Understanding Nails

[@saltydroog854]

One of my favorite anecdotes about nails is the history of those pioneers that were moving west. They would save up to buy the nails needed to construct a building just large enough for their family to live in through the winter. Each spring they would burn the building to the ground, collect the nails, and continue west. In the fall, they would stop, harvest the lumber needed to construct that building again, and settle in for the winter. The nails, were the "irreplaceable" part...the lumber was everywhere...literally in the way.

[@latindoggy8059]

Wow love this

[@Edward-Not-Elric]

So cool

[@kimsanders1280]

THIS IS AMAZING. thank you 🥳

[@brettwindle1434]

Love it

[@KurtMGibbs]

If anyone else was discussing this topic, I probably wouldn't watch it. However, your expertise and fondness for nostalgia always make me interested in what you have to say. Also, I worked in a hardware store through high school, undergrad, and graduate school, so I have been asked every question under the sun about nails and had to teach myself most of what you discussed. Thanks for sharing!

[@pamelah6431]

Sometimes (and I mean this in the most flattering way possible), this channel feels like Mr. Roger's Neighborhood for grown-ups: Learning about things in general, and learning about life, and learning how to be a good neighbor. God bless you, Scott!

[@mitchjohnson4714]

Haha! Absolutely!

[@jonm8513]

Good. We need that.

[@aaronbarton9385]

These are videos that need to be shown in high schools during Shop class

[@markhaan4512]

Excellent suggestion.

[@MrEazyE357]

Shop class?

[@cameronbouchard8265]

Better yet people interested in the trades and taking their construction knowledge to the next level (like 5% of construction workers) can learn on their own thanks to top notch content like this

[@brihal6498]

I think shop classes are becoming a thing of the past

[@Awizzo4shizzo]

Or perhaps shop teachers need to learn how to teach like this. Calm, clear, and approachable.

[@benkolesar9410]

I was told starting out that I had to learn to pull nails before I was allowed to drive nails, then I knew the struggle of taking something apart that wasn't done properly.

[@opictia]

Absolutely! I pulled many roof nails when I was a kid! Makes you be careful building stuff! Lol

[@rickpratt8789]

My first solo building project, 50 years ago, was to build a shed addition with used doug fir 2x4s, and I had to remove and straighten the nails first. Learned a lot that summer.

[@gains5732]

Love this

[@richarddenise3886]

Thanks!

[@dsh2148]

Thank you for this topic. It reminds me of a story my father told me. When he was a child (during the depression) he would gather bent nails from my grandfather's job sites. He was a carpenter. He would take them home and straighten them and sell them to people in the neighborhood. I have the wooden cask he used to throw the straightened nails in before sorting. I find myself straightening nails occasionally.

[@tobesskins]

Thanks. Brought me back to being an early teenager with my old carpenter grandfather explaining the very basics of carpentry. After 16 years learning to become a decent carpenter. I can now grasp the 3 lifetimes of learned lessons his father, he and my father gave to me. Happily it wasn't put to waste.

[@chacer15]

So I want to preface that this is a wisdom and not age related comment. But you are the Grandpa I never had. I am watching a 13 min video on nail types because of your knowledge, narration, and love for educating others. I think I speak for all of your fans when I say, you are appreciated more than you know.

[@blueoval250]

I spent my youth straightening nails and smashing fingers. My grandpa never wasted anything. I didn’t get any enjoyment out of it then but I’d smash both thumbs to be able to straighten nails for him again.

[@mikeznel6048]

I still straighten nails out to reuse them. I don't smash my fingers but it can be painstaking. Waste not want not! They're perfectly good still. I don't build someone's house with them but I put my own stuff together with them. Especially with the price of everything today. I have 10 pounds of em ready for my next project. They are gonna hold the wood siding on I made from pallet slats.

[@PatrickWagz]

Nice comment. Grandpas are gone before you know it. Mine died in '93 and nearly everyday.... he'll cross my mind.

[@Kryynism]

I was raised by the same stock of folk. My Grandpa, Dad, and I save everything. I keep a screw gun in my vehicle at all times just to stop and pull screws from thrown-out cabinets. And if the cabinets are real wood instead of garbage presswood I'll take the whole thing. Our property is a scrapyard, a homestead, and more lol. I save every tool I dumpster dive for parts and projects. Definitely adds clutter and people call you a hoarder. But you always have what someone needs

[@PatrickWagz]

@@Kryynism I just tore into an old washer machine tonight. It had about 10 stainless-steel hose clamps throughout the inside of it. 4 different sizes. Oh, and I saved to cord also.... to fix a space heater with. HAHA!

