Picture frame nails are not the same thing as carpenters finish nails. Picture frame nails are much thinner and go into the ends of the wood with out splitting the opposite picture frame molding. Looking at the photo below you can see the difference in thickness. The picture frame nails are on the left and common finishing nails on the right. Although the sizes in the picture aren't exact, the comparison between the two types is accurate. You should never use common finish nails to put pictures together, use real picture frame nails. Real picture frame nails can be quite difficult to find as most stores don't stock them. To use picture frame nails properly you should also use our picture frame glue, and nail hole filler.

Other picture framers use the V-Nails also shown below. Most professional frame shops use a large gun to insert these nails into picture frame moldings. But you can put them in using just a hammer. We recommend these to everyone including beginners. You really should read the full instructions for putting picture frames together that we have in our learning center. The link to our learning center is located above.

The V-Nails come in four sizes. The 7mm is used on moldings that are not very thick,or on solid hardwood picture frame moldings such as Oak, which is hard to drive any nail into. The 10 mm size is the standard size and is the most popular and commonly used size. The 12 mm v-nails are used on thick picture frame moldings and softwood picture frame moldings where more holding power is wanted. The 15 mm v-nails are used on thicker picture frames and shadow box picture frame molding. If you are unsure what you want, order the 10 mm size, even large picture frames are commonly put together with this size. The v-nails are very sharp on one side, the glued side. This glued side is the side you drive into the bottom of the frame.

Use Real Professional Picture Frame Nails

We stock the most used sizes of picture frame nails for your picture frame nail needs. In our learning pages we show you how to nail pictures together using v-nails, but many people still want to use real picture frame nails. It is just your preference. Real picture frame nails have other uses as well. For example, when using the hand held picture frame fitting tool, you would use picture frame nails. These picture frame nails are also handy to have around for other purposes like repair work. You can drive them into most woods without splitting the wood. Common finish nails will always split picture frame molding as most picture frame moldings are very dry with very low water content.

Picture Frame Nails are sold by the 1 lb. Box

Brass Escutcheon Nails

Useful for a thousand things around the frame shop and home. They don't rust so can be used on many things like nailing mats to back boards, or fabrics. Nailing brass hinges and brass name plates or sawtooth hangers, elc.. Use where ever a small rust free nail is needed.