Floor decking installation tool

[profess40]

Hi,

I am after a tool to pull bent decking strips in place to fasten them! Also what hidden fastners do you suggest the best?

regards

[Burnsy]

If they are just bent out a little you can use a chisel by driving it into the joist a little then leavering the decking board back against the last one. If it needs more than that, a cheap option is to use a ratchet strap by feeding it through a gap between the already layed boards and then back around the bowed board. Tighten it up until it is where you want it, I had to use this method for my own deck as it has c perlins as joists and the chisel didn't like them

[Dr - 307]

Hi profess40,

The first thread is a discussion on the different tools. I bought both a blue Quick Grip and a Bowrench and used both on my last job. The chisel method, I don't know. My prefered method allows my two hands to be free.

The second thread discusses my now preffered method (never do it any other way) of laying decking. Bloody brilliant. The only variation I have to Mic-d is that I use large blue tile wedges not tile spacers. Mic-d used some old venetian blind pieces he had. The wedges don't fall through and give you variation of gap if desired. Bigger gap? Tap them in further. I found them at Bunnings. A soft pack of 250 at about $15- allowed me to complete a 60m2 deck. You re-use 70% of them as you go.

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...ht=bent+boards

http://woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=42091

Happy reading and hope it helps,

Cheers,
Dr - 307.

[silentC]

The second thread is the way I do it too but I have a bucket of hardwood wedges that I use, rather than a spacer. The wedges can be tapped in to straighten bent boards. You just put a wedge between each board and then tap them in individually until the gaps are even, then nail the boards down.

Edit: oops, I see I already added my two cents to that thread. Starting to repeat myself....

Well, OK, I've been doing that for years...

[Dr - 307]

As long as they're wedges and not a wedgy or a choc wedge it's all good. Although coulda used a couple of choc wedges on the weekend. Hey, could've used the ice-cream sticks as spacers, then again, too thin.

Dr - 307.

[profess40]

You heard about the stealth fastners?

[Dr - 307]

Seen them but haven't used them. Sorry.

[journeyman Mick]

You heard about the stealth fastners?

I've built a couple of decks using this type of fastener (so long ago now, I honestly couldn't tell you the brand/name). The end product is great but the labour involved is even greater, takes about 2-3 times longer than standard handnailing.

Mick

[profess40]

But everybody wants hidden fastners, thats the thing!

[journeyman Mick]

But everybody wants hidden fastners, thats the thing!

Fine if they want to pay someone to do it, but my back is well and truly over laying decking.

Mick

[profess40]

You know anything about Bangkirai wood for decking????????????

[Dr - 307]

Profess40,
The job I just finished was fastened with stainless steel screws. I had all the right tools incl. the Carb-i-tool countersink bit and a pair of Pana 14.4v Li-Ion drills (drill driver for drilling & impact driver for screwing). The next time I lay decking with SS screws the customer will pay. So don't underestimate the effort involved with stealth fasteners. The customer may want it but make sure they're paying for it. If it was me I would price the option of stealth fasteners ridiculously high so they went off the idea. But if the customer still wanted it then at least when your back was killing you and your knees were f*****d then at least you could take comfort in the fact that at least you were getting more than compensated for it.

Just some friendly advice from one 'decker' to another.

Cheers,
Dr - 307.

[Afro Boy]

Profess, I used what I call a "Bo-Jack".

It's a bit dodgy and probably not all that safe, but worked a treat for me. I had some really wide/heavy board and this was about the strongest thing I could rig up with pieces around home (& the car).

Cheers,
Af.

[Dr - 307]

On the job I just finished the joists were mounted internally on the bearer (joist and bearer on one plane)so the blue quickgrip worked the same as the Afro Boy 'Bo - Deck. The Yankee Bowrench came in handy when the quickgrip was out of range 'cause it grips on the joists and I would think that more than not I would in future be using the Bowrench more than the quickgrip because commonly the joists run above the bearer. It just eliminates the hassle of rigging up the board and clamps. Great way to get out of a jam but if you can get the bowrench, all the better. Also, the every fifth board (or however many boards you like) method of laying decking goes a long way to eliminating the need to constantly grab at a bo-deck or clamp or other. Just tap in your wedges to even out the gaps and away you go.

Dr - 307.