Back/knees killing me ! Need work tips.
Senna
| Posted in Construction Techniques on
I have been installing a hardwood floor in my house. I am so beat right now.
I set up the table saw and chop saw down stairs and had to run up and down a flight of stairs everytime I needed to cut something. Of course that meant half the time I forgot my pencil or tape measure on another floor. I am sure I wasted quite a bit of time and footsteps with my stupid setup. Any tips to work better/smarter ??
I should point out that the space I was working in was somewhat limited and the room next to where I was working was carpeted.
Should I have set up the chopsaw on a table in the carpeted room with a drop cloth underneath? What do pros do when installing floors?
Replies
Seems a bit insane to not have your saw where your working first of all. Just figure out a way to make it happen no matter what.
Second is get a good pair of gell knee pads.
Third is be prepared for a sore back no matter what.
A cpl a shots of Jacky D and a few cold suds and a hot bath don't hurt none at the end of your day.
Why do you think it called "con-struction"
Cause you need to con yourself at the end of the day that you don't really ache.
Be sore,
andy
My life is my passion!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Get somebody young to do the running for you!
Actually, a hot bath is probably the worst thing you can do for a bad back. Ice is what you need at least for the first 24-48 hours.
I would recommend stretching a couple of times a day. I would get a good book on various stretches to the low back and have someone stretch you out. I use the "childs pose" which is a stretch on my knees with the head stretched forward, hip and low back stretches with knees in the air moving side to side; and lumbar stretches which someone else has to do for you.
Ice the area down for about 30 minutes and it will calm that muscle down.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
Ice the area down for about 30 minutes and it will calm that muscle down.
Screw that.......hot bath with a nekked woman scrubbing you with a loofah (topless of course) and a few drinks and candles.ok screw the candles.
Geeezzzz doent anyone know about mind over matter.
BE a nekked chick of any age
andy"My life is my practice"
a "topless loofah" ...
now you've gone too far!!
jeff ...Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
you're a piss Andy............
now back on that roof!!!!!!!!!
Eric
ok screw the candles.
you ferget about the wimmin????
be very different....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Welcome to my [former] world!!
I tried to specialise in fancy parquet rather than strip flooring but the principle is the same.
First of all knee-pads -- I never found a pair that was adequate protection for all day use -- I used 2 pairs, one glued inside the other.
All my tools; bandsaw, tablesaw and miter saw were portable and in the room in which I worked -- the room sealed off, of course.
For a strip floor, I racked out a large section of the room and did my cuts with a sharp handsaw -- much quicker than manouvering the drop saw and a long length of timber.
Every so often try laying flat on your back with your legs extended up the wall to stretch those cramped muscles!
I found eating anything bigger than a snack at mid-day gave me acid reflux from kneeling down, bent over.
IanDG
Dude..I tape a pencil on a string to all of my stationary tools..table saw,chop saw etc..
I also attach a tape measure to the stands as well..
I try to remember to put the speed square in my back pocket..I despise tool belts..unless absolutly needed
most important thing...STRETCH before work. take a moment to bend, and flex...it really helps.
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Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
I see the saws on the floor not up on a set of horses like they should be. Tell me I'm wrong.
The stairs thing ain't the best idea in the world unless you need the exercise. What hurts the knees is the up and down.
And what Boris said. STRETCH!!!!!!
Eric
i take 2-3 aspirin w food before workstart, anti-inflammatory, prevents inflammation that causes pain, same after work if sore, really helps couple glucosamine capsules a day replaces joint lubricant, helps knees a lot, cheapest place for them is walmart
correct your work station as others posted cuts are done in work area table saw can be outside or basement due to dust generated, not that many ts cuts anyway
rack out most of floor each course, engage t&g end joints tightly last board is inverted so the "cut line" accurately overlays the end of the previous board, and you mark it w a pencil circular saw w sharp blade to side of room with marked end boards time for production cutting, do them in place, slightly propped up, shop vac sawdust after...... no wasted motion lifting up, turning over, or working a chopsaw stay off knees, most flooring done leaning over
before cutting, step back and eyeball floor for any bad, dark, staircased, ladder etc boards you want to cull and take care of that
production installation time
p.s. my guys (hourly) will like the idea of taking a walk for each cut they'll be sending you a fruit basket at xmas
Actually Isopropin is better for anti-inflamantory. 4 of them is the same dose as 2 Motrin.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
Aching back and knees? Why, it's GWB's fault of course.
The Cleveland Indians vs. Kansas City Royals game got rained out here inCleveland
Taking a couple of Ibuprophen, prior to using muscles that you don't normally use, helps immensely. Also, as others have mentioned, when possible, have the work surfaces raised to a comfortable height. For kneeling, the special edition presidential Monica Lewinski kneepads are a must.
Aching back and knees? Why, it's GWB's fault of course.
I dunno bout the back, but the sore knees is Clintons.
no, no, no!! you got it all wrong.
GWB - sore back. (from the bending and grabing your own ankles)
Clinton - sore knees. (from the ah, ah - go ask Monica)
Now that you read all the other posts it still boils down that you need somebody a third yur age to do the running and on the floor work....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....
WOW!!! What a Ride!
For the knees: http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/pages/h00007.asp
Ruth Dobsevage
Taunton New Media
Man, I really like Ruth.
.
You know the thing about the kness, and general all around tiredness, is the more I have to get up ( and down) the more tired I am at the end of the day.
Roof..I mean Ruth.I don't care what they say about you.I think yer the cats meow..........Did I just say that????? I been hangin round these old hillbillies way too long.
Be a hottie .ferget cats meow...echhhhhhh
andyMy life is my passion!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Dunno what your tool arsenal is like, but when I`m flooring I use my smaller models and set up in the room I`m running.
10" miter saw atop my workmate...8 1/4" table saw sitting on the floor and a jigsaw.... all at the opposite side from where I start. As I get halfway done with the room, I flip everything to the side I`ve completed.
Knee pads are a must.....stop and stretch regularly.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
To top it off I rented a electic jackhammer today. My simple 15 minute job - I tought - took the full 4 hours I had rented the tool for. Had to go home for lunch and a hot bath ( short nap too). Man I am not all the old (30's) but I got to start working out again.
You apparently didn`t read the fine print on your rental agreement...I`m sure if you had you would have noticed the the MRRT (Minimal Recomended Rental Times) section. Six hours is normally the industry standard for "half hour" projects.....we live and learn.J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"