Wondering if I can get some input on installing tamarack flooring with cut nails. I'm thinking of drilling pilot holes but I'm not certain what diameter to drill the holes. The nails are 2 1/2" long.

Appreciate any expertise that might be lurking here.

WOW that's ambitious !
No expertise here, but if I were considering it I would not drill larger than .0625 Let the nail edges cut the rest of what it needs

Those are "mean lookin nails ".....

I put the same nails in my house...it is all T and G #2 pine. That was 41 years ago and they are still holding tight. Pre drill and experiment with the hole size...you will know when you are sinking them. Counter set about 1/16". Take care and good luck.

OTG

They look like horseshoe nails.

But sorry, I have no answer to your question.

Look like horseshoe nails, if I were to drill pilot holes be no larger than the nail at about midpoint

They do look exactly like shoe nails . I even hear the sound as they are driven into the hoof, just looking at these.

Lol, it is rather ambitious, isn't it!? I have approximately 500 square feet of flooring to install. The boards are 5 1/2" wide. Lots of holes.

They are vicious looking nails, Sharon. Sharp!

Thanks for the help one and all.

Start with a hole about the diameter of the mid point. Test on some scrap pieces. Make sure the width of the nail goes with the grain. If it goes across the grain your lumber will split. If the test cracks go up a size, if not go down a size, and repeat until you have a good fit without cracking. I don't have any 8d cut nails or I would give you a better starting point.

Those are Horse Shoe nails. Look exactly like them anyway.

Wear a good leather glove with some dexterity on your nail holding hand
Those things can cut a finger rather easily.
And you don't want blood on the finished product. LoL

Posco,i 'm sure it goes without saying but you know that nailing them cut nails
in one way as the other will split the boards!!!
If that makes sense.

Horse shoe nails are sharp on the end, them are flat.
Definitely for wood

I've used a lot of those in restoration work, but not tamarack.
Drilled ends of boards only. Hickory and Pa black cherry were my finest.
They work in masonry flashing too.

NO donkey tracks lol.

And wear glasses, they snap more so than bend.

Thank you folks for your input. Much appreciated. I'll post some pics when I have some of it down.

I purchased 50#s through Tremont Nail Co.. I guess they're the oldest cut nail producer in the country. Still using the same equipment to manufacture the nails as they did in 1890. So they say.