Nails – Brass

Nails – Brass

Nails are the oldest metal fasteners in history of mankind. Nowadays they are largely replaced by screws. Nails are simple metal pins with or without a head. They are commonly applied with a hammer, but an airgun can be used as well.

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The life cycle	Pro	Con
		High footprint Brass is made of zinc and copper. The mining of the latter creates toxic emissions to soil, air and water. Show Alternatives » Alternatives connections Low footprint Animal glue Dowels, biscuits and lamellos Soy glue	Tips Production of brass has an environmental impact that is lower of that of stainless steel but higher than that of galvanized steel. Source: own calculation based on TU Delft Ecocost database

	Non toxic No toxics offgas or leach from nails. Low cost Avoid solid gold nails to save on workshops costs.
		Bulky A nailed construction cannot be disassembled. It takes more space, which increases energy use in transportation. Show Alternatives » Alternatives connections that are space saving in transport Bolt and nut Dowels, biscuits and lamellos Natural fibre straps Plastic straps Screws – Brass Screws – Galvanized steel Screws – Stainless steel
	Long lifespan Very much depending on the quality, size, and purpose of the nail that is used of course, but they can make a highly durable connection. Brass is softer than steel, but it does not corrode. Non toxic No toxics offgas or leach from nails.

		Difficult reuse Nails are difficult to remove from the wood. This makes it difficult to reuse the wood. Even more because pieces of metal that are stuck into reclaimed wood can damage woodworking machines. Show Alternatives » Alternatives connections that are easy to reuse Animal glue Bolt and nut Natural fibre straps Plastic straps Screws – Brass Screws – Galvanized steel Screws – Stainless steel Tie-wraps Difficult recycling Brass is 100% recyclable, but if the nails are incinerated with the product non ferrous metals cannot be recovered from the incineration ash. Show Alternatives » Alternatives connections Easy recycling Animal glue Bolt and nut Casein glue Dowels, biscuits and lamellos Nails – Stainless steel Screws – Galvanized steel Screws – Stainless steel Soy glue Staples