I have been installing wood floors for more years than I care to admit and this one is getting the best of me. I have tried every way possible to mechanically nail this floor. This is my first experience with BW. Tongues keep splitting. I have tried air staplers, cleat nailers both air and manual. I have adjusted air pressure tried different adapter plates and I have not yet been sucessful. I finally went back to the old school way of predrilling and hand nailing. I haven't had to install like this for a long time. This is not a large job and I am nearly finished but the market is changing and we are selling more and more of the exotics. Anbody have any advise for this?

Advise...

Charge a heck of a lot more for that species, next time!!!!

I am about to staple down the same floor, and so far on a test piece I have not split it unless I did something really stupid. I have had a heck of a time drilling for screws and plugs. The countersink drill bits simply don't cut it. I had to pre drill with a "real" 3/8" drill bit, the follow up with the countersink bit (one that has the small hole for the screw threads and the 45 degree angle on the big hole).

One thought I had, is it possible to support the tongue area around the staple (a piece of wood under the tongue on each side of the stapler) when you staple it?