A brad nail is a type of nail that is made of 18-gauge steel wire and is thinner than standard nails. The small diameter of brad nails makes them easy to conceal in wood trim or paneling, and their slender profile helps to prevent splitting on delicate material. Brad nails are commonly used for lightweight, indoor applications, such as attaching shoe moldings and small ornamental parts on furniture. They are also ideal for fine carpentry and craft jobs or any application that doesn’t require powerful holding strength. Brad nails are typically used with an electric or pneumatic nail gun rather than by-hand application. The diameter of nails is indicated by the gauge (ga), and the most common sizes for brads are 18 ga brand nails and 23 ga.