Abstract: A small, low-voltage direct current (DC) motor for use as an educational device for students. The motor is made from simple hardware such as nails, magnets, threaded rods, nuts, washers and common household materials such as wood scraps, paper clips and milk or water containers. The preferred embodiment consists of a motor shaft 1, armature pole pieces 2 comprising nails, commutator segments 3, non-metallic tubing 4, non-metallic washers 5 and 6, metallic washers 7, hot-glue or epoxy filler 8, armature pole nuts 9, magnetic wire 10, commutator compression nuts 11, permanent field magnets 13, brushes 14 and terminal screws 15. In other embodiments, the nail motor can also be used to demonstrate alternating (AC) operation by replacing permanent field magnets with handmade nail- or bolt-electromagnets. The motor can be used to motorize models utilizing materials and instruction from a kit. The motor can also be used to demonstrate electric generator principles in the mill-volt range.