How to Stock up on Traditional Fasteners

If you build traditional casework with traditional joints and fasteners then you already know the local hardware store is of little use when you need some 4d rosehead nails.

Lucky for us, there’s the Internet, which can be a pretty good hardware store.

Several readers have asked about what fasteners they should keep in stock in their shop. The answer is, of course, it depends on what you build. The following is a list of what I always keep on hand in my shop and what I use each fastener for.

Cut Nails from Tremont Nail Co.
• Fine finish nails, 6d (2”). For assembling full-size casework components in 3/4” and 7/8” material.

• Fine finish nails, 4d (1-1/2”). For assembling casework, especially toenailing shelves and dividers into dadoed case sides. Or for nailing from the outside of a carcase into a frame that is dadoed into the case.

• Clinch rosehead standard, 4d (1-1/2”). For attaching backs and bottoms to cases (the head of the nail adds holding power). I also use these to attach web frames to the side of a case.

• Fine cut headless brads, 2d (1”). For attaching small mouldings.

• Fine cut headless brads 4d (1-1/2”). For attaching large mouldings.

Slotted Flat-head Wood Screws in Steel (I get mine from Blacksmith Bolt)
• No. 8 x 1-1/2” for assembling full-size casework pieces – attaching 3/4” or 7/8” boards to one another.

• No. 8 x 1-1/4”, also for casework when 1-1/2” is too long.

• No. 8 x 1” for attaching 1/2” and 3/8” backs and bottoms.

• No. 8 x 3/4” and No. 8 x 5/8” for attaching full-size hardware (e.g. strap hinges) to the exterior of casework.

A couple caveats to the above list: This list doesn’t really help you with attaching hardware such as hinges. I approach this on a project-by-project basis and always order extra hardware (especially when dealing with brass screws). If you use one hardware supplier a lot – I use Horton Brasses, for example – then you’ll soon get used to their fastener sizing and stock up on the stuff you use all the time.

Oh, and I’m no fool. I have a big box of No. 8 x 1-1/4” drywall screws for assembling jigs and screwing stuff down to the bench when necessary.

— Christopher Schwarz

As you can see, I keep all my screws in my family’s old spice cabinet. This works, but I have to keep my nails in a plastic tackle box. This year I’m building a real “nail cabinet” based on several traditional models, including one owned by Roy Underhill. Also, you can read more posts about traditional hardware here on my blog by following this link.