Plug Maker

[Newapprentice]

I'm currently building a deck out of the standard softwood decking boards you can get anywhere.

1/. When screwing nails into the deck boards, should I drill a pilot hole first?

2/. Can you use a plug maker for the fascia boards. I am using a deck board as a fascia, I have seen joiners use plug makers when they fit skirting boards to hide the screw heads?

Thank you.

 

[imamartian]

(i'm a diyer, not a pro)

1. i did..... just feels safer, and if you get one of those switchable drill/driver bits, it's easy. But I suspect that with the quality of most deck boards you won't have to, unless you're close to the edge. But give it a go, if you start splitting timber every other fixing, pilot holes it is.

2. not sure i understand question 2... why would you want a neat and tidy finish on a fascia that (usually) will be well out of sight...?

 

[ladylola]

As it's a facia and as such more cosmetic than structural you could always nail it with ovals or lostheads , punch and fill. But if you really do want to screw it then there's no problem using a plug cutter to produce plugs out of an offcut or the back of the facia.

 

[mointainwalker]

1/. When screwing nails into the deck boards, should I drill a pilot hole fir
st?

Is it me or the OP who is a bit strange ? Or are we talking about somrthing a little bit unusual ?

 

[RedHerring2]

Well, I'm sure we've all nailed a few screws in our time, so why not try it the other way round.

 

[imamartian]

1/. When screwing nails into the deck boards, should I drill a pilot hole fir
st?

Is it me or the OP who is a bit strange ? Or are we talking about somrthing a little bit unusual ?

good spot.. i just assumed the OP meant they were using screws, and should they pilot hole it first?

 

[ladylola]

good spot.. i just assumed the OP meant they were using screws, and should they pilot hole it first?

Ditto for me as well

 

[Newapprentice]

I did that on purpose to see if you were paying attention

No, I meant screwing screws - not screwing nails.