[@Kryynism]

@@PatrickWagz haha reminds me when I repaired our home washing machine with a small plastic piece from a washer in our scrap pile that was from the 80s. Apparently they used the same parts for 20 years on some models. It was the little plastic keyway or whatever that locks the electric motor to the rotational part of the washing machine. I had no idea what I was doing so guessworked the whole repair. Fake it til ya make it babeh

[@nicolasmendoza6183]

I'm seeing it 3 mins after posting, lucky me! Scott, I had to look up your name, you are the most wholesome contractor-youtuber I have ever seen. I love your channel!

[@essentialcraftsman]

Thank you Nicolas!

[@drhmufti]

The ease and simplicity you talk about nails and all the other topics on your channel wouldn’t be out of place on a university course and is just really interesting and wholesome.

[@bmay8818]

Totally unrelated: making money "hand over fist" comes from how coins used to be minted. One hand (the "fist") was curled around a cylindrical coin holder. The other hand (the "hand") held a hammer that was used to strike the die onto the coin in the holder.

[@mattymcsplatty5440]

thats very interesting too

[@somedudeRyan]

you really nailed that one. driving the point home...

[@Cannibalsnacks]

That pun should be considered a war crime =)

[@yannickm6999]

Meaux L he really threw his “two cents” in (Haha) just found this channel. I like this guy

[@robobrien7787]

Yes, the information was quite hard hitting.

[@somedudeRyan]

these comments are sharp as a tack.

[@joeblincoe3122]

Yep hit it right on the head

[@yotafan174]

My grandparents farm house was demolished early 2020. It was 160 year's old and built with square nails. Before it was torn down I was able to salvage about 20 nails. There the only physical piece from the house that's left. They are in a toothpick holder that my grandfather made on a prominent shelf in my house.

[@alissarodman8144]

That's pretty cool. I love that!

[@toastedregret1601]

Man - with inflation and cost of living, keeping land for long is difficult.

[@Kentucky_Caveman]

Its a shame to see a historical building be torn down

[@jackgibson9125]

Another EXCELLENT KZbin video.... I’m an obstetrician, I know nothing of carpentry, but I find all of your videos highly informative and interesting!

[@essentialcraftsman]

Thanks 👍

[@electricrenfro1480]

Dare i say “ you nailed it”!

[@badlandskid]

“Drove it home”

[@zackaryturpin7053]

Under rated comment

[@joshmaggard7799]

Yeah he did not SCREW up

[@dcrog69]

I can't be the only one who's dad made them straighten nails as a kid.

[@Lanxe]

I think we've all been there mate, complete with banged fingertips and thumbs

[@lukebrown4184]

I always had to do that.

[@brihal6498]

It was my grandpa!

[@Chrominance87]

Straighten them nails n toss em the bucket with the rest.

[@johncreaby3040]

Yeap. Have a bucket of straightened 4" I use to forge into hanging hooks now

[@tomcordio173]

Your video about nails brought back a childhood memory. My brother-in-law was an upholsterer. I remember him placing material onto a furniture frame with a mouthful of furniture tack nails. He would use an upholsterer’s hammer, which had a narrow magnetized head. He would bring the tip of the hammer head up to his mouthful of tacks where one of the tacks would stick to the hammer. He would then tap the tack on the hammer tip through the material and into the wooden frame and with one blow. The short tack was then buried into the frame with one additional blow.

[@lucasrohlf]

I work at a "Box Store" and your videos are helping me help others. Thank you

[@queenbee3443]

Another fun nail and language fact- the "d" comes from the latin "denarius", the standard Roman coin for a period of time. When the Romans occupied Britain the term was used to describe the British penny, with the abbreviation "d" being used for that coin all the way up to the 1970s! "Denarius" is also the root of the Spanish "dinero" and other words across many different languages meaning/related to money. Love the videos; thanks for taking the time to share your wisdom and expertise with us. Keep up the good work!

[@nicholasimhoff9230]

Fascinating! This reminds me of the Latin generic word for money, 'Pecunia'. Which is derived from the word for cattle, 'Pecu'. The logic following, if you had cows, you had money!

