What Is A Galvanized Nail?
What is a Galvanized Nail?
In the world of tools, the term galvanised springs up a lot, but do you actually know what it means? Galvanisation is the process of layering metal with a coating of Zinc. In this Wonkee Donkee guide, we look at what is a galvanised nail, what properties they have and when you should use them.
What are the properties of Galvanised Nails?
Before we get into what galvanised nails are used for we must first understand the properties that the process of galvanisation gives metals. Typically the only two metals which get galvanised are steel and iron. This is because they both are affordable, strong and structurally sound but they have the weakness of being corroded over time by water and oxygen.
Galvanising these elements provides a protective layer of resistance from both water and oxygen which prevents them from rusting and expands their lifespan. The majority of nails manufactured using steel or iron are now galvanised with Zinc as it is a relatively low-cost process to coat the nails and provides a much higher quality product.
What are Galvanised Nails used for?
So now that we know why nails are galvanised, we can look at what projects galvanised are best suited to. As one of the most popular products available on the market due to their affordability and effectiveness, galvanised nails can be used for a whole range of tasks.
Galvansied nails are also extremely versatile and due to the Zinc layering, they can last a very long time without eroding. This makes them great for everyday tasks from hanging up a picture to structural tasks such as holding furniture together. They are also resistant to extreme changes in temperature and are very unlikely to shrink or crack in extreme heat or extreme cold. This makes them perfect for outdoor tasks too.
How to check if a Nail is Galvanized?
Nails are usually kept all together and they can easily end up being mixed in with other types of nails in the infamous loose nail pot that every tool owner seems to own. But how can you check if a nail is galvanised? In this next section, we will provide you with a few quick tests that you can do at home in order to make sure the nail you’re about to use is galvanised and up to the job.
The first way to examine whether a nail is galvanised or not is to closely look at the colour of the nail. When nails are galvanised the Zinc used to coat the nail leaves a silver or grey colour. This finish is a pretty good indicator that there is a layer of Zinc coating around the nail.
The second test you can do is to gently slide your fingertip along the shaft of the nail to feel the texture of the finish. Galvanised nails will feel slightly rough to the touch and sometimes you will be able to see a type of rippling effect where the nail has been dipped and then removed from the Zinc.
The final test is to simply measure the nail. Galvanised nails tend to be quite moderate in length, with it being rare to have very large galvanised nails. They also have a large nailhead which makes it easier to make contact with when installing them.
