Nail Eyes are ordinary carpenter's nails, except they have a small hole drilled through their shafts just below the head. The holes are not exactly round, more oval shaped.
These holes are to more easily facilitate the construction of string and nail pics. They are oval shaped to allow the string or thread to lock into place, and be more easily put under greater tension.
The rest of the idea is the Nail Gun itself, used to deliver the Nail Eyes.
This is based on a combination of a conventional nail gun, and a sewing machine. The Nail Eyes are auto threaded from a choice of spooled threads carried on the back of the gun. As each one is nailed into place, it leaves a trail of thread that can be pulled tight ready for the next nail point.-- xenzag, Apr 18 2013 Night Watch http://www.monument...twatch-in-Color.jpgString and nail replica under construction [xenzag, Apr 19 2013] Should be called 'Eye Nails'. How do you prevent the hole from squashing when the nail is hammered in?
A removable insert, perhaps.-- Alterother, Apr 18 2013 Some of those nails look like they are hosting many strings. Wouldn't all those strings clog up the hole?-- bungston, Apr 18 2013 The remarkable thing about string art is that, even though it is made using very simple, commonly- available items, it looks crap.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 18 2013 Would you really want to have to individually thread every nail?-- 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Apr 19 2013 Depends on the shoestring budget.-- Ling, Apr 19 2013 Max - the great thing about nail art is that it wears it inherent crappiness with pride. For those who ask about the holes weakening the nails, and possibly allowing them to buckle - that won't happen for two reasons: high tensile steel; nails are only tapped into place. I'm currently recreating a full size replica of Rembrandt's Night Watch using nails and string. When complete it will be indistinguishable from the original when viewed from a distance of more than ten feet. Nail Eyes would be most helpful in the task.-- xenzag, Apr 19 2013 Re: link
Wow, it looks just like the real thing!-- Ling, Apr 19 2013 Yes - it's working out really well, but not quite complete yet.-- xenzag, Apr 19 2013 Note extra idea tool feature (edit)-- xenzag, Apr 19 2013 Don't forget to include the face in the flag, the face in the feathers on the hat of the guy carrying the flag, and the two bony faces in the shadows to the left of the flag.-- Ling, Apr 19 2013 //it's working out really well, but not quite complete yet.// Pah. I bet it doesn't sound anything like the original. Morealso, you've got the lighting all wrong - what's with the luminous midget left of centre?-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 19 2013 The "luminous midget" has the face of Rembrandt's wife, and is just as bright in the original. Damned thing used about half a mile of yellow thread.-- xenzag, Apr 20 2013 random, halfbakery