Using cut nails

[BillinOregon]

Just wondering what you experienced woodworkers have learned about using cut or "square" nails. Seems they would tend to split wood near the edges worse than round nails, but I may be wrong. I know they actually hold better because the wedge aside the wood fibers, which then grip the nail like a Chinese finger puzzle. But is it always advisable to predrill when using these nails, as in, for instance, building camp boxes and cassettes? (Thanks for the heads-up Pichou.)

 

[pichou]

Drilling pilot holes is mostly for concrete nails, not so much for square common and box nails, although any nail will split out near the edge.

I do line up the widest part of the nail with the grain.

 

[Rod Lassey]

For sure you've got to align the width of the nail with the grain, or it'll really split. If you're near the edge, drilling a pilot hole with a gimlet is a good idea, too.

Rod

 

[mazo kid]

When we remodeled our old stone farmhouse a few years ago, I saved most of the original old square nails, taken from lath and framing lumber. They are tapered like concrete nails, only more slender. I've used some in small projects and always pre-drill holes, especially for the largest part of the nail.

 

[Bob Gular]

Bill, Predrill using a bit the diameter of the nail's small end. In the nailing "to" piece, stop the hole a bit short of nail length. Always orient (nuthin' to do with China) the wide measurement with the grain.