Hi all,
I’ve got an embarrassing question about installing prefinished floor. What do you do after you get too close to the wall to use the air nailer? I’ve predrilled the tongue and put in the nails by hand, but that gets difficult (really slow) to do if the strip is a couple of inches from the drywall. Face nailing looks like
with prefinished.
Thanks,
Todd
Replies
luckily there is only one row that is a couple of inches from the wall. Seriously, you got it. Hand nail the last couple of rows, and then what ever fits under the base/shoe I face nail.
Hey rnsykes,Thanks for the input. I'll just keep plugging away then. Unfortunately, my last strip ended up in the most perfect spot to make nailing tough - another half inch and it would have been under the trim. I need a shorter nail set!Thanks,
Todd
When it gets that close, I'll usually cut all of my pieces and then pre-drill them before i lay them in. That way I can get the angle as close to 90 as I can so that I'm not in danger of banging up the wall. I'll usually wedge a block of flooring in against the wall to keep the pieces tight while I'm nailing.
I would suggest a Japanese type nail set; it has a very short perpendicular head, and I found it quite handy for getting in that last pita course.
Ed
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=40379&cat=1,43456,43400&ap=1
Cool! I'm going by Lee Valley today, coming out with one.Thanks,
Todd
I like that! Has any one ever seen a nail set for a finish nail; you put a nail into a metal block then there is a block with a plunger that works like the piston on air gun, that goes over the first striking the sliding block sinks the nail?I think Norm used one once. I remember seeing one for corrugated nails, I think there is one for finish nails.
Here is a brad pusher that I use for some things.
View ImageSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Never saw one of those does it work well? I would think soft woods would be fine.The one I am thinking of you strike with a hammer
Got one of them too.
View Image
Two actually..I used them for soffit channel them small white alum nails.
Recently I made one ( out in the van right now) out of 1/2 steel rod and 1/2" ID steel tube..I can put copper roofing nails in that and reach spots that are hard or a finger smasher. I call it my Pea shooter.
The brad pusher is for softer woods for sure.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Stanley used to make them, I have a couple of them that are sized for 16, 17, and 18-gauge brads, but not one for "finish nails". They make one for 4 and 6-penny finish nails though.
The problem with using them for nailing through tongues of flooring would be the fact the noses are pretty wide in relation to the nail being driven, so they won't get in tight in the angle along the tongues. You could probably chuck them in a drill, and turn the nose down with a file, to get them narrowed up a bit, but I am not sure how much you could take off.
They are called "self-centering" nail sets. Amazon has them listed.
Typically when I get in too close to the wall, I will face nail with 18-gage brads. Most of the manufacturers of prefinished flooring have wax sticks that are color matched, to their flooring. You can get a pretty inconspicuous fill in of the holes.
You need to pay attention to where you place them in the grain, so that you can blend the holes in.
I just was going through my mail at lunch and got this in my western tool supply catolog thought some may find it interesting. It is a mini palm nailer. http://www.houseoftools.com/product.htm?pid=595388Wallyo
Edited 2/5/2009 3:04 pm by wallyo
sometimes I use a 16 gauge nailer angle it and nail through the tongue. When I can not do that I face nail.
Wallyo
Glue.
Do you use proper flooring glue, or can you just gun down some PL?
Whatever glue you have.
Wood glue the tongue together for the last row or two. You can nail through the end tongue into the floor.
use the floor nailer as close as U can.
then I switch to the 15g finish gun shot thru the tongue.
face nail and putty the last row.
I use bruce latex filler. Also use the bruce hardwood filler for cabinet stock.
it's great stuff.
on occasion I'll break out the cabinet wax fill sticks on the prefinished floor too.
it's all just factory stained wood ...
once ya learn to fill, it disappears on both cab trim and floors.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Hey guys,Thanks for all the advise. Funny, once I knew that there isn't really a better way it seemed to go faster! I picked up the Japanese nail set from Lee Valley - it works like a charm.I'm using Teragren bamboo, and it doesn't seem to play well with my brad nailer - 3 out of 4 of the brads bend when shooting into the tongue, so no joy there. I'm going to call my supplier and see if they have filler sticks. Other than this little problem, the floor is really nice - good stuff to work with, and very good looking.Todd
Post a photo when you are done.Wallyo