How do I avoid splitting quarter round?

I am installing quarter round vertically at the corners of the room where I have installed wainscoting panels. I see the sense in not gluing, but am worried nailing will split the quarter round. It seems quite flimsy. Any suggestions?How do I avoid splitting quarter round?
Yes, drill before nailing. I do it all the time, especially with hard woods like oak. If you don't have a drill bit the right size, you can clip the head off one of the nails and put it in the drill. Just be careful not to push too hard. When the nail heats up, it can bend easily and ruin your wood.How do I avoid splitting quarter round?
The easiest thing to do would be to rent a 15 ga. nail gun and use either a 1 1/2 inch or 2 inch nails. It's easy, quick and clean and the nail most of the time sets it's self. Other wise,hold the molding up to where you want to install it . With a screw gun that has a drill bit a little bit smaller diameter than the 4d or 6d nail you intend to use, pre-drill only through the qtr round and just start it into the holding surface. Drive the nail to within a 1/16 inch from the surface. Now set the nail below the surface and fill with a wax stick the same color as the stain.
I put down quarter round this past weekend around the outside of my living room over top of my new laminate wood floor. I used a small air brad nailer and I used 1 1/4'; brads.





As others said, you could also pre-drill your holes, just make sure to drill smaller then the nails you plan on using, so the nails still catch in the quarter round.
An old carpenters trick is to take your hammer and blunt your nails on the tips, so they don't split the wood so bad. Pre-drilling the holes would help, too. I'd prefer to use a small air brad nailer instead, those don't tend to split much.
You will go crazy drilling little holes, you would be best just to get a small diameter nail gun, 18 gauge will work well, and doing it that way. If you don't have one, rent it. Fiddling with quarter round is a pain.
Get a drill bit slightly smaller than the nail and predrill all your holes. I usually do this right after I cut all my peices of trim and before I paint or stain. You could apply glue on one side of it.
I'd nail into a piece of scotch tape on the wood and then pull it off halfway through. It's much easier than pre-drillling holes.