Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
If you’ve ever picked up nails for projects, you’ve more than likely been bombarded by numbers and letters that really don’t make a lot of sense. These 6D nails, for example, are not six inches long, and besides this one, they’re not shaped like a “D.”
The letter D actually stands for the Roman coin denarius and was used similarly to how we use the cent symbol. It represents the denomination used to price nails in pennies. In 15th century England, nails were sold by the penny, and the number stands for how many pennies it would cost for a group of them. Since nails were handmade, the exact size wasn’t necessary.
Today, you can’t get a handful of nails for a few pennies, but you can determine the length by using the numbering system. Starting from 2D, which equals an inch, each number iteration adds a 1/4 of an inch to the end of the nail. A 3D nail, for example, is an inch and a quarter…and a 16D nail equals 3 and a half inches.
Besides becoming more expensive, our modernized nails have also been created with sharp points that act like wedges. Blunting the nail tip reduces splitting by crushing the fibers instead of wedging them apart.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Mike Lornitis
Les N.
Gary G.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
Doug F.
#MTbitesize
If you’ve ever picked up nails for projects, you’ve more than likely been bombarded by numbers and letters that really don’t make a lot of sense. These 6D nails, for example, are not six inches long, and besides this one, they’re not shaped like a “D.”
The letter D actually stands for the Roman coin denarius and was used similarly to how we use the cent symbol. It represents the denomination used to price nails in pennies. In 15th century England, nails were sold by the penny, and the number stands for how many pennies it would cost for a group of them. Since nails were handmade, the exact size wasn’t necessary.
Today, you can’t get a handful of nails for a few pennies, but you can determine the length by using the numbering system. Starting from 2D, which equals an inch, each number iteration adds a 1/4 of an inch to the end of the nail. A 3D nail, for example, is an inch and a quarter…and a 16D nail equals 3 and a half inches.
Besides becoming more expensive, our modernized nails have also been created with sharp points that act like wedges. Blunting the nail tip reduces splitting by crushing the fibers instead of wedging them apart.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Mike Lornitis
Les N.
Gary G.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
Doug F.
#MTbitesize