[@mitchjohnson4714]

Awesome comment, but it kind of sounds like you're saying that it survived from Roman Britain. I don't think that's true. I think that the LSD survived throughout Europe and I'm guessing it was reintroduced into Britain some time in the middle ages.

[@brandonhuddleston6824]

Great video Scott. I'm 38 years old and you answered a question that I've had since I started construction right out of high school. Sadly no new Kid starting in construction would even think to ask the question what's a 8 penny nail. Probably never hear them reference that way.

[@mattandrews8528]

I love listening to older gentlemen talk about things they’re passionate about and truly experts at, thanks for helping a young buck like me at 28 with a wife and home I have to take care of, I’m always learning, and you’ve taken me thru “Nails 101” in a relatively short video, thank you very much sir! 👍

[@taunokekkonen5733]

I bet we all were thinking that we'd listen to Scott talking about anything. Well here it is, and it's magnificent.

[@signaltouch7413]

KZbin needs more people like you , Thank you

[@weremodel]

1976. First job in the lumber business. Boise Cascade Building Materials and Services Division. Hardware buyer. 18 years old. Keg 100# 1/2 keg 50# I need 1/2 a keg of 1-3/8 chemically etched, phosphorus coated, cupped head drywall nails and 2 boxes of wax coated 16d commons. And don't forget a keg of 3/8" x12" hot dipped galvanized decking spikes. Still doing it and mentoring newbies at the local yard. Glad to be alive. Thanks for the video, Scott

[@vinz9465]

My grandad told me that back when he was building full time with Rimu and Kauri timber (NZ's native trees). He would slick his hair back with product and run each nail through his hair before sinking it. Having now moved into building myself I work mostly with pinus radiata which is pretty easy to nail into. When I have come across this older harder timber I am reminded of his story and I understand why he's so damn good with a hammer

[@RoseUnseen]

KZbin content usually a table full of soda , chips , cookies . But theres that fresh pear , that is this channel and many craftsman channel

[@jameski5oeb668]

I worked at a lumber yard for three years, learned then there was a great deal I didn't know about nails, 25 years ago! Keep up the great work!

[@vanuren3345]

Thank you Scott for the reminder of where the Penny designation came from. My father grew up in his fathers hardware store in Dayton, Oregon (think 1920s & 30s) and passed along to me the Penny sizes and why they were called out in Penny's. I'm approaching 75 years old and sometimes information like the reason it's called a 16D (or Penny) escapes me, but your tutorial here brought my Dad's voice into my head with the information you so graciously passed along. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@Fred.jpeg_]

A new EC video, spring weather, coffee. Oh man, oh mannnnn

[@DUDE72341]

Mr Rodgers meets Bob Ross.. and the verbal exchange flows well, just like the Essential Craftsman.. Man some kids lucky your his grandpa. Keep up the great content!

[@waynemccranie]

I have been watching you from the beginning, I want just to just say thank you!!! I always learn from you no matter the content. Keep up the good work!

[@bernardkinsky1637]

I worked in Minnesota with a roofing contractor, really appreciate your time to make this educational experience .

[@NathanBake]

Nice job getting down to the brass tacks about nails. I finally understand the "penny" designation!

[@pamelah6431]

I don't know how many other people on this planet could get 70,000 other people to show up to a 14 minute long lecture on nails, but it's no surprise that you can do it, Scott. :)

[@timhicks1118]

My first encounter at Lowe’s as a teenager was about nails. I asked a lady working there, where can I find your nails at. She replied, do you see the sign hanging down that says Nails Nails Nails. You can find them right there. Well you know how I felt.

[@NMranchhand]

Good Lord! That’s my superpower. When I can’t find something at Lowe’s, I can make it appear two feet behind my shoulder just by asking someone where it is. It’s most convenient.

[@jeffmiller4168]

I love this. I worked on a framing crew, and now I work on a timber framing crew. The attitudes and perspectives on nails are so diverse and so are nails themselves.

[@aussiebloke609]

My missus used to tell me I "hit the nail on the thumb" whenever I misunderstood her. :-P

[@badlandskid]

She should be thankful it wasn’t on the head. 😉

[@Baudesign]

Thank you for being such a great teacher. May I suggest a part two, with nail guns: angles, plastic or paper, full head, D head, brands?

