Soap

[jimbur]

I had to replace a floor - 28mm Baltic pine on 5"x3" hardwood joists over a hundred years old. Rather than predrill I thought I would try the old tip of dipping the points of the nails in soap. It worked like a dream - still had to work hard but barely a bent nail in the lot.
Cheers,
Jim

[munruben]

An old method but a good one Jim. My father use to do that way back when I was a youngster.

[paul k]

Thats a good one always do it with screws , never thought about nails , i most certainly will use that one .

Cheers , Paul , k

[dakotax3]

Not sure if I should revive an old post but here's what I do in similar circumstances: simply push the nail or screw through your hair as if you are combing it a few times. The oil in your hair will do the same thing. The hollow handled "Rockets" used to be a good place to cram some soap, you old fellas will know what I mean.

[munruben]

Not sure if I should revive an old post but here's what I do in similar circumstances: simply push the nail or screw through your hair as if you are combing it a few times. The oil in your hair will do the same thing. The hollow handled "Rockets" used to be a good place to cram some soap, you old fellas will know what I mean.

Good tip, but have you seen my hair.?

[artme]

Good tip, but have you seen my hair.?

What hair!

[Andrew_B]

a bar of soap is a great thing to have in the workshop, i use them alot when people whinge about their old drawers sticking , the furniture ends up smelling better too lol

[3RU]

Not sure if I should revive an old post but here's what I do in similar circumstances: simply push the nail or screw through your hair as if you are combing it a few times. The oil in your hair will do the same thing. The hollow handled "Rockets" used to be a good place to cram some soap, you old fellas will know what I mean.

That trick worked a treat in the old days when everyone used Brylcream. Just like the old precurser to getting the strap. Not so much Brylcream around these days.

Dave

[bsrlee]

Don't blame me when the nails (& screws) rust off. Soap is hygroscopic (attracts water) & promotes rust.

I have the joyous task of gradually replacing all the hinge screws in the outside doors at home as Dad & Grandad used soap on the screws & the doors are falling off with a shower of rust.

[Woodwould]

Don't blame me when the nails (& screws) rust off. Soap is hygroscopic (attracts water) & promotes rust.

Not only that, but the lye in soap is highly corrosive. It actually causes the tanin-rich wood to bond to the screws making them virtually impossible to remove. The lye can also leach out around the screw holes and attack the hardware and surrounding finish/paintwork.

Turps is an excellent screw lubricant and evaporates, causing no long term ill effects.

[FenceFurniture]

I always seem to have some wood wax around that I didn't like for some reason so I use that for screwing hardwood, and on the plane sole. Hadn't thought about it for nails, prolly coz I don't nail if I can help it. Sometimes I tap the head of the nail in first, then proceed as normal, to minimise splitting.

[Handyjack]

I try and keep a stick of 'Dry Lube' in the tool box. Trouble is it melts when it gets hot.