Shavings can pile up around a hole being drilled, making it hard for you to see what you are doing. To prevent this, push the point of the drill bit through a 4-in. strip of masking tape, then draw the tape up the bit so it will clear the work. Fold the strip lengthwise to bring the sticky sides together. The tape “wings” will act as a fan to clear the surface.
Toenailing styles can vary. Some pros like to drive three or four nails into a stud, toenailing from both sides at about a 30-degree angle. The job is easier if you first drive a holding nail on one side of the stud, then drive two nails on the opposite side. Remove the holding nail, then toenail the second side. You can also make up a 2×4 spacer to place between the studs.
As with screws, a little paraffin or beeswax will make driving certain nails, especially casing nails, much easier. If you are driving a cement-coated nail, always keep it going all the way once you start. Friction heats up the nail’s coating and if you stop midway it cools down and tries to glue the nail in place.
Power drills come in 3 sizes; 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2-in. Size refers to the largest capacity of bit that will fit in the drill’s chuck. 3/8-in. drills are the most versatile. They’re powerful, yet light enough to easily hold and manage. Larger bits can drill bigger holes, so 1/2-in. drills are best for big, heavy-duty projects. Drills with higher RPM ratings (1200-rpm or more) are better for boring smaller holes into wood. Lower speed models are better at making larger holes into metal.
Hot dipped galvanized nails have a rougher and more durable galvanizing while electro galvanized nails are smoother and often more prone to rust.
To reduce wood splits, such as when building a deck, first drill pilot holes for the nails using a drill bit size about three-quarters the diameter of the nail. In a pinch, if you don’t have a bit you can chuck in one of the nails being used. Blunting the nail point will also help prevent splits, since a blunt nail will tear, rather than spread the wood fibers. An alternate method to avoid splitting the ends of boards is to allow an extra length to hang beyond the edge of the deck, do the nailing, then use a circular saw to trim off the ends.
It’s always preferable to nail through the thinner piece into the thicker piece. Driving the nail at an angle may not be attractive, but will give you a stronger hold. Use a nail that is long enough to allow approximately two thirds of the nail to be driven into the thicker piece.
To drill a cleaner hole into a tricky material such as sheet metal or plastic the material in between two pieces of scrap wood. This way, any imperfections will occur on the top or bottom piece.
When a smooth, finished appearance is necessary, stop hammering the finishing nail approximately 1/8 of an inch above the surface. Then place a nailset onto the tip of the nail head and set it into the surface with a couple of sharp taps.
An easy way to prevent a nail from splitting wood is by tapping the point of the nail with a hammer. This blunts the point and prevents the wood from splitting.