[@essentialcraftsman]

Good idea!

[@maestroboy]

I recently stumbled upon this channel.. and I'm loving it.. I'm gonna watch all you videos Sir!

[@sdbassin1143]

All your videos swiftly take me away to another place, another time that our modern life has long forgotten.

[@lotus_8773]

I started watching this as a contractor not thinking much about it but man this was a cool video with lots of info a couple things I didn’t know and a couple things I just didn’t think to much about. Nice job, carpenter from alabama

[@kendavis8046]

I'm in the process of putting my house back together after the pipes burst during a 4 1/2 day electricity outage. That said, I am in the one-man drywall process right now (actually, into the taping and bedding) but will be doing texturing/painting, flooring, and casing, in that order. Watching now, but about to go put some mud and tape on a wall! I'm thankful that my son was in town when we had to do the demolition. Thank you for the content, I always enjoy this channel.

[@PatrickWagz]

Texas?

[@kendavis8046]

@@PatrickWagz Yes

[@snymat_68]

Thanks Scott. You really got right down to brass tacks. Really drove it home. This video really nailed it! 🔨

[@chrisinjax1648]

Absolutely incredible! The manner in which you articulate the explanation of nails is great. I love watching and listening to your videos. I would have never thought that I could not only watch a 13 minute video on nails but learn something, enjoy it and experience disappointment when the video concluded. Thank you for all you do. Please, keep the wonderful content coming.

[@shaidyn8278]

I cannot believe the timing of this video. I'm starting a project where I need to know exactly what nail to use. I come to youtube and BAM here it is. Thank you.

[@sebytro]

I've pulled out and straightened so many nails as a kid, I can't remember how many days I spent doing that. Then I learned as an adult about working with screws and it completely changed how I see construction and crafting. I still love working with nails though, it reminds me of simpler times. :) Ty for the vid!

[@MohsinExperiments]

Very informative as always. Please make more videos of this type about more basic tools etc.

[@essentialcraftsman]

Thanks, will do!

[@Fatspurios]

I had a reprint of a civil war construction guide for constructing bridgework and the like. Fascinating reading it even had pull out forces and shear calculations for all sorts of nail types and timber types. Be well and stay safe.

[@billwoehl3051]

Who else can talk about nails for 13 minutes and not put the audience to sleep?

[@mosesgonzalez3077]

There is tons of “””handyman’s””” and Ignorant carpenters “”””make in hourly paid no experience at all ......

[@evictioncarpentry2628]

Project farm

[@constancemiller3753]

Subscribed.

[@DanteYewToob]

Funny you say that. I watch these videos in bed to relax me, but they’re often too interesting to fall asleep and I open a bunch of Wikipedia tabs for “reading later” and end up a few hours past bed time wondering who messed with all my damn clocks!? P.s. the best thing for actually getting to sleep is Foo the Flowerhorn videos of cleaning fish tanks and feeding sea critters. It sounds absurd, but it’s SO relaxing.

[@i-love-comountains3850]

Tbh I actually use it to fall asleep sometimes. Part nice voice, part good stories, part education. The trifecta lol

[@regularguy9264]

I remember working on a roof and grabbing a handful of roofing nails. I commented to my buddy about how half of them were pointing in the wrong direction. He called me a moron and said those nails were for the other side of the roof!

[@joseoscarlopezmauricio7595]

I’m young carpenter and I learn so much from thanks for doing all this

[@hoilst]

This video? You nailed it, EC.

[@charles8109]

Currently working for a general contractor, had a ROUGH day at work. I love it. 2 yrs in. One more year and I'm going to be a union carpenter, (framer) 👍 As I right this, I'm sipping a beer and watching this particular video. The Essential Craftsman rules 🤘

[@williamf.douglass4718]

Since most all High Schools have chosen to dismantle all their shop and trade classes, your videos should and are treasured by those who enjoy and find value in learning from craftsmen such as you. Please continue to share and inspire current and future men and women working in the carpentry trades.

[@kevinsmith3274]

AMEN! Bring back the trades to our schools. I learned a lot in shop class.

[@aaronsinger3614]

Scott, from what I’ve been taught during my early years working at Dettinger Lumber in western Massachusetts, a common nail is formed from one piece of steel, hence the lower side of the head being out of parallel from the striking surface. A box mail is a piece of wire, welded to a tiny disc for the head. Box nails tend to rip apart when pulled whereas a common nail pulls well. Your videos are great, even being myself a fairly well versed craftsman working with metal and wood alike, you have an incredible knack for explanation.

