I'm installing new 3/4" 2 1/4 red oak strips. After I nail them in place, some tongues crack and have a hairline fracture.
The tongue is still solid. Should I keep the piece or should I remove it?

Also how do I prevent or minimize doing this ? I'm using a manual nailer using 2" cleats.

Thank you so much.

Another Q: Should - buy wood filler for red oak wqhich comes in a reddish color or not?
I plan to use clesr oil finish. Any recomended filler brand ?

Thanks

Dont worry yourself too much about minor splits occasionally. The nail is just displacing a bit of the wood to make room for itself.
We use a full trowel filler from Design Hardwood Products, called "WOODWISE". Available formulations for most of the woods we use. For bigger gaps and holes, etc., the same product is available in a heavier consistency, called "Wood Patch"

Thanks, Dennis.

I wanted to use the wood-filler product to fill in some nicks that the new wood has. But can the filler that you mentioned also be used on some slight gaps that appear on between some strips length wise ? not the end joints. And wouldn't this filler break with any wood expansion ?

thanks