Essex #3 Deck Weathering and nailing 

instagram.com/rp_home_harbour?igshid=Y2ZmNzg0YzQ=

Hi, Roma. I wanted to share an alternative solution to the time-consuming deck nailing method you use here on the ESSEX. What I did to save a considerable amount of time, toothpicks, glue, and tedium is as follows. After applying all of the deck planks individually exactly as you did, I used a 0.8mm hand drill to make a shallow hole into each plank for every nail location by twisting the hand drill about 6 twists with light pressure to penetrate, but not completely go through, the plank for every nail location. Then, I used a 0.7mm lead mechanical pencil to color each nail location by sticking the graphite tip into the nail hole and twisting it 4 to 6 times. This process left a consistently sized and smooth nail head within each nail hole. I was then able to sand the deck until completely smooth. With the graphite from the pencil coloring the nail holes within the depressions, the sanding was not able to disturb the graphite color (dark grey), and I was left with a smooth deck that had consistently colored and shaped nail heads. This technique saved me a tremendous amount of time, and the result was essentially no different from your finished product. I only wish that I could attach photos here to show you my deck. Now; on to staining the deck. I do have ONE QUESTION for you: do you remember what dilution factor you used for your walnut stain for the deck? I don't want to over stain by mistake, and really like what your deck color turned out to be. Thanks again for a great, detailed, and instructive video! I'm enjoying the process. Regards, Bryan

nails look great. Will definitely do this on my next build

This is really a big job. The result looks great! In the video you can see that there are not points, but looks like rings.

I love going to the store for 20 boxes of toothpicks and people look at you like you're an idiot 🤣🤣🤣 I soak the toothpicks in the stain for a few hours, then the center is also black, but they need to dry because they are soft.

Question: why don’t you use brass nails and preferred the toothpicks??

Why do you place dowels where the masts and bowsprit go?