Brass tacks

[jimmystratos]

Is there a reason we use brass nails? The ones that came with my kit have heads that are too small and go right through the holes in the chainplates - I have suitable size steel ones - since they are to be painted, I can't see it being a problem - or am I missing something?

 

[Bryian]

No problems at all using steel nails if you paint the heads black after installation.
.

 

[Jimsky]

Is there a reason we use brass nails? The ones that came with my kit have heads that are too small and go right through the holes in the chainplates - I have suitable size steel ones - since they are to be painted, I can't see it being a problem - or am I missing something?

Hello Jim,
As you said, we mostly use brass (sometimes copper) wire because it is easy to work with. Brass is considerably strong but pliable after annealing. One of the important aspects, it is relatively easy to solder with a torch (hard solder) and regular soldering iron (soft solder). Yet another important point - you can blacken parts with the majority of the blackening solutions to have a nice blue steel effect.
Steel is a much harder material to work with, it is required different types of tools as it is considered a hard material. Even after annealing, it is very hard to shape. Also, unless it is stainless steel, it tends to corrosion after some time and become rusted. It is somewhat difficult to solder. But something else I just discovered, thanks for the lesson taught @PoulD, steel oxidizes and colors the timber it is inserted to.
Silver is probably the best material to use, a lot of Russian modelers love to work with silver. But this material is way expensive compared to brass\copper and\or steel.
Otherwise, no problem to use steel...if you like it! Why not?!!!

 

[jimmystratos]

Hello Jim,
As you said, we mostly use brass (sometimes copper) wire because it is easy to work with. Brass is considerably strong but pliable after annealing. One of the important aspects, it is relatively easy to solder with a torch (hard solder) and regular soldering iron (soft solder). Yet another important point - you can blacken parts with the majority of the blackening solutions to have a nice blue steel effect.
Steel is a much harder material to work with, it is required different types of tools as it is considered a hard material. Even after annealing, it is very hard to shape. Also, unless it is stainless steel, it tends to corrosion after some time and become rusted. It is somewhat difficult to solder. But something else I just discovered, thanks for the lesson taught @PoulD, steel oxidizes and colors the timber it is inserted to.
Silver is probably the best material to use, a lot of Russian modelers love to work with silver. But this material is way expensive compared to brass\copper and\or steel.
Otherwise, no problem to use steel...if you like it! Why not?!!!

So in 150 years, people will look at my model and question why the idiot who built it used steel nails which discoloured the wood!
Did the original shipbuilders drill holes to ease the insertion of iron nails? The length and thickness of the nails must have been difficult to drive in without it.

 

[Uwek]

I would not use steel or iron nails...... there are enough negative examples

 

[Jimsky]

id the original shipbuilders drill holes to ease the insertion of iron nails? The length and thickness of the nails must have been difficult to drive in without it.

Yes, Jim, they do! check out some original shipwright's tooling.

 

[Uwek]

They worked with the so called auger - drill up to 2 or more meters for the long bolts






From Jean Boudriot 74 Gun ship

 

[jimmystratos]

Thank you gentlemen, I am wiser as well as older now!