September 29, 2007
The History of Flooring Tools
Flooring tools for installation, sanding or finishing used to be only a flooring hatchet used for cutting strips or ripping along walls and a hand nailer to keep the flooring in place. Today, a wide variety of flooring tools is available, such as precision adjustment, air-operated and electronic tools.
Around 1960s, the power nailer allowed users to cut and rip using electric power. After a few years, the face nailer companion came out into the market, making it a lot easier for users to nail and set cleats for starting and finishing runs. Until today, these manual flooring tools have remained the same only with a few modifications.
User-friendly Flooring Tools Will Save you Time
Over the past thirty years, flooring tools have been developed to provide users with an easier support in cutting, fastening and performing tasks where movement is limited. For instance, electric jamb saws are the perfect flooring tool that creates precise repetitive cuts.
Another flooring tool is the "flooring jacks", which were created in tightening the last board runs. Since the previous tool before jacks required another person to hold the bar down, nail the machine and hammer at once, the flooring jacks were a big leap in the development of flooring tools.
For precision cutting, flooring tools such as the vibrating saws have helped speed up cutting through a cased opening or on ends of boards. Chop saws are also used today in cutting square ends and angle cuts.
One of the most helpful innovations is the grooving bits for routers that are designed specifically as a flooring tool. These grooves include a slip-tongue and groove engagement, which both helps in eliminating the need for face nailing.
Around 30 years ago, face nail holes are the only flooring tools used to glue board repairs. However, with the invention of epoxy adhesives, you can easily sand and finish the floors even after 10 minutes of the installment or repair.
The best innovations for sanding tools are buffer-sanding systems that provide a variety of pads, screens and sanding strips to make your job a whole lot easier. However, if you need fine sanding solutions, an orbital sanding machine can perfectly perform this task.
Of course, the most efficient flooring tools ever invented is "cordless" tools, such as saws, drills and lights. These tools allow users to maneuver around the area where the flooring is being installed. With the right set of flooring tools, installation and repairing your own floors has never been this easy.
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