Common Nails: The Workhorse Fastener of Every Hardware Order

Open any hardware store catalogue and the first page of fasteners is always the same: common nails. They are the plainest nail in the box and the most shipped, because a common nail is what holds timber together when the job does not need anything fancy. This article explains what a common nail is, how the size system works, and why importers keep ordering them by the ton.

We are Linyi Dabao hardware Products co., ltd, a nail factory in Linyi, Shandong. We make common nails from 1 to 6 inch in Q195 and Q235 steel, and we export them worldwide from Qingdao Port.

What a Common Nail Is

A common nail is a round steel wire nail with a flat head and a sharp diamond point. The shank is smooth, the head is flat, and there is no coating trick or special thread, just a straight, strong nail that drives cleanly into timber. In the trade it is also called a common wire nail, a round nail or a bright nail. It is the default fastener for general construction, carpentry, crating and packing work in almost every market.

The Size System: BWG, Length and Wire Gauge

Common nails are sized by length and by wire gauge. Length runs from 1 to 6 inch, and the wire thickness is measured in BWG, from BWG 6 for heavy nails up to BWG 16 for fine ones, which works out to wire diameters from about 1.6 to 5.2mm. The two numbers together decide the strength of the nail: longer and heavier for structural timber, shorter and finer for boards and interior work.

Material: Q195 and Q235 Low Carbon Steel

Most common nails are drawn from low carbon steel wire, and the two grades importers ask for are Q195 and Q235. Q195 is softer and drives easily, a good fit for general carpentry and light construction. Q235 is a little harder, better for load-bearing work and heavy packing frames. Both grades bend instead of snapping on the job, which is exactly what a working nail should do.

Three Finishes for Three Markets

The finish decides where the nail can be sold. Bright polished common nails are bare and clean, the everyday choice for interior work. Electro galvanized common nails carry a thin silver zinc layer, a step up for damp conditions. Hot dip galvanized common nails wear a heavy zinc coat and handle outdoor timber, coastal air and export crates. Importers usually take a mix of all three in one container.

Where Common Nails Ship

Common nails go into everything. Construction sites use them for formwork, timber frames and temporary structures. Packing plants use them for wooden cases, crates and pallets. Hardware stores sell them by the box to homeowners. That broad demand is why common nails are the first product most new importers start with, and why factories keep them in stock year round.

Buying Common Nails from the Factory

When you order common nails in bulk, confirm the length range, the BWG, the steel grade and the finish on one quotation. Check the MOQ, the delivery time and the port of shipment before you pay. We keep samples, catalogs and quotations ready, and we support OEM packing for distributors who sell under their own brand.

Meet Us at the 140th Canton Fair

The 140th Canton Fair is running now, October 15 to 19, at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China. Hardware Hall, booth 13.1F39. Come and check the common nails in person, or send us a message through our website and we will follow up with samples and prices. Contact Linyi Dabao hardware Products co., ltd for a quotation.