Cracking of hardwood nails not only affects the appearance, but also reduces the structural strength. Combining the principle of wood mechanics and the practical experience of woodworking, this paper reveals five anti-cracking skills to help you become a master of "nailing wood without cracking"!
First, pre-drilling: the most basic anti-crack rule
Nailing directly on hardwood is like "chopping wood with a knife", and wood fibers will break due to instantaneous extrusion. Correct operation:
Aperture selection: bit diameter = nail diameter ×70% (for example, 2.1mm bit for 3mm nail).
Drilling depth: 1/3 of the nail length (if the nail length is 50mm, drilling is about 17mm).
Emergency plan: when there is no electric drill, the positioning dent can be carved with an awl.
Second, nail selection: shape is more important than material.
The destructive power of different nails to wood is more than 3 times different:
Applicable scenarios of nail type crack prevention principle
Assembly of Hardwood Furniture with Screw Nail and Spiral Thread Dispersed Pressure
Twist nail rotary cutting to reduce fiber tearing floor keel fixation
Self-tapping screw tip has drill function, so pre-drilling operation is not required.
Flat-headed nails cut flat tips to reduce splitting of thin plates/decorative surfaces.
Third, lubrication treatment: reduce the destructive power by 30%
Applying lubricant to the nail tip can significantly reduce the friction resistance:
Beeswax: the best choice, the lubrication effect lasts for more than 3 years.
Soap solution: emergency use, aging about 24 hours.
WD-40: It has anti-rust function and is suitable for humid environment.
Fourth, the angle and intensity: the carpenter's possession method.
45 oblique nail method: let the nail penetrate through the multi-layer wood annual rings, and the nail holding force will be increased by 50%.
Three-stage hammering:
Tap positioning (30% strength)
Correction angle (50% force)
Final hammering (80% strength)
Five, wood pretreatment: crack prevention from the source.
Moisture content control: the ideal moisture content of decorative wood is 8-12%.
End sealing wax: apply wood wax oil on the cutting surface of wood to prevent water from evaporating too quickly.
High temperature characterization: professional treatment to eliminate internal stress, suitable for high-end furniture.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How to repair the cracked nail hole?
A: inject wood glue+sawdust for filling, and coat with the same color wood wax oil after polishing.
Q: Do softwoods such as Chinese fir need to be pre-drilled?
A: Pre-drilling is recommended for thickness > 2 cm, and the thin plate can be operated directly by trimming the nail tip.
Master these skills, even if it is easy to crack wood such as mahogany and oak, it can achieve zero cracking nails! It is suggested to match the torque-controllable electric drill and anti-skid hammer to improve the operation accuracy.
