Soap

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

An old method but a good one Jim. My father use to do that way back when I was a youngster.:2tsup:

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

Cheers , Paul , k :2tsup:

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.

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Originally Posted by 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.

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Good tip, but have you seen my hair.:D?

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Originally Posted by munruben

Good tip, but have you seen my hair.:D?

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What hair!:?:p

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 :)

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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

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.

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Originally Posted by bsrlee

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

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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.

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.

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