Making a Spline? Lauan? Waste Percentage?

[panaman]

i ended up just nailing them with my finish nailer. I bought 1.5 inch nails.... i didn't put alot in.... like 3 in a 3foot long board.. but it seems real sturdy..... my floor is dark.. i thought about just getting a brown sharpy and just color the nail heads.....does that sound stupid?

[Jim McClain]

The nails should be slightly counter-sunk. They make "crayons" especially for situations like this. Rub it over the hole and then wipe up the residue with a clean cloth rag. There's also some that have to be melted in, which are better, but you'd have to buy an expensive kit. The crayon will work, but it's not the kiddie kind of crayon. You'll have to get one at a flooring supply store or ask at a real flooring store.

Jim

[panaman]

Jim McClain said The nails should be slightly counter-sunk. They make "crayons" especially for situations like this. Rub it over the hole and then wipe up the residue with a clean cloth rag. There's also some that have to be melted in, which are better, but you'd have to buy an expensive kit. The crayon will work, but it's not the kiddie kind of crayon. You'll have to get one at a flooring supply store or ask at a real flooring store. Jim

yeah they are slightly counter sunk..... I wonder if lumber liquidators would have that crayon you are talking about.... thats where I bought the flooring.
I still got alot of work ahead of me though...my house is kinda old... 1957
I gutted this bedroom down to studs and insulated the walls, re-wired it. Added a recessed light and closet lights... switches, cable, cat5, etc, etc..... my wife is getting on my back because she hasnt had a closet for 2 months to put her cloths in :-) It is amazing how much crap cost these days...I got about 2000 bucks invested in this room... (not including the flooring) and I did the work myself... and its just walls, wires and trim.. lol...
Today I spend the entire day painting trim outside in the driveway......
All i got left to do is install all the baseboard trim and casings, closet doors and well paint the closet doors and the entry door.... i can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
man am I beat.....

[Steve Olson]

I try to hide my nail placement in the grain, or in a color change whenever I can. A small knot is even better. Doing the way you did is fine, as long as you, or your customer is not put off by visible holes. I can't remember now, if this spline was for starting a job out in the middle of a room, or if you are talking about the nails you finished a row with???

Either way, I would fill the holes with putty.

For me, not to contradict anyone else's opinion, but spline in a scenario, where I want to start in the middle of a room, for what ever reason, is only there to keep the groove to groove starter boards flat, while I affix them to the floor. I don't need it for structural strength, the glue, nails in the tongue on both sides, and the few I've fired through the spline take care of that. That spline could crumble to dust in 2 weeks for all I care, those rows aren't going to move because of it. Just my two cents...

[panaman]

Steve Olson said I try to hide my nail placement in the grain, or in a color change whenever I can. A small knot is even better. Doing the way you did is fine, as long as you, or your customer is not put off by visible holes. I can't remember now, if this spline was for starting a job out in the middle of a room, or if you are talking about the nails you finished a row with??? Either way, I would fill the holes with putty. For me, not to contradict anyone else's opinion, but spline in a scenario, where I want to start in the middle of a room, for what ever reason, is only there to keep the groove to groove starter boards flat, while I affix them to the floor. I don't need it for structural strength, the glue, nails in the tongue on both sides, and the few I've fired through the spline take care of that. That spline could crumble to dust in 2 weeks for all I care, those rows aren't going to move because of it. Just my twp cents...

the spline in my original post is for when i continue in the hallway from the bedroom door way.. probably wont be for another month before I get to that point though.
the face nailing is where i finished the last two rows because my flooring stapler wouldn't fit. by the way...
This is my house.. I consider myself just a do-it yourselfer kinda guy. I have a huge ego and am not afraid to tackle anything...... I figure if someone in this world has done it before, so can I!
I am still so happy i bought a stapler with dual triggers.... my wrist thanks me for buying it.

[Nick Arrera]

HD has the putty you need to fill the holes in little jars For around $2.50 they also have ink markers .
Save it for last as once you open the jar it seems to cure real fast in the jar .

[panaman]

Well the master bedroom is all done....
I finally got some pictures..... I think it looks pretty good for my first wood flooring install...


Here is a picture of a few rows in


This is me hard at work


Me again... man I am handsome


Picture in front of my wifes closet


Picture in front of my closet

[hookknife]

looks very nice! Pic#3-you cant have a beer until the job is complete, you broke the rules

[panaman]

hookknife said looks very nice! Pic#3-you cant have a beer until the job is complete, you broke the rules

My rule is to only have a beer while I am doing home improvements