[Q] Square shaft nails instead of cut clasp nails?

[Fromey]

Getting good cut clasp nails (without paying a fortune) in the UK is difficult. The ones I have (from Screwfix) and very so-so (as we all discovered at Chris Schwarz' dutch tool chest course). I'm currently making a six board chest out of pine and am wondering if square shaft nails, like the following from Dictum, would work as well. Nailing through long grain and then into end grain. Any thoughts?

http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/product ... -30-mm.htm

http://www.mehr-als-werkzeug.de/product ... -50-mm.htm

 

[bourbon]

first post here. I am involved in a medieval re-enactment group and our carpenter makes 6 plank boxes all the time. he usually dowels the joints together. he also uses original 17th century nails from his previous job as a restoration carpenter. Another supplier is ,I think, Glasgow nails, although they can be a bit brittle for clenching over. the link in the OP is very useful for us as well. thanks for posting that.

 

[Fromey]

Greetings bourbon. Strangely enough, I'm currently considering a tool tote build using dowels but had not considered it for this project. Hmmm, pale pine with dark oak dowels would look nice. Should be strong and flexible enough as well, especially if I put a smidgen of off-set on them like draw bore pins. Thanks for the idea.