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Nails and Spikes - Withdrawal Force

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Allowable withdrawal load or force for a common nail or spike driven into side grain perpendicular to the fibers of seasoned wood (or wet unseasoned wood) can be estimated as

F = 1380 SG5/2 D                       (1)

where

F = allowable withdrawal load or force per inch of penetration (lb/in)

SG = specific gravity of oven dry wood

D = diameter of nail or spike (inches)

Example - Nail Withdrawal Load

The specific gravity of Canadian Spruce is 0.45. The diameter of 20D nail is 0.203 inches. The allowable withdrawal force per inch of penetration can be estimated as

F = 1380 (0.45)5/2 (0.203 in)

   =  38 lb/in (lb per inch penetration)  

Nail Withdrawal Force Calculator

Imperial Units


Metric Units


Allowable Withdrawal Forces for some Common US Wire Nails

- for Spruce with specific gravity 0.5

Nails and Spikes - Withdrawal Force - US Wire Nails
SizeLength
(in)
Allowable Withdrawal Force
(lb)
2d 1 17.6
3d 25.3
4d 39.9
5d 46.5
6d 2 58.5
8d 81.7
10d 3 108
12d 117
16d 141
20d 4 198
30d 242
40d 5 290
60d 6 348

Allowable Withdrawal Forces for some Common Metric  Wire Nails

- for Spruce with specific gravity 0.5

Nails and Spikes - Withdrawal Forcecaption - Metric  Wire Nails
Length
(mm)
Diameter
(mm)
Allowable Withdrawal Force
(N)
20 1.2 40.4 (4.12 kg)
25 1.4 58.9 (6 kg)
30 1.6 80.8 (8.23 kg)
35 1.6 94.2 (9.61 kg)
35 1.8 106 (10.8 kg)
40 2.0 135 (13.7 kg)
45 2.2 167 (17 kg)
50 2.2 185 (18.9 kg)
55 2.2 204 (20.8 kg)
55 2.5 231 (23.6 kg)
60 2.5 252 (25.7 kg)
60 2.8 283 (28.8 kg)
65 2.8 306 (31.2 kg)
65 3.1 339 (34.6 kg)
70 3.1 365 (37.2 kg)
80 3.1 417 (42.5 kg)
80 3.4 458 (46.7 kg)
90 3.4 515 (52.5 kg)
90 3.8 575 (58.7 kg)
100 3.8 639 (65.2 kg)
100 4.2 707 (72 kg)

Download and print Metric Nails Withdrawal Force Chart

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