Nails come in all shapes and sizes. Be sure to select the right one for the job.
Round wire nails are mainly used for rough carpentry work, where it doesn't matter if the head shows. If you are going to use round nails near the edge of a piece of wood, drill a small guide hole for the nail to avoid splitting the wood.
Another way to prevent a nail from splitting wood is to blunt the point of the nail with a hammer. The flat surface will cut through the wood fibres rather than driving a wedge through them.
Always avoid running a line of nails along the same wood grain. The combined effect will probably split the wood along that line.
Use oval nails where you want to sink the nails in. Use the thin section of the nail along the wood grain to prevent splitting the wood. Then use a nail punch to sink the head without bruising the wood surface.
Use panel pins for fine work. You need a pin hammer to sink them safely.
Use tacks with large heads for holding any sheet material. A larger version is the clout nail, used for materials such as roofing felt.
For outdoor jobs such as fencing, try to use rustless nails - either galvanised or alloy ones. These will last longer, and won't cause rust stains on the wood.
