A sinker is a specific type of framing nail designed to drive easily and hold fast. It features a slightly smaller, checkered head to prevent the hammer from slipping, and a shank coated with a heat-activated resin. The friction of being driven melts the coating, which acts as a lubricant on the way in and an adhesive once cooled.
Grab a box of sixteen-penny sinkers for these wall plates.
The checkered head is the giveaway; if the head is smooth, it is a common nail, not a sinker.
Also heard as
- sinker nail
Related terms
Framing hammer
A heavy-duty hammer with a long handle and a milled face, designed for driving large nails into structural lumber.
Rosehead
A conical drill bit or countersink with multiple radiating cutting flutes.
Nail set
A small metal punch used to drive the head of a finish nail below the surface of the wood.