I am setting up a woodworking shop in an existing building which has a wood floor (2″ x 12″ planks). The floor boards are not tongue and groove and some have separations up to 1/4″. I would like to fill in the gaps to keep sawdust etc. out of the gaps. Any suggustions on what I should use.
Scout1
Replies
For a woodworking shop, you might want to cover the planks with plywood.
Clear silicone caulk.
mike
Someone asked a similar question on House Chat, but their gaps were wider, I think. You might check the archives there. I think the consensus there was that caulk would be too soft and wouldn't wear well. Several people seemed to like the idea of packing rope into the cracks.
Danno is right, I was probably the one that posted that over in the house chat. I don't remember exactly what type of rope it was but it was a natural rope. Check over there for the post, I think it was a month or two back.
I've made these repairs to my pine floors. Very easy. I took a router and cut 1/2" slots 1/2 deep using a board tacked to the floor for a guide. (I used a chisel for the last few inches to the wall.) This created a slot with a shoulder. 1/2W x 1/2D. Then I cut a scrap of flooring just slightly larger than 1/2" square. I used yellow wood glue in the slot and tapped in the 1/2" sq scrap. Sand and refinish the floor and you're done. You can expect to trash a few router bits hitting stuff that got stuck in the floor crack or a nail or two. For wider joints use a 3/4" bit 1/2" deep.
Try "Big Stretch" caulk. Woodtone, dark brown, tan, gray etc. available.