i've always been curious to know how the sizing of nails in hardware stores came about. hopefully you tool experts can help me out. who came up with the system, where did it come about, when, etc. thanks.
how did the system for sizing up nails in hardware stores come about?
Oct 18, 2004
8 Replies
The system of 16d, 8d etc was based on the cost of the nails.
16 penny, 8 penney was later replaced with d. Exactly when, I'm not sure, but I think it was sometime in the late 1800s in the USA.FWIW,
Greg G.
'd' was the British symbol for penny. I think it was much earlier than the late 1800s. May even have been as early as 16th century?
Even earlier. Denarius, a Roman penny.
I've heard two stories, >
Trust me to get the wrong Millenium! But hey, there were Romans in Britain. :o)
How quaint :) I (in Ireland) buy nails either in inches, or millimetres! Makes more sense to me ...
Any consistent system, once learned, works just fine. When you jump between inches and millimeters you encounter no less confusion than we would. .03937 is your friend!
Bill
Actually, the current 'd' designation of nails corresponds, according to current issue of WOOD mag., to length in inches as follows:
- 2d = 1 in.
- Each increment adds 1/4 in. up to 16d
- Above 16d, each increment adds 1/2 in.
Thus a 10 d is 3" and 20d is în.
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