[@joshjames2829]

I'm a plumber but I love watching your contractor/carpentry videos.

[@toddfriley9373]

I’m surprised you didn’t talk about the shear strength of nails, structural, like Simpson strong tie connectors. There is a lot about nails!!

[@izzyc.4746]

Love all your videos, , thank you for all your knowledge and your expertise. You are the last of a dying breed. God bless you.

[@franciscocoronado5966]

Thank you, for making videos. I am learning from you. You keep up the good work, too.

[@paulmichaelmark]

Use to call 16d and 8d nails when first in trade big ones and little ones. Ha ha

[@eliprice138]

When I was just a kid I worked many summer days at the local hardware store . Old mom and pop place , and still going ! Pete ( the owner ) gave me a run down on nails one time , actually a few times ! Lol . Pete Was a tuff old bird but a hell of a guy . I’m glad I had the chance to work for him in his hardware store .

[@royreynolds108]

I bet you got a real education working in a real hardware store too.

[@eliprice138]

@@royreynolds108 absolutely between the jokes and the real world knowledge . What more could you ask for . It gave me character and give me respect , or I should say Learned respect . Let me say one more thing .. I didn’t know how to count change as like I don’t know how to give people back the exact change for money , school didn’t teach me that . Pete taught me , how to give exact change how to do it fast .

[@eliprice138]

The summers of 1997 and 98 ‘ they are forever burnt into my brain . ! Lol i’ve been at the scrutiny I’ve made jokes good times every time I go in there and there’s a new kid working for the Marcho Family at Pete’s Hardware store ! I’d never change a thing

[@gospelman7222]

Thanks for that, Scott. On the topic of hand made nails, a while ago I researched my family tree and discovered one of my forebears had a wife and 5 children, who according to a national census of the time (mid-18C) were all employed in the industrial midlands of England making nails by hand, even the youngest at 7 years old. They had to, otherwise they would have starved. It certainly puts our modern lifestyle into perspective.

[@metame3803]

Good video as always. I've been doing some renovation on my 130 year old house, which is constructed with a variety of cut nails. At my local lumberyard, I was surprised to see they had cut nails for sale! I found out that there is a company still making cut nails here in the US called Tremont Nail Company in Mansfield, MA. I went on their site and was surprised by the variety of cut nails they make: not just length, but shank size, head style, etc. So I'm here on youtube seeing what more I can find out about them.

[@DamonDiaries81]

Your teachings are awesome. Should be watched by people in the trade schools and shop class. Lots of wisdom being passed here. Thank u sir

[@andrewlaverllc]

Great video! Spoken like a true gentleman!

[@fsj197811]

Well done, thanks for sharing your time and knowledge with us.

[@essentialcraftsman]

My pleasure!

[@repro7780]

You made a video about screws 4 years ago, and this goes great with that one!

[@MB12116]

Can’t believe I just watched a video on nails lol. Great work Scott, very informative and interesting. You are definitely the only person I could listen to talk about nails for 13 minutes. Have a good one and keep up the great content. These videos are great. Could you maybe do one on lumber, like different types of plywood and sheathing: OSB, Zip, particle board, 3/4 vs 23/32 etc and on the different grades of stick lumber ie 2x4 PT verse non PT and the different lengths and sizes of boards and what each purpose is and like shims and stickers and furring strips. Thanks.

[@Lore-wv5mt]

😂same here.

[@francisrampen9099]

My first job was working for a demolition company. We had a big Cat digger with an articulated claw and houses built prior to 1954/55 we would pull apart 2 by 4 by 2 by 4. In 1956 when Ardox nails arrived in Canada when you tried to pull apart framing you would end up with firewood. Simple technology but the difference in strength is huge. Great topic as usual

[@kato2531]

Thank you for explaining nails, I wouldn't even know what question to ask if I had to find out about nails.

[@johnkillen588]

great rant..........worked construction all my life and did not know half the stuff discussed here,thanks!~

[@jarheadlife]

Love using Maize nails for interior wood work and hand nailing

[@DrDjones]

Archaeologist here, I'm much more familiar with the older kind you described near the end. Great to see other types a nails out there these days. Thanks.

