Kool Glide Discussion

[The Carpetologist]

Originally Posted by Bill Watson After getting my KoolGlide, I completed my new "seam system" by also buying a "Seamer Down". When "spot welding", it sure is nice to cool the welds quickly so I can proceed with the rest of the seam right away. I believe the Seamer Down also helps eliminate any ledging, profiling, and peaking. Just one more element of modern advanced carpet seaming.

Ive been curious about the Seamer Down, and was wondering about the air affecting the area you are currently melting... No problems there?
I was thinking about it yesterday when I was spot seaming a carpet and having to wait for it to cool in an area that was crooked out an inch and suddenly took a dive back into place in about a 6 inch span.
It was so sever, that I used the T button and turned the iron side ways and could only do a little at a time and had to wait for each to cool before proceeding.
Pain in the rear to be sure, but something that could have not been done nearly as well with a conventional seaming iron.

[The Carpetologist]

Hmmm....
Went to the Kool Glide web site and found my original post up front center page on the Kool Glide Site.
Kind of took me back for a second since they did not ask me for permission to use my statements, but then again, I would have said yes had they done so.

Seems like it should be worth a roll of double side kool glide tape don't ya think?

[Bill Watson]

Originally Posted by The Carpetologist Ive been curious about the Seamer Down, and was wondering about the air affecting the area you are currently melting... No problems there? I was thinking about it yesterday when I was spot seaming a carpet and having to wait for it to cool in an area that was crooked out an inch and suddenly took a dive back into place in about a 6 inch span. It was so sever, that I used the T button and turned the iron side ways and could only do a little at a time and had to wait for each to cool before proceeding. Pain in the rear to be sure, but something that could have not been done nearly as well with a conventional seaming iron.

There have been no problems concerning the air affecting the area currently melting. On the contrary, it has been of some benefit. Have you ever noticed any ledging after completing a seam? Even if you have used a proper weight and seamed over a hard surface? Regardless of what anyone says, I believe backings can be of varying thickness, even on the same roll. The suction from the Seamer Down makes the top of the backings flush, as opposed to the bottom using conventional techniques. No more ledging since I have started using one. If you decide to try one, I think you will like it. As with the KoolGlide, there is a short adjustment period getting used to using one, but after that, it's something you will learn to appreciate quite alot.
One note of caution though. If you are using a seam board now, don't use it with a Seamer Down. It restricts the airflow too much.
HTH

[TFP Admin]

Originally Posted by The Carpetologist Hmmm.... Went to the Kool Glide web site and found my original post up front center page on the Kool Glide Site. Kind of took me back for a second since they did not ask me for permission to use my statements, but then again, I would have said yes had they done so. Seems like it should be worth a roll of double side kool glide tape don't ya think?

Len Perkins, of Kool Glide fame, has my permission to use what he wants from The Floor Pro pertaining to his products. Len was very generous in giving me an iron a couple years back when he heard that I had lung disease and wanted to continue working. It wasn't long before even that didn't help keep me doing what I loved for 35 years. But I still think he has one of the biggest hearts in the industry and keep a banner ad for him here (it rotates with several other ads at the bottom of our pages). He doesn't participate much here, but he visits often. You'll notice he not only links back to us here at TFP, but he also linked to your website - that's a very good thing and should bring you some traffic, especially from the search engines (which, in turn, gets you real people visitors). When sites link to each other, that's even better.

T

[Darren Ramey]

I picked up one of the first Kool Glide irons when they came out. I used it a bit but wasn't 100% satisfied with it. I heard nothing but good things about it once they they reformulated the tape though so I bought a case. The first time I went to use it with the new tape, the iron stopped working. That was oh, probably a year and a half ago.

This week I've been having some pretty bad peaking/profiling problems on a 400yd house I am doing that has glass all the way to the floor in almost every room. I've been using the lowest profile tape I could find, and thermo-sealing the seams, steaming some of them flat after and still not really happy with them. On a whim I broke out the Kool Glide tape, cut about an inch off the side and used it with a normal iron. It was noticeably better than the the other seams. I have to say I really like that tape.

I guess I need to get my iron fixed. I stopped dealing with the store I bought it from (L. Fishman) as the guy who works in the local store is incompetent and it is quicker to drive all the way across town to our other supplier than deal with him, but that is another story... Maybe I'll see if I can send it in direct.

[kwfloors]

The first model had 1 setting for all the buttons. The new model has multible settings for each button.

[Roland Thompson]

Darren give Sinch or Seammaster a call they will be happy to get it fixed or even have it up graded to the pro.
To touch on the seamerdown it works with any hot melt seaming system. and spot welding is a breeze with it.

Roland

[The Carpetologist]

Got a nice email from Robert K. Rothfuss the president and CEO of Impax Technology Group that makes the Kool Glide. He thanked me for the article and made me feel important....

I'm going to get the seamer down now tomorrow to work in conjunction with the Kool Glide to assist me in those difficult seams where I need to spot weld.
I will open a discussion on that product once Ive used it a bit and feel I have my hands around it.

[tony lamar]

OH NO!!! Not another seamer downer now discussion!!!!

[rusty baker]

I just hope the Bennetts don't get involved. They caused a lot of problems elsewhere.

[Taurus Flooring]

In Canada, prices are dictated by the retailers and as I posted, they are way too low. From what I've seen here, it seems the retailers haven't done much better for you. There is one idiot, who has placed an ad in the local paper looking for installers and is only willing to pay $3 a yd. and he thinks he's being generous. In 1984, I used to charge $2.75 a yd., there's something wrong there. After spending 35 yrs in this trade, I think it's time things changed.

[TFP Admin]

Originally Posted by rusty baker I just hope the Bennetts don't get involved. They caused a lot of problems elsewhere.

That was there, this is here.

[The Carpetologist]

Originally Posted by tony lamar OH NO!!! Not another seamer downer now discussion!!!!

I have searched this site and can't seem to find a discussion on the Seamer Down Now....

Can someone point me in the right direction?

[stullis]

You don't want to go there Chris.

It was mostly about over exagerated marketing claims and tumbled into religious connotations and just continued downhill from there.

Suffice it to say the tool does have it's benefits as most tools do. Can the job be done without? Yes, but it does come in handy for certain situations like most tools.

[The Carpetologist]

I hope you don't mind if I make that decision for myself.

I was going to buy one tomorrow....
But I wanted to know more about it other then the manufactures claims...
I have done a search on the internet and can't find any real discussion and I can't find an old one here either.
If it really works, I want to use it.
I am always going to want to incorporate new technology's that improve an installation.
But I don't want to spend the money on it if it is NOT going to improve my seams and or my time.