Can pine wood outdoor trash cans be pre-drilled to prevent splitting during hardware installation?

Yes, pine wood outdoor trash cans absolutely should be pre-drilled before hardware installation to prevent splitting. Pine is a softwood that's particularly prone to cracking and splitting when screws or nails are driven directly into it without pilot holes. The installation process creates significant lateral pressure that can separate the wood fibers along the grain, especially near the edges of the boards. To properly pre-drill, select a drill bit slightly smaller than your screw's shaft diameter (not including the threads). Drill straight into the marked locations to create clean pilot holes that guide your hardware while allowing the threads to grip solid wood. This simple preventative measure significantly extends the life of your pine trash can by maintaining structural integrity at connection points. For outdoor applications, consider using stainless steel or coated hardware to prevent rust stains and further protect the wood from moisture-related damage that could exacerbate any small cracks.