[@uknow7236]

I love watching these vids feels like I’m listening to my grandad in the shed pure respect for your knowledge 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@stillwatercon]

Love the video. As a carpenter in Canada we never used the penny designation. And in my experience over the last -5 years always used spiral nails- no sinkers other than gun nails. We called them ardox whatever that means.

[@stevenslater2669]

Great stuff! I’m going to comb thru your other “how it works” videos and make an index for my grandsons. I remember your “How to use a ratchet strap” video. Every time I pass a truck, I have to see if he’s following the EC rules!

[@Eger118877]

You're really lucky Nate, to have a Dad like this.

[@_GntlStone_]

I love learning about the why's and wherfore's of things and I am ever informed and educated when I watch your channel. Thank you for this great information.

[@larrystrayer8336]

Let me add. The penny abbreviation “d” comes from the Roman coin denarius fascinating.

[@marievictoire1939]

L S D. Pounds Shillings and Pence or pennies in pre decimal England and Ireland.

[@lancemcque1459]

Those Roman are everywhere.

[@marievictoire1939]

@@lancemcque1459 No they never came to Hybernia (winter land) but the English did.

[@unaoconnor3628]

Actually they came but didn't stay. Too cold to bathe or grow the olive and vine. So they called it Hibernia, left a few souvenirs and cleared off.

[@marievictoire1939]

@@unaoconnor3628 thanks Una👍😃

[@ronaldkearn3322]

what an incredibly incitful video! I learned a lot! Im a boat builder by trade not a carpenter. Learned a lot from my father! You are a great guy!

[@user990077]

You nailed this topic. Good job.

[@michaeldalton8374]

A goodly sum of my early youth was spent picking up nails on job sites, to later be straightened on the Vice at home. That stopped in the mid 80s with the advent of nail guns.

[@larrystrayer8336]

So enjoyable. Thanks. Tidbit of knowledge is wonderful trivia and the origins of common expressions

[@tonysailer8470]

When you grab a nail from your pouch be sure to note which end the point is on. Nails with the point toward you are for the other side of the house.

[@stevehammerich7121]

Sad thing that not many USA manufacturers left anymore.my home town still makes them, hot dipped galvanized. Maze nails .look for the bright yellow box, they also own the oldest lumberyard yard in Illinois.

[@theprecursor1150]

This video hit the nail on the head.

[@smoothbore4377]

For guys like me, it's the esoteric and trivial that makes life interesting.

[@CentralNintendo1]

Would be neat to see you tour a nail factory!

[@whistlepig64]

Really happy to see this video. Love this kind of info.

[@MrNorthstar50]

He has nailed this topic for sure.

[@vb4496]

Id love to work with this guy for a few weeks just to learn!

[@erikc3057]

This video was incredibly satisfying! Love this channel!!!

[@beurky]

Fasteners and their mechanical uses and complexities is one of my favourites. Screws in all its variations/glory are 3 times more complex than nails! However I never knew what the Pennie designation was, until you taught me, as you always do. Thank you for this video. I get giddy when I found cut nails in my old 150 year old house.

[@johncatt1867]

Thank you Sir for passing on your wealth of information. Very informative Video.

[@mvblitzyo]

thanks for taking the confusion out of years of questions .. Joe

[@Tehcarp]

Been waiting for this since screws

[@elffirrdesign2063]

The 3 1/4" Green Vinyl Sinker was the mainstay hand driven connector for 2x framing the last decades of the 20th century. The green coating is dried poly vinyl alcohol which reacts with the moisture in the wood and friction heat from being driven making it liquid again before cooling and drying in its hole. Also the steel is formed by a stamping process using powdered metal hence a heavier shank. With the advent of nail guns wire and narrowed shank became more common with the steel being a much more "chewy" and flexible in nature from wire. The green vinyl is still used on the tips.

[@michaeltemple895]

What is 2x framing? What does "sinker" mean?

[@scottfurlong5475]

'You only have to swallow one of these to be in a bind'. I laughed so hard! I've never understood why the penny designation for nails was/is still used today. I'm 45 years old and I have only ever heard nails designated by their length, coating, style, intended use, etc. For example, if Dad wanted me to run to the shed or the basement to get him some nails he would tell me exactly what nail he wanted. Go grab me some 1-1/2" roofing nails or run and get me some 3-1/2" common nails.