Machining floorboards

[lachie]

Hi All,
I apologise first off if this question has been previously asked (I did conduct a search!). We have been given a large quantity of 22mm tassie oak floorboards and we were wondering can they be machined down to overlay thickness (12 - 14mm?). We were going to purchase overlay flooring but if we could save some $ that would be great. Would sawmills actually machine down secondhand timber, I know they may be concerned with damaging their equipment. The floorboards in question have just been ripped up from an old house. Any feedback greatly appreciated as always.

Lachie

[ozwinner]

Hi.
I dont think youll find too many ppl with machines who are willing to risk it with secondhand timber.

Al :)

[E. maculata]

Why not just use them at close to current size & profile?

[lachie]

Hi Bruce,
we are on a concrete slab and it would mean shearing off quite a bit from 6 doors and raises floor above the bottom sills as we have floor to ceiling windows.

Lachie

[E. maculata]

You could always buy one of those nifty DIY planer/moulders that carba-tec & the like sell & remachine them yourself.

http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=180_410_2500

[lachie]

Thanks for the advice Bruce, looking into it!
Lachie

[Gaza]

all the mucking around and cost, just chuck the doors out put new ones on and replace the skirting. rough cost to machine down is min $1.00plm. redi coat door cost 35 bucks.

you may also have problems, as when you reduce the thickness of the board you may not leave anough "meat" above the Tong / grove. the T&G on overlay flooring is very thin compared to 22mm flooring.

[Dusty]

Seeing as you were given the large quantity of 22mill boards and your really looking for 12 to 14 mill boards, my tip is to do a ring around of all the second hand dealers and see if they have what you want and if they do work out a deal with them.

Or... just sell them online, or to a dealer and with the dough you make buy the correct material for your reno.

It'll save you a heap of roo...mucking around:)

Clint.