Splitting Wood
By: Nexstar Staff
Updated: February 2, 2012
It can be extremely frustrating when you have been carefully working on a project with wood and suddenly the last piece of wood you are about to hammer splits! This is very difficult not to do especially when you are driving nails toward the end the board. Here are some quick tips that will help you avoid this.
First, make sure you use the proper nail. As a guide, your nail should be three times as long as the thickness of the wood you are driving it through. This will leave about 2/3's of the nail for holding power. Also you don't want to drive two nails into the same grain on your piece of wood because this will cause it to split. Sometimes you may need to drill a small pilot hole to prevent end splits.
Something else to remember about nails, the sharper the point generally means the more holding power the nail is going to have, but watch out because the sharper the point also means the more chance of you splitting that piece of wood. So just remember that with the right touch and the right nail your piece of wood should be fine.
Here are some more woodworking tips we found for you!
To prevent plywood from splitting while cutting, apply a strip of masking tape at the point where you plan to start sawing.
To prevent plywood from splitting while cutting, apply a strip of masking tape at the point where you plan to start sawing.
Here are some Sanding Tips:
Sandpaper will last longer and work better if the paper backing is dampened slightly before wrapping around a block of wood.
For sanding small hard-to-get places, use sandpaper on a Popsicle stick or use an emery board.
When sanding small objects, attach the sandpaper to a flat surface and then run the object that needs sanding over the paper.
After sanding wood, pull an old nylon stocking over your hand and rub the wood lightly. You will be able to locate the slightest rough spots.
When installing paneling, paint a one-inch strip the same color as paneling between joints. If joints come apart, they won't be as noticeable.
For plywood shelves, if you don't have a wood molding, use color vinyl tape instead. This will give them a colorful look.
First, make sure you use the proper nail. As a guide, your nail should be three times as long as the thickness of the wood you are driving it through. This will leave about 2/3's of the nail for holding power. Also you don't want to drive two nails into the same grain on your piece of wood because this will cause it to split. Sometimes you may need to drill a small pilot hole to prevent end splits.
Something else to remember about nails, the sharper the point generally means the more holding power the nail is going to have, but watch out because the sharper the point also means the more chance of you splitting that piece of wood. So just remember that with the right touch and the right nail your piece of wood should be fine.
Here are some more woodworking tips we found for you!
To prevent plywood from splitting while cutting, apply a strip of masking tape at the point where you plan to start sawing.
To prevent plywood from splitting while cutting, apply a strip of masking tape at the point where you plan to start sawing.
Here are some Sanding Tips:
Sandpaper will last longer and work better if the paper backing is dampened slightly before wrapping around a block of wood.
For sanding small hard-to-get places, use sandpaper on a Popsicle stick or use an emery board.
When sanding small objects, attach the sandpaper to a flat surface and then run the object that needs sanding over the paper.
After sanding wood, pull an old nylon stocking over your hand and rub the wood lightly. You will be able to locate the slightest rough spots.
When installing paneling, paint a one-inch strip the same color as paneling between joints. If joints come apart, they won't be as noticeable.
For plywood shelves, if you don't have a wood molding, use color vinyl tape instead. This will give them a colorful look.
