I've started woodworking, but I've run into some major issues with fastening. When I tried to nail a small piece of wood to the side of my stool, the nail wouldn't go in and ended up bending instead. I tried to pry it out, but it damaged the board, and the bent nail is still stuck in the stool! This isn't the first time, as I've had nails bending on multiple occasions. I swear I'm hitting them correctly! I even tried screws but they just spin without going in. I attempted to pre-drill holes to help, but I broke my drill bit doing that. I'm at my wit's end here. Is there a technique I'm missing?
3 Answers
One key tip: make sure you pre-drill the holes before using screws. The right fastener and pre-drilling can prevent bending or breaking altogether. It's a game-changer for woodworking!
Have you tried using wood glue? Sometimes, it's enough to hold things together, especially if the join isn't under too much stress. Fasteners can help, but glue can save you a lot of headaches!
It sounds like you might be dealing with either really hard wood or low-quality fasteners. Sometimes the nails themselves can be a problem too. What type of wood are you using? That could really affect how well the nails or screws work. Also, it might be worth checking your technique and tools, like using the right size nails for the job.
I honestly can't say what kind it is—it's some mystery wood! All I know is it's a skin color. I've just been grabbing random nails from my dad's stash, so maybe that's part of the issue.