Overview
A brad is a small, thin nail with a slight head, either driven by a hammer or fired from a pneumatic or battery brad nailer. Its job is to hold two parts in place while glue dries, or to tack thin material (a plywood back, a bead of moulding, a drawer bottom) where the glue does the real work. The head is small enough to be set below the surface and filled.
Types and sizes
- Brad (18 gauge) is the common furniture size, 1/2 to 2 in (13 to 51 mm).
- Pin (23 gauge) is headless and almost invisible, for delicate moulding.
- Finish nail (15/16 gauge) is stouter, for trim.
- Hand-driven brads are sold loose in boxes, collated strips for the tool.
Plain steel rusts; use stainless or brass where damp, and where the nail meets an oily wood or tannin-rich oak.
Where it is used
Country-vernacular work uses small nails to fix backs, moulding and drawer bottoms. On modern furniture a brad nailer fixes moulding, applies a face frame to a carcase while glue dries, and holds a plywood back.
Choosing and sizing
Length should be about two to three times the thickness of the piece being fixed: a 3/4 in (19 mm) moulding takes a 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 in (32 to 38 mm) brad. Use the finest brad that holds; its holding power is in friction only, so for a lasting joint use glue as well.
Installation
- Mark the position; keep at least 12 mm (1/2 in) from the end of a board.
- Drive with a hammer using a nail set to just below the surface; a nailer needs its depth dialled so it just seats the head.
- Angle the nails slightly toward each other for more grip.
- Fill the hole with wax or wood filler.
Wood movement and species
Brads do not restrain movement in a thin back, but a rigid nailed glue line in a wide panel can split it; nail only along one edge and let the rest float. Oak (see White oak) stains around steel brads over time, so choose stainless or brass.
Common mistakes
- Using a brad as the only fixing on a structural joint.
- Nailing near the end of a board: it splits.
- Leaving the head proud so it catches finish.
Related
- Cut nail: the heavier traditional alternative.
- Wood screw: when removability is needed.
Styles it suits
Suitable for
Fixes into: hardwood, softwood, sheet, engineered.
Sources
Updated 2026-10-03. Sizes and ratings are typical trade figures drawn from the sources above. A load rating is the maker's rating for one product, not a property of the type: check the maker's own sheet, and test a fit on scrap before cutting good wood.