Fasteners, Adhesives

and Clamping

• Most wood products must be

fastened together.
• There are several methods to
accomplish this.
• Different types of glues, nails,
screws and other fasteners can be
used.
 Nails
• Most nails are made out of mild
steel on automatic machines.
• Others are made from other
metals such as copper, stainless
steel, aluminum and brass.
• Some have coatings such as
galvanized nails for better
weather resistance.
• Nail size is indicated by the
letter “d” which is the English
symbol for penny.
• 2d nails are 1inch long & 60d
nails are 6 inches long.
• Nail lengths increase ¼” for each
additional d. (a 4d nail would be 1
½” long)
• Nails are generally sold by the
pound.
• Nails commonly used in
Woodworking are:
COMMON

BOX
FINISH
CASING

BRAD

SPIRAL SHANK
RING SHANK

ESCUTCHEON
• Common nails have flat heads
and are used for framing.
• Box nails also have flat heads
but has a smaller shank which is
less likely to split the wood.
• Finish nails have small round
heads which can be set below
the surface of the wood.
• Casing nails are heavier than
finishing & have a tapered head.
• Finish nails smaller than 2d are
called brads.
• Brads are available in many
sizes.
• Escutcheon nails are used to
fasten decorative plates such as
hinges or lock. Half-Round head
is left exposed. (usually made of
brass or copper)
• Spiral-shank & ring shank nails
have a straight thread appearance
& have good holding power. A
sample application is drywall
installation.
We’ve nailed
this topic down
 We’ll try not to
screw this up.
Wood
Screws

• Wood screws are used when a

product needs to have extra
holding power or disassembled.
• Screw size diameters are based on
wire gage size which vary from 0
to 24. Each gage size is a specific
diameter.
• Screw lengths average from ¼” to
6” in length.
• Can be made from a variety of
metals depending on use required.
• Shape of screw heads are generally
flat, round or oval.
• Flat head screws fit flush with
surface of stock.
• Round head screw fit on top of
surface.
• Oval head screws are partially
recessed into surface.

Length Length

Gage Gage

Length

Gage
• Screw head recesses vary greatly.
• The two most common are
A Slotted and B Philips head.
• Other types include: C Clutch,
D Square, E Torx, F Hex.

A B C D E F
 Screw Installation
• Use proper size screw driver for
the screw being used..

A: Just right
B: To small
C: To big
A B C

D: Proper grind on
tip of blade

E: Improper grind on
blade – rounded,
E slanted, beveled.
 Drilling Holes For Screws

• Two holes should be drilled, the

Clearance hole and Pilot hole.
• Clearance should be same size as
shank diameter of screw.
• Pilot should be a little smaller
than the root (smallest) diameter
of thread.
• Holes for flat head screws should
be countersunk so head fits flush
with surface of wood.
• Some applications require a
counter-bored hole to recess the
screw below the wood surface.
 Countersink

Pilot Hole Clearance

Root Shank
Diameter Diameter
 Other Bolts
& Fasteners

Hex Head Slotted

Cap Screw Flat Cap Carriage

Elevator Frame Plow

Serrated Flange Step Hanger

 Lag Screw Philips Bugle
Shield Head Drywall

Square Recess Dowel Screws

Particle Board

Lag Bolt
There are hundreds of different types
Of fasteners for special applications.
We have only listed a few to give you
Some idea of the variety available.

Corrugated
Fasteners

Round
Staples Flat Staples
 Power Nailers and
Screw Drivers
Used to drive a variety of nails & screws.
Fast, no need to pre-drill in hardwoods.

Finish Nailer Drill Driver

Framing Gun Brad Nailer

 Reinforcement of
Wood Joints
• Glue Blocks: help square and
strengthen a joint – often used to
attach tops of dressers or cabinets to
a base.
• Wood Dowels: cylindrical stock
made of birch.
– Diameters range fro 1/8” to 1”
– Usually in 3 or 4 foot lengths
– Short Dowels specifically made
for joinery have grooves to allow
air escape
 Feather: is a thin strip
Of wood used to
Reinforce corners.

Biscuits: made of beech

Used in plate joinery.
Glue expands biscuit to
Make very strong joint.

Splines: are thin strips of stock that

Are inserted into grooves of adjacent
Parts of a joint.
 Adhesives
• Some Adhesives (glues) are
actually stronger than the stock.
• Rubber cement: used to bond
paper, cardboard, felt & other
porous materials. Temporary
bonds are formed by applying to
only 1 surface, permanent by
applying to two surfaces.
• Contact cement: used to fasten
plastic laminates to solid stock.
Used in counter top construction.
Glue is applied to both surfaces &
allowed to set up.
• Plastics Cement: Sets quickly
to form a waterproof bond.
Used for a variety of repair jobs.
• White Liquid Resin Glue:
(polyvinyl acetate) most
common type. Used for interior
applications – not waterproof –
not very heat resistant - sets and
dries in about 30 min. Good gap
filling quality.
• Animal glue: made from
animal hooves or hides – one of
the oldest types – not
waterproof.
• Plastic Resin glue: (urea-
formaldehyde) – good moisture
resistance and very strong.
Comes in powder form &
mixed with water. Dries to a
hard & brittle substance.
• Aliphatic Resin glue: (yellow
glue) – resists heat & chemicals.
Sands easily – sets in about 45
minutes. Does not resist
moisture.
• Resorcinal glue: Powder mixed
with water & a catalyst. Very
strong & waterproof. Needs 12
to 16 hours clamping time.
Leaves dark glue line.
• Casein Glue: made from milk
curd. Is water resistant, strong &
is useful with oily wood like
cypress. Tends to stain woods like
maple & oak.
• Epoxy Cement: Two part cement
with a resin & hardener.
Extremely strong, waterproof &
can be sanded. Setting speed can
be controlled with various
hardeners. Epoxies are cured by
chemical reaction producing heat.
• Hot Glue: For temporary bonds
not requiring strength. Sticks are
used in a hot glue gun.
 Clamping Devices

Bar Clamps: for larger work.

                            

Edge Clamps:
Corner / Miter
clamps

C-Clamps
 Clamps

Spring Clamps
Parallel Clamps

Pipe Clamps
Strap Clamps