Handyman Guide > Nails

Nailing. Nailing two pieces of wood together is one of the most common tasks in carpentry and the simplest. If the joint does not hold, or the wood splits, it is generally because the beginner did not observe the few simple rules for nailing.

First of all, if the joint is to hold properly, the nail must be long enough. A good rule to follow here is to select a nail three times the length of the thickness of the wood to be nailed. If the nail is too short it cannot hold properly, and if it is too long the increased diameter may split the wood.

A few properly spaced nails will hold better than many nails put in at one point. Improper spacing, or too many nails, will split the wood and add no strength to the joint; see illustration, Fig. 50-A and B.

A nail driven in at an angle, called "toe nailing," will provide a stronger joint than if the nail is driven straight down.

When the end of the nail extends through the second piece of wood, it should be clinched or bent over. While clinching the nail with the grain will give a smoother surface, clinching across the grain will give more strength.

The head of a finishing nail should be set below the surface of the wood with a nail set, and the resulting hole filled with putty or plastic wood. Whenever a finished appear ance is desired, drive the nail almost to the surface with the hammer and finish the job with a nail set. This will prevent your striking the wood with the face of the hammer and denting it. See Fig. 52.

When using a claw hammer to pull out nails, a block of wood should be inserted under the hammer to provide more leverage and to prevent the hammer from damaging the wood. If the nail has been clinched, it should be straightened before any attempt is made to remove it.

Considering how inexpensive are nails, it is a waste of time and materials to try to straighten used nails for re-use. Once a nail has been used, and bent back and forth, it has lost much of its holding power. Moreover, it is almost impossible to straighten a nail perfectly, and the usual result is the bending of the nail as it is driven in. This entails the removal of the nail and possible damage to the wood.

Keep an ample supply of nails and store them according to size.

Continue to Wood Screws



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Painting
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Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

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