I am currently installing 3" x 3/4 Braz Cherry to my 3/4 OSB subfloor. I am using the MIIIFS stapler to fasten it.

I am getting some cracking of tongues on some boards.

What should I do when this happens?

I believe I read that I should put some glue on the split tongue to help it hold together better.

Is this correct?

Any ideas to prevent this? I have adjusted my pressure up and down and it seems as though I have it set pretty well but sometimes still get cracking.

Doesn't happen every staple but does happen sometimes.

It seems like the darker strips with more grain seem to crack more tongues for some reason or another.

What spacing are you using for the staples and are you staying off the butt ends?

You need to play around with the "angle" of the fastener using a small strip of tape, near the drive pin and at the rear of the foot plate. Sometimes just changing the angle slightly helps. You will get an occasional tongue split but you don't want a whole lot.

I was probably spacing every 6-8.

What do you recommend?

I read the instructions and it said 8-10 but I didn't think I would do any harm putting in a few extra to help hold even better.

I covered the entire footplate in about 3 layers of masking tape to help prevent scratching prefinished floor but it sounds like I should only put tape on the plate right next to where the staple comes out.

You said near the drive pin and at the rear of the foot plate. You just mean put the tape on the rear of the plate and nothing else right?

Should I put some Titebond wood glue on the tongue splits before I put the next row on?

Also Jerry when you refer to a tongue split do you mean where the tongue actually splits all the way from where staple is to the end of the tongue (away from staple)?

I have a few of these but more hairline cracks starting at the staple legs and running an inch or two along where the tongue starts out of the solid strip. You can't see completely through these cracks but if you get close you can notice them.

Thanks much.

Which Nail Gun are you using?

Brians, you want to add the tape to either the front or back to get a slight angle change, not to both at the same time. I would start at the front, 1 strip at a time but don't go too thick with it. If the front does not help, pull it all off and start at the back of the foot plate.

Any type of tongue splitting is not good and you need to try and correct it.

Correct me if I am wrong but isn't this normal for this hard of a wood? Brazilian cherry will cause hairline cracks from staples. I had some harline cracks in my BC and my floor is solid with no creaks or issues. The place I purchased my BC from warned me of the cracks and told me to pull out those that were cracked all the way through.


I would like to hear from an expert on the exotic woods....

How do you avoid cracks with BC and Santos etc...? Do hairline cracks matter in the long run?