Rivierre Nails

So much better than wire nails.

One of the (many) things that make a Dutch tool chest look cool are the square-shanked Rivierre nails we typically use in assembly. I’m joking only a little bit…yes, they look cool – but more important, they hold like the Ham Goblin on a slice of salty pork. That is, if used properly they don’t let go – even if you want them to.

“Properly” means drilling the right-size tapered pilot hole¹ and to the correct depth, and using the nail length best suited to your work. (Though I sometimes drill clearance holes in the top board when nailing close to the board’s end, such as with the backboards on a Dutch tool chest.)

The large, diamond-shaped heads call attention to themselves, plus they hold the top boards firmly in place, with zero change of the nail pulling through. In other words, these headed nails look like crap on mouldings, but awesome on boarded casework of all kinds.