Hi. I am installing 3/4 inch Braz. Cherry using a central pneumatics stapler with 2 inch 15 guage staples. When I staple, there is splitting of the wood around the tongue. I have tried lowering the pressure, but that didn't help. one suggestion was to increase the pressure, and that seemed to help a little. Sometimes the splitting is significant, but most times it is just hairline cracks about 1 inch to either side of the staple. First, is this a significant problem? If so, any suggestions to stop this from happening? Could it be the nailer I'm using? Thanks!

It is common with B. Cherry and many hard hardwoods. When this has happened to me, I only worry if the tongue completely blows apart. In all the B. Cherry floors I've done ( which are many ) I have never had a problem with squeaking due to tongue breakage or cracking. One tip I have heard about is soaking the staples in oil prior to using them in the gun. Keep adjusting the pressure until you find the ideal PSI. It's different for every gun and floor. It's not that the wood is so hard, it's that it is brittle. Maple and hickory can do the same thing. I had an oak floor that was way too dry ( less than 5% MC ) where the tongues were cracking and breaking. I had to return the flooring as it was just too dry and brittle. Good luck!

The amount of splitting you indicate should not present a problem.
(Aside to Gary: hmmmm, think I like that idea about the oil on the staples, never heard of it before, but will try it on cleats on next Exotic wood install, since I dont allow staples in my floor, lol; but thats a different conversation) Thanx for the tip.

Gary,

Thanks for the help. One more follow up: is there any particular kind of oil you would recommend? Thanks again.

-Tom

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