Ever split a piece of wood or expensive trim when driving a nail into it? Pros know how to prevent this mishap. Here's how: Pointed nails act like small wedges and, when driven, often split wood along the grain. First and foremost, stay away from ends and edges, and when nailing the length of a board, stagger nails so they don't follow the same grain line. Blunting the sharp ends of nails with a hammer makes them act like a punch (rather than a wedge) and they're less likely to split or crack the wood. For optimum insurance against accidental splits, drill small pilot holes first. It takes more time, but it's worth it. And that's the On The House tip for today.