I’ve got an interesting problem. We are putting down some prefinished hardwood and a tiled entrance. The tile is going to be in an arc about six feet wide. The hardwood will be on three sides of it. The guys at Home Depot said I need 3/4″ gap around the tile for expansion. That seems a bit excessive but I can work with it. The real problem is making the transition strip to protect the edge of the tile work. The best method I’ve dreamt up so far is to make the rough arc out of 1×8. Then with glue the piece down to some plywood with paper in between. Then have at it with my router on a long arm to rout the underside, separate the new strip from the ply and shape the top by hand. What do you think?
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Replies
I don't really follow the part about gluing with paper in between.
What I would do is tack or screw the 1x to the plywood and attach a long enough 1x2 to the router to get the proper arc.
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Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.net
See some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com
Edited 4/7/2008 4:43 am by Ted W.
Use a little Titebond or any other alaphatic glue with brown paper in between, and you can pop the work loose 'cause the paper tears.
Just another way to do it if you don't want holes in the work. Could use double stick tape too.
"Use a little Titebond or any other alaphatic glue with brown paper in between, and you can pop the work loose 'cause the paper tears."
Thanks, that's a new (and useful) one for me. =)
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Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com
Edited 4/8/2008 1:23 am by Ted W.
Lot of tips like that in Tage Freid's three woodworking books. One of the old masters.
I'm no tile or floor expert, but 3/4" sounds like way too much. How wide is the flooring on the other sides? Is it engineered wood, or solid flooring?
Seems like the expansion area could be concealed by the base trim instead of around the insert.
It's 3 1/4" wide solid cherry. I don't have experience doing floors but I have been doing woodwork for many years and I would have thought that if the flooring moved 3/4" then it would work the nails loose from the subfloor.
I think that's excessive too. Like I said, I'm no expert, but there are some here. You may want to re-title the thread and ask a specific like "how much expansion in solid wood floors?"
Frenchy for one. His whole damn house is solid wood.
I think your most important statement is "...the guys from Home Depot sid...".
Think about that for a minute.....
Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
>>The guys at Home Depot said I need 3/4" gap around the tile for expansion.
?? Huh?? Expansion of the tile? Of the wood? Neither seems credible to me.
Remember Mary Dyer, a Christian Martyr (Thank you, Puritans)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Dyer
May your whole life become a response to the truth that you've always been loved, you are loved and you always will be loved" Rob Bell, Nooma, "Bullhorn"
I'd be tempted to laminate the strip.
Well, even the directions from the manufacturer call for a 3/4" gap at the wall. I'll have to ask around some more. Thanks guys.
Hot glue from a gun makes a good temporary fastener if you feel the need to attach to a piece of plywood while routing. I'd probably just clamp it for routing purposes, moving the clamps as necessary.