Visit Maglio's Tips & Tricks often for information and advice on a diverse range of projects. Whether you are building a house, renovating a kitchen or bath we can help you with any project. Learn what you need to know for all your projects right here. If you're a contractor or just a weekend warrior, you will find helpful tips from "The Lumber People Who Care!"
Dupont Tyvek Weatherization System Installation
Every nail type is designed for a highly specialized purpose. The broad head on a roofing nail is ideal for fastening shingles but unsightly as finish nail on moldings and trim. Nail lengths are identified by numbers from 4 to 60 followed by the letter "d", which stands for 'penny." Some specialty nails are identified by either length or guage. Other specialty nails -like wallboard nails, siding nails, masonry nails, and flooring nails- are identified by their intended function.
Angling nails as shown will provide better holding power than driving them in straight.
Using the right hammer for the job. The tack hammer at rear is magnetized to hold the tack, and is lightweight to avoid damaging the wood.
Toenailing is one method of joining two pieces of wood when endnailing isn't possible.
To avoid splitting wood, stagger nails so they don't enter the same spot in the wood again.
Use the proper nailing technique for the task. Endnailing is used to attach perpendicular boards when moderate strength is required. Toenail at a 45 Degree angle for extra strengthwhen joining perpendicular framing members. Facenail to create strong headers for doors and window openings. Blindnail tongue-and-groove boards to conceal nails, eliminating the need to set nails and cover them with putty before painting or staining. Locknail outside mitre joints in trim projects to prevent gaps from developing as the trim pieces dry.
Remove stubborn nails by placing a block of wood under the hammer head for addad leverage. Us a block big enough to evenly distribute pressure from the hammer head.
Remove stubborn nails by placing a block of wood under the hammer head for addad leverage. Us a block big enough to evenly distribute pressure from the hammer head.
Pulling large nails by wedging then shank of the nail tightly in the claws and levering the hammer sideways.
Turn your claw hammer into a mini nail puller for small finish nails and brads by filing a 1/8" notch into one claw, using a triangular needle file (insert).
Using Screws
Screws are categorized according to length, slot size, head shape, and gauge. The thick-ness of the screw is indicated by the gauge number; the larger the gauge number, the larger the screw. Large screws provide extra holding power; small screws are less likely to split a workpiece.
Counterbore a pilot hole and countersink the screw head using this combination drill bit.
Lubricating a screw with beeswax makes for easier driving with the screwdriver or screwgun.
Choose a screwdriver that fits the slot in the screw head. The narrow blade of the driver at right may slip and damagae the screw head or workpiece.
To Drill an effective pilot hole, select a drill bit slighty smaller than the screw shank diameter.
Screw types include: flat- and oval-head wood screws (1, 2), machine crew with nut (3), screw with washer for securing fiberglass panels (4), machine screw (6), wallboard screw (7), and lag screw (8).
Bolts and nuts bind together workpieces, providing strong connections that are easy to separate without causing damage to the material. Much like screws, bolts are classified not only by type,but also according to gauge (or thickness) and length. In some cases, bolts are labeled according to threads per inch, smaller bolts have more threads per inch. Washers are used under bolt-heads and nuts to help distribute pressure and prevent damage to surfaces. Specialty washers, such as locking or toothed washers, help prevent nuts from becoming loose.
Tighten bolts and nuts using two wrenches, turning in the opposite direction. In areas with limited access. use a proper-size socket with a ratchet.
To ensure secure connections, the end of the bolt should project through the nut by at least two threads.
When the hole is larger than the bolt being used, cover it using a fender wahser -a large flat washer with a small hole.
Use a lock washer where it's important that a nut not work loose. On wood, use a flat washer under the lock washer.
The variety of bolt, washer and nut types include: machine bolt (1), flat-head stove bolt (2), carriage bolt (3), fender washer (4), flat washer (5), lock washer (6), wing nut (7), hex nut (8,10), flange nut (9), lock nut (11), cap nut (12), and square nut (13).
Angling nails as shown will provide better holding power than driving them in straight. 
Using the right hammer for the job. The tack
Toenailing is one method of joining two pieces of wood when endnailing isn't possible. 
To avoid splitting wood, stagger nails so they don't enter the same spot in the wood again. 
Remove stubborn nails by
Remove stubborn nails by placing a block of wood under the hammer head for addad leverage. Us a block big enough to evenly 
Pulling large nails by wedging then shank of
Counterbore a pilot hole and countersink the screw head using this combination drill bit.
Lubricating a screw with beeswax makes for easier driving with the screwdriver or screwgun.
Choose a screwdriver that fits the slot in the screw head. The narrow blade of the driver at right may slip and damagae the screw head or workpiece.
To Drill an effective pilot hole, select a drill bit slighty smaller than the screw shank diameter.
Tighten bolts and nuts using two wrenches, turning in the opposite direction. In areas with limited access. use a proper-size socket with a ratchet.
To ensure secure connections, the end of the bolt should project through the nut by at least two threads.
When the hole is larger than the bolt being used, cover it using a fender wahser -a large flat washer with a small hole.
Use a lock washer where it's important that a nut not work loose. On wood, use a flat washer under the lock washer. 
The variety of bolt, washer and nut types
