire than the common wire nails but a similar head are called box nails. These are very useful in making boxes and in fitting up about the shop.

Sometimes you will find it a good plan to fasten the work together with common brads or nails, and then cover these nail heads with the large heads of fancy nails like those shown in Fig. 162-B. These

Fig. 162B. Fancy Nails.

Fig. 162A. Barbed Nail.

fancy nails are made in a very great variety of sizes and styles. They may be used in finishing the shelf border, lesson 12 (Making The Corner Shelf).