Toenailing Nuts

Our staff expert walks you through the basics of this essential carpentry skill.

Introduction

The art of toenailing is easy to learn. With a footling do y'all can bulldoze an angled nail perfectly every time.

Tools Required

Toenailing—the key to success

It'southward all in the angle

angle family unit handyman

If you're non certain where to start the nail, hold it alongside to visualize the path. Toenailing—driving a smash at an angle through the end of a board to anchor it—tin be frustrating to learn. But it's an essential carpentry skill, and once you master a few tricks for positioning and driving the nails and go some practice under your belt, it'll be equally piece of cake equally regular nailing. Toenailing not just makes a strong joint only as well is a great way to coax stubborn boards into position.

Photos 1 – 3 walk you through the basic steps of toenailing. The fundamental to success is starting the blast in the right spot and angling it a niggling steeper than 45 degrees. Visualize the path of the blast by holding it against the boards you're joining (photo) to determine the right starting spot.

Project stride-by-step (6)

Step ane

Toenailing nuts: Showtime the nail

nail

Position the board in front of the layout line and place your toe against the back. Start the blast past borer it almost 1/four in. straight in, non at an angle.

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Pace ii

Bulldoze at an angle

Drive

Pull the smash to about a 50-degree angle and set information technology with a couple of hammer taps. Then let go and drive it in. Brace your toe against the back of the board as you set the blast. It'south OK if the board moves slightly past the layout line.

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Step iii

Nail from the other side

toenails

Drive toenails into the opposite side to complete the toenailing and at the same time drive the board back to the layout line.

Starting a smash at an angle tin be tricky considering information technology'll tend to slide downwardly the board and penetrate besides depression. It'southward easier if you begin past borer the nail point direct in (Photo 1). Then tip the smash at the correct angle and pound information technology in (Photo 2). As y'all pound, you'll discover that toenailing pushes the board off position. Reduce this problem by pressing against the board with your toe to agree it in identify while you nail (Photos 2 and three). Likewise, position the board about i/4 in. from your mark so the nail volition drive information technology to the right spot.

Driving a toenail requires greater hammer control and precision than regular nailing. Concur the hammer at the end of the handle with a firm but relaxed grip. Swing from your elbow with a little wrist snap at the terminate of the stroke for actress oomph. Luckily, you don't take to worry about leaving hammer marks when you're rough framing walls and floors. As the nail gets close to fully driven, accommodate your swing ever so slightly away from you so the face of the hammer volition contact the nailhead off center. Catching the head of the blast with the border of the hammer face allows you to drive the toenail completely.

Here are a few more toenailing tips:

  • Drive the nails until the points barely protrude through the stop of the first lath earlier yous position it, then position the board and bulldoze the nails home.
  • Drill airplane pilot holes for the nails with a bit about the size of the boom shank. This works peachy for toenailing in tight spots.
  • Cutting a block (14-one/ii in. long for 16-in. on-eye studs) to fit between studs when yous're toenailing walls. The cake acts equally a spacer and backer to back up the stud while you toenail information technology.

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Step iv

Put toenailing to work: Start the smash in a bowed deck board

board

Toenail into the edge of a bowed board to move it closer to the adjoining deck board. Outset the nail well-nigh one-3rd down from the peak of the board and angle it about 45 degrees to take hold of the underlying joist.

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Step 5

Drive the nail and lath straight

straight

Pound the blast with heavy hammer blows to straighten the deck board and close the gap between the two boards. Use a shim or boom to maintain a consequent infinite between boards.

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Stride vi

Straighten twisted joists

joists

Motility twisted framing members into alignment by toenailing in the direction you want the board to go. Proceed pounding on the smash until the board is in the desired location. Add a 2d toenail to move the board farther if necessary.

Toenails have an amazing ability to move lumber. This power is peculiarly handy when you're working with framing lumber or decking that'due south not as straight as you'd similar (Photos 4 - half dozen). Use big nails with large heads like 16d sinkers for these jobs. In fact, if i blast doesn't practice the job, drive another aslope to move the board fifty-fifty farther. One carpenter I know pounds in two 16d nails at once for extra belongings power.

And then call up, the next time your flooring joists or studs stray from the line, coax them into place with toenails.

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Originally Published: March 04, 2019