A barbed spike (Dutch “hakkelbout”) is a kind of heavy nail, square in cross-section, provided on one or more sides with forged barbs of wrought iron. In Dutch these barbs are called “hakkels”.
Characteristics
The barbed spike differs from an ordinary nail in its shape and its barbs:
- Square cross-section
- Forged from wrought iron
- Barbs on one or more sides
- Very high pull-out resistance
Because of the barbs, once driven in, the spike hardly ever comes out of the timber again. This makes the connection particularly durable and reliable.
Applications
In the past, the barbed spike was widely used for timber connections in foundations, for example the connection between a pile and the capping beam that ties the piles together. Precisely in foundations, which are permanently loaded and sometimes subject to tensile forces, a connection that could not work loose was of great importance.
The barbs ensured that the spike locked into the timber and did not creep back, even under fluctuating loads. Today the barbed spike is mainly a historical technical term encountered in old timber foundations; modern construction uses other fasteners.
Related terms
- Capping beam (kesp)
- Foundation pile
- Timber connection
- Wire nail
- Foundation
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