How to Create Nail Holes for String Art: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Create Nail Holes for String Art

A practical guide to choosing the right method for your setup

One of the most common questions in string art is simple:

How do you create nail holes in the wood base?

The answer depends less on tools and more on intent. Are you making your first piece at the kitchen table, or are you producing multiple signs and patterns with consistency in mind?

Over the years, as GoodStrings has grown, our approach to creating nail holes has evolved as well. We’ve tested three main methods extensively. Each works. Each has trade-offs. This guide explains when to use which one.

You Don’t Need Fancy Tools to Start

If you’re making your first or second string art sign, you don’t need specialized equipment.

A basic setup is enough:

• a hammer
• pliers
• a printed pattern

That’s it.

More advanced methods only make sense once you care about speed, consistency, or repeatability.

Method 1: Hammering Over the Pattern (The Classic)

This is the most common and beginner-friendly method.

You print your pattern, align it on the wood base, secure it, and hammer the nails directly through the marked dots. The nail creates the hole as it goes in.

Advantages

• no extra tools needed
• simple and intuitive
• ideal for beginners

Disadvantages

• small paper fragments can get stuck under nails
• removing paper may require tweezers or a craft knife
• patterns cannot be reused

This method is perfectly fine for casual projects and first experiments.

Method 2: Using an Awl (Cleaner, Slower, Reusable)

An awl is a sharp, pointed tool traditionally used in leatherwork. In string art, it allows you to pre-mark nail holes before hammering.

You attach the pattern to the wood, poke holes at each dot with the awl, then remove the paper and hammer nails into the indents.

Advantages

• no paper fragments left behind
• patterns can be reused
• cleaner working surface

Disadvantages

• requires an additional tool
• more time-consuming
• tiring for large or detailed designs

This method suits makers who value cleanliness and pattern reuse but don’t need high speed.

Method 3: Drill-Based Holes (Precision and Consistency)

Using a drill to pre-make nail holes is the most controlled method and the one we use most often today.

There are several options, from handheld drills to pen-style drills and tabletop drill presses. The key is bit size.

I typically use nails with a diameter of 1–1.2 mm.

For drilling:

• use 0.8 mm bits for 1 mm nails
• use 1.0 mm bits for 1.2 mm nails

The hole should always be slightly smaller than the nail so the nail grips the wood properly.

Advantages

• high precision
• consistent spacing and depth
• patterns can be reused
• no paper cleanup

Disadvantages

• drill bits can break
• requires investment in tools
• produces wood dust
• hand fatigue for beginners

This method makes the most sense if you’re producing multiple pieces, selling work, or prioritizing repeatable results.

Choosing the Right Method

There is no universally “best” technique. The right choice depends on how you work.

• Hammering over the pattern is ideal for beginners and occasional projects
• Awl-based marking works well if you dislike paper cleanup and want reuse
• Drilling is best for makers who care about precision, efficiency, and consistency

As with most things in string art, the method should support the process, not complicate it.

Nail Holes Are Part of the System

Nail holes don’t exist in isolation. They interact with:

• nail diameter and length
• wood hardness
• spacing and pattern density

That’s why hole preparation works best when considered alongside nail choice, wood selection, and pattern design.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need advanced tools to make good string art. You only need them when your goals change.

Start simple. Let your technique evolve as your work evolves. Choose the method that supports how you want to work, not just what looks efficient on paper.

Happy crafting,

Renate from GoodStrings