Why does pre-drilling a hole reduce the chances that wood will split when you put a screw in? Doesn’t the wood still need to expand the same amount?

Question

Why does pre-drilling a hole reduce the chances that wood will split when you put a screw in? Doesn’t the wood still need to expand the same amount?

In: 5

Answer 1

The act of drilling the hole removes wood, so no, the wood doesn’t need to expand the same amount because there is less wood in the space where the screw will go.