Well, I was going to start installing 650 sq/ft of Cumaru today, but am having some real issues. I have a ProAir flooring stapler that I've used to install thousands of square feet of hardwood. The staples in the Cumaru won't seat far enough to allow the next piece to seat all the way which is leaving gaps. I turned up the air pressure all the way on my new Hitachi nailer (120+ PSI) but to no avail. Would cleats be better for installing Cumaru? I've been contemplating purchasing a new nailer, the Primatech P240 is on sale right now at my suppliers. Also, I'm not sure if the wood is oily or if it's a little wet, but when the staples hit, seemed like some sort of either water or oil would ooze from it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

Curtis

Cumaru's a very hard wood and is known for being difficult to nail. Some end up pre-drilling pilot holes and hand nailing with screw shanked flooring nails. Your stapler does not seem to have enough power to seat the staples. Another type or brand may be better. I know my Bostitch M 111 FS would get the staples in there but does break some tongues in the process. A cleat nailer may work better. Make sure your compressor tank is drained of residual moisture. Your flooring may be damp. I don't know. Did your get a moisture reading? You should.

Well, I bit the bullet and bought the Primatech P240 and WOW is that a fine tool. I was able to turn the pressure down to 95 and it worked like a charm. I did 200 sq/ft and never broke a single tongue. The nailer has virtually no kickback and is 1/2 as loud as my stapler. I am super impressed with it. As far as the moisture meter goes...the wood is so hard that I can't for the life of me get the pins in so that it will even take a reading. I actually bent the pins over trying:)

Thanks...

Curtis

While not ideal, you can go into the end grain to get a reading easier.
Glad to hear the nailer is working out. Did you go to cleats?

That's why I just bought a Ligno-Scanner SD pinless moisture meter to go with my other meters. It reads to 1/4" and 3/4". I use it more than my other meters now.

the primatec is definatley nice, but too bulky for my liking.

Glad to hear you got it working for you

Ya, its does seem bulky at first, but when compared to my stapler, my PSI average has gone down 15-20 PSI which means less compressor cycles (noise/wear) and I get one board closer to the wall. The actuator hardly takes anything to fire...I never think of it when I'm working, but I hazard to guess that I could easily do it with my hand. The other thing that I like more than my stapler is that the metal edge that sits on either side of where the cleat comes out is probably twice as wide as the staplers which has not left one single dimple on a board. I just finished 1200 sq/ft of rustic walnut which is EXTREMELY soft and it works like a charm no matter how hard I struck the board. I tested some scraps with my stapler and could see dimple impressions.

Thanks for the tip with the moisture meter...I had problems with it going into my last Tigