How to Mark Nail Placement Without a Pencil

Save yourself a step during your next woodworking project.

By Matt Boley, The Family Handyman

This woodworking tip will save you a step

In order to shoot nails into a shelf edge from outside the cabinet, you need a line. Instead of marking the line in pencil, which will eventually have to be sanded off, I use tape.

How to mark nail placement with tape

1. Use a pencil to mark the center of the shelf only on the edges of the cabinet.
2. Align the edge of a strip of painter’s tape with the marks.
3. Shoot nails along the edge of the tape for perfectly aligned nails.
4. Remove the tape and you’re done, no need to sand off any pencil marks!