Ever seen one of these nails holding tongue-and-groove floorboards together in old houses? The nails are rather blunt and crude looking compared to modern nails. They seem to be made of pure iron, rather than steel, and they often have a thin coating of rust on their surface. They are nearly impossible to extract from the floor from above, because they have no head. They are extremely rigid, but fragile. When you strike them from underneath the floor with a hammer, they produce many sparks, and often snap apart after you hit them 2 or 3 times. I'm trying to determine during what time frame people built houses using this type of "antique" nail. My feeling is that they were used as late as the 1940s. Does anyone know for sure?
2006-07-07 13:36:42 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I have torn down several old barns and houses in the past and I have seen these nails before. However these nails are still in use today. They can be purchased at your local hardware store. Floors were installed using them because of the small or as you put it no head. The round head would prevent the tongue and groove from fitting together tightly if not placed right. Your right they are extremely tough and used to nail to concrete and block walls. The houses I have torn down were built around 1935 to 1940 but both types were found.
2006-07-07 13:50:14 · answer #1 · answered by Can do it man 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like 1800's to me.
2006-07-07 13:46:19 · answer #2 · answered by Mike R 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