Handyman Tip To Avoid Splitting Hardwood
Have you ever had to install a screw into a piece of wood and it split open? I have too and I've learned a few handyman tips along the way.
If you have ever worked with solid hardwoods like oak or maple, if you've tried to install a screw into these without taking precautions, you have probably split the wood open. By that I mean you throw it into the scrap pile. Oak is particularly hard and troublesome.
1. Pre-Drill The Screw Hole
By pre-drilling a screw hole, you are removing a small amount of wood to make up for the otherwise displacement when you insert a screw. By pre-drilling, the hardwood doesn't have the pressure to split open as it would had the hole not been drilled. In other words, the space of the hole allows the screw to be inserted without placing the stress on the wood.
Sizing The Hole
I generally will hold the screw up and place a drill bit behind it. I want the hole in the wood to accommodate the shank of the screw, but allow the threads to bite into the wood for good holding power. So if I can see the drill bit peeking out on either side of the screw when I hold them front-to-back, the drill bit is too large and I move to the next size down.
2. Lubricate The Screw
Lubricating the screw before you insert it in a hardwood will help it go in a little easier. I don't mean to put liquid on it, but what works very well is a bar of soap. Take the bar of soap (any brand will do), and run the screw threads against it. This will leave the threads with flakes on them, and as you twist the screw into the wood, it will sink into the wood very easy. Without doing this, you risk breaking off the screw or bolt in the wood.