Just bought some nice brazilian walnut flooring. I heard it is very difficult to install. Can you give me some tips on installation. From what I have read, the corner boards need to be drilled and face nailed. Will a pneumatic stapler work fine for the others?

Thanks.

If it is straight enough, I would just go ahead and glue it. Ipe is a mother-cracker to nail. The problem is that you inevitably stay away from the ends when you are nailing boards. That keeps the tounge intact, but creates a bad situation. I would full spread and just use the nailer to keep the stuff straight.

I am going out on a limb and assuming this is solid product.

It is a good product. How about a pneumatic stapling for the tongue. Do they work ok? thanks.

I did pnuematic with mine (3/4" unfinished). I used as low psi as I could (somewhere around 60) and I did not get tongue splits. I would go as close as 4" from the ends of the boards. I face nailed the last two rows, which I had to pre-drill and hand hammer. I did not try a pnuematic finish nailer, mainly becuase I did not have one.

Excellent. Thanks. Another question. When you face nailed after pre-drilling, what nails should I use. Mine is also 3/4". It is finished though.

Anyone? Bueller?

what size drill bit and what type of nail should I use for face nailing? I will be installing Brazilian Walnut (Ipe) next month. Thanks.

When face nailing 3/4" flooring, a #8 finish nail is typically adequate. You should attempt to locate the joists and nail into those and in between. You may also use a #8 casing nail or a spiral shanked flooring nail but those are more difficult to find locally and have a larger head. You can get them online. As for drilling, use a bit that is the same size as the shaft of the nails you're using. This is because of the hardness of the wood you're installing. If it were pine or a soft oak, you'd go slighly smaller with the drill bit.

Thanks, Gary.

What I do when installing Brazilian Walnut with my stapler is shim the plate on the bottom of the gun(the part that slides on the wood) This changes ever so slightly the angle of the staple and really cuts down on the cracked tongues. I would also lower the psi.

Works for me.

Thanks for the advice. I will try that. Another 3 weeks to go before I start the project. Itz going to be crazy.