Posted by David Bamford on June 23, 2005 at 02:38:41 from 220.253.110.128 user David.
In Reply to: Mary Anne Binder Plank posted by John on June 22, 2005 at 15:56:48:
The usual practice, John, is to drill a pilot hole through the plank where the nail has to go. The hole's diameter should equal the width of the side of the nail, assuming a square section nail. The length of the nail needs to be at least twice the thickness of the planking at the lap, if it only going through planking. If the nail is also going through a rib, the it needs to be long enough to do that with a fairly generous amount left over for the rove.
If you are steaming ribs into place, have the nails in the holes ready for the rib to be placed. Once the rib is clamped into place hammer the nails through the hot rib, which will then be soft enough to accept them easily. Don't forget to back up the rib with a stout lump of wood when you bang the nails through it. If this anvil piece is end-grain on to the rib, the nail will come out easily.
The ring-shank or barbed nails will be for places where a rove cannot be put on to a nail because the end is immersed in wood. You can also use them clenched. Clenching is done by tapping the nail through the wood so that the point just sticks out. Bend that point flat to the wood. Now hammer the rest of the nail through, and bend that flat to the wood too, so that the point is now immersed in the wwod. You should end up with a nail which looks like a capital "L" with a serif on the foot. The clenched part of the nail should cross the grain of the wood, either straight across, or at an angle, whichever suits.
David.