Toenailing or skew-nailing is a viable, structurally sound method of the driving of a

nail Nail or Nails may refer to: In biology * Nail (anatomy), toughened protective protein-keratin (known as alpha-keratin, also found in hair) at the end of an animal or human digit, such as fingernail * Nail (beak), a plate of hard horny tissue a ...

at a roughly 30° angle to fasten two pieces of wood together, typically with their grains perpendicular. The term comes colloquially from fastening wood at the bottom, or toe, of the board. A variation of toenailing is to use

screw A screw is an externally helical threaded fastener capable of being tightened or released by a twisting force (torque) to the screw head, head. The most common uses of screws are to hold objects together and there are many forms for a variety ...

s, casually known as "toe-screwing". Toenails are typically driven in opposing pairs when possible, or pairs of pairs when appropriate. The angled nailing makes later dismantling difficult or destructive.

History

The word toenailing has been used in carpentry since at least 1949.

Common applications

*Fastening a wall stud to a sole plate in stud framing. *Used in place of end nailing when fastening locations are not easily accessible, like installing blocking between studs and joists. *Attaching a

rafter A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members such as Beam (structure), steel beams that extend from the ridge or hip to the wall plate, downslope perimeter or eave, and that are designed to support the roof Roof shingle, shingles, ...

to the top plate of a wall at its birdsmouth. *Commonly used with screws in

carpentry Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, Shipbuilding, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. C ...

to quickly secure temporary framing or work aids such as a

jig The jig (, ) is a form of lively folk dance in compound metre, as well as the accompanying dance tune. It first gained popularity in 16th-century England, Ireland, Scotland, and other parts of the British Isles, and was adopted on mainland Eu ...

. *Can be used by woodworkers, for example a drawer or box can be glued and skew-nailed with finer nails or panel pins. Skew nailing will fasten the joint, while the glue sets, avoiding the use of clamps. Alternatives to toenailing include the use of

joist hanger A joist is a horizontal structural member used in framing to span an open space, often between beams that subsequently transfer loads to vertical members. When incorporated into a floor framing system, joists serve to provide stiffness to the su ...

hurricane tie A tie, strap, tie rod, eyebar, guy-wire, suspension cables, or wire ropes, are examples of linear structural components designed to resist tension. It is the opposite of a strut or column, which is designed to resist compression. Ties may be ...

s, and other engineered steel connectors designed to drive nails on a perpendicular to a wood surface.

References

*Reader's Digest, (1973). ''Reader's Digest Complete Do-it-yourself Manual'', p. 384 and p. 392. Reader's Digest, New York. Lib. of Congress Catalog Card 72-87867. *Jackson and Day, (2001). ''Collins Complete DIY Manual'', p. 143. HarperCollins, London. . Joinery Woodworking {{Carpentry-stub