5.26.2018 - First hardwood flooring!

Jim did more handrail work this morning - this bottom section is now complete.

 

He also did some experimenting with the bamboo flooring.  He tried cutting it on the shear because it's supposed to cut hardwood - but this wood is so dense that it wouldn't really work on it.  One of the things Jim has to figure out is how to make a spline to fit in the groove of the wood.  He will put down the first row (we are calling it the keel like the main structural component of a ship's hull).  Everything to one side of that row will work with the tongue and groove connection.  But the first row on the other side will require Jim to make the "tongue" so that it will fit into the main row.  Then the remaining rows will work with the normal tongue and groove.  Whew.  Sorry for the rambling explanation.  Anyway, Jim was able to cut a very small piece of the bamboo and make little splines that fit perfectly in the groove.  Then he can take it to his planer and cut it to size - he couldn't make any smaller piece to fit in the groove without risk of it breaking apart.

Then he had to figure out the new nailer - unfortunately, when he went to attach it to the air compressor, the quick release wouldn't connect.  Jim thinks it may have a defect on it.  Thankfully he had another one that fit.

The first thing he had to do was make a "curb" - basically a backing board to keep the first board in the right position when he nails it.

The other difficult part of this first row is that it needs to be nailed on the other side for stability - so Jim had to drill holes in the groove and will have to hammer them in by hand.

Marking off the 8" space between nails...

Putting in the first nail!

Putting the nails on the back side...

 

I'm calling these nails but they are really called cleats - you can see how different looking they are.  They have serrated shafts.  We had to cut a strip apart for Jim to use individually on the back side.  This was another learning curve for Jim to figure out how to get them nailed in correctly.

 

 

Next piece in place and Jim is nailing it down...

 



 

Doing the back side - this will be easier once Jim gets away from the wall - not much room to work.

 



 

Jim made a bit stronger curb and is putting glue down for the next piece.  He didn't put glue down on the first piece just in case he needed to take it off for some reason.

 

Putting the piece into place...

Nailing it down...

 

 

 Starting the next row...

 

 

 Great start - the flooring looks so good!!  Such an exciting step!

 

I did more sanding today in areas that we wanted to go over again - maybe the last of that task!  Speaking of sanders, Jim took apart the palm sander today that broke and got the shot bearing out.  He'll order another one and get it working again.

High 82/Low 58