Clamps for direct stick flooring.

[Miltzy]

I am looking at buying 2 or 3 clamps to lay some direct stick flooring, new or second hand can anyone point me in the right direction???

:confused: :confused: :confused:

[journeyman Mick]

AFAIK you don't/can't use clamps as there's nothing for them to clamp to. Normal flooring clamps grab onto the joists and push the boards together. I'm guessing you'd need to use something like a pipe clamp, sash or bar clamp or even acrow props pushing from the wall. As far as downwards clamping force is concerned, I've only ever seen the odd bag of cement used to force down a bit of a bump. Good luck,

Mick

[Gaza]

lay plywood then direct stick to this, secrete nail every 4 or 5 rows.

[glock40sw]

lay plywood then direct stick to this, secrete nail every 4 or 5 rows.

Yep. As above.
Plitz anchors @ 450 centres for the ply to concrete.
Ultraset O/lay to ply and secret nail @ 400 centres every 5th board.

For direct stick to concrete, seal slab. ultraset O/lay to slab.
lay 10 rows and weight down with concrete blocks.
use acro props against opposing wall for cramping.
DO NOT USE TOO MUCH FORCE !!! or floor will lift.

[E. maculata]

I used reversable "Quikclamps" in our previous home to "help" some troubled boards along, destroyed a few of them in the process(bout a dozen () but still effective, pinned/nailed evry other row, ultracet with 3mm comb.
I listen/ed to the Blokes above, occassionally they're known to be right

[Gaza]

I used reversable "Quikclamps" in our previous home to "help" some troubled boards along, destroyed a few of them in the process(bout a dozen () but still effective, pinned/nailed evry other row, ultracet with 3mm comb.
I listen/ed to the Blokes above, occassionally they're known to be right

Smart .......

Seriously we use K Body's as spreaders all the time to pull boards together when laying over ply/particle board. Screw a block down and crank it up. On joists or battens still use the old school floor clamp. This is only when the boards are being a bitch to pull together.

[floorie]

I,ve used this newly invented patented machine called nobow and It works like nothing else. Purpose built for assisting in laying timber flooring on any sub floor including concrete.CHECK IT OUT!
It can be hired and sold.

[Gaza]

Mate, no offence but all it is a air ram with some angle. big bucks to buy, 10 seconds to make

[floorie]

Gaza , If you use it you will see that it's more than just that at, first glance !! At $88 a day, to hire it saved days on the jobs well well worth it, Money well spent..

[Gaza]

Gaza , If you use it you will see that it's more than just that at, first glance !! At $88 a day, to hire it saved days on the jobs well well worth it, Money well spent..

where do u hire from in syd.....

[elraco.com.au]

To come from a different angle (and I am biased) what about using two VC4 Vac-Clamps turned upside down, a board fastened to the base (now the top) and a ratchet strap between them.
OK it's a bit agricultural but it would not cost the earth and then you have two fantastic clamps to use in your workshop when you've finished the flooring job

The rubber seal on the clamp can be adjusted for narrower pieces of flooring.

Check out the clamps at www.vac-clamp.com

I did say I was biased

[jimc]

All I have used is a crow bar as a long lever. Able to do one or two boards no problem. Very cheap (everyone has one!) and very simple to use.

Just make suer you dont bruise the edge of the board...use an offcut to level against as it protects the tongue or groove.

Lever against what I hear you ask.....the dirt under the floor....stumps....bearers....other temporary timbers you use etc.

for real stubborn warped boards....use a rubber mallet on the edge of the baord in conjunction with the crow bar...the shock eases the edges together realy quickly

[floorie]

Gaza , you can hire Nobow out of Canberra, and from The Hire Guys in Perth.And from a place in Brookvale in Sydneys North shore.....ask your local hire shop to stock it..

[the controller]

I have used nobow many times and I know this tool will be treasured by everyone involved in the laying of timber floors.It is a revolutionary device that will set a new industry standard and takeaway the many dramas people have trying to put down a quality floor.Highly recommended.

[glock40sw]

G'day.
I had a yarn to some of the installers that lay our flooring as well as other mill's productions.
They have tried the No-Bow cramp.
The overall opinion is that it causes the boards to peak at the T&G join due to the undercut at the bottom of groove to bottom of tongue joint when being nailed to ply.

One bloke said the it was too slow to use.