Walls and Ceilings - finish nail pilot hole

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d47410
04-19-03, 11:22 AM
Is there a table showing drill sizes for nail pilot holes? I will be using 4d finish nails for baseboard over new flooring. Thanks Dan

Mike Swearingen
04-19-03, 03:55 PM
Just hold bits up to the nail until you get a bit size slightly smaller than the nail.
Same as with a screw, except that you look at the shank and not the threads of the screw.
The purpose of a nail pilot hole, of course, is to pevent the nail from splitting the wood. In a pinch, you can accomplish the same thing by taking a hammer and blunting the point of the nail.
Good luck!
Mike
d47410
04-19-03, 05:55 PM
Mike--Thanks for your reply. What you suggest is what I have always done, and of course it works, but is time consuming. Being a slow DIYer, was hoping a table had already been figured. Maybe I'll do it. Dan

d47410
04-19-03, 05:59 PM
First entry in pilot hole for finish nails table:
4d nail------>5/64 bit Dan
bungalow jeff
04-20-03, 12:13 AM
I got a neat sheet with all sorts of nail and screw info, including pilot hole sizes when I ordered some screws from McFeely's (www.mcfeelys.com).
Bruce H
04-20-03, 03:38 AM
Another trick I usually use is to nip off the head of the same size nail you'll be using and put it in the drill in place of a drill bit. Can also try a nail spinner.

Bruce
bungalow jeff
04-20-03, 08:29 PM
The nail spinner works well.