Abstract: A nail is used to fasten wood, plastic, shingles, siding and composite items together. A nail has a head and a shank or shaft. A nail is typically made of a steel or metal alloy but could be made of other materials. The nail is different from conventional nails in that its shank or shaft is not straight or twisted. The shank is tapered. The end near the head of the nail is smaller in diameter then the end that penetrates the material (the point). The shank tapers from the point progressively until it reaches a section near the head that expands to the same diameter as the shank near the point. The shank then tapers again until it reaches the head. The amount of taper varies with the different applications of the nail. The nail's shank also has rounded rings toward the head end of the shank. The rings provide the nail with stability against the host material until the host material rebounds against the tapered shank.