Boat Nails

When replacing metal body and door panels on wood frames, after having them off to repair and re-glue the wood, you inevitably end up with your nails going back in the same hole. They won’t hold as well the second time around. Try using boat nails. These are bronze, ring shank nails of about the same penny size as the original steel body nails. Being bronze they will not rust, and being ring shank they will hold well in the slightly oversized holes.
 

Restoration Tips by Tom Reese.
This article was originally published in the Antique Automobile  from 1971-1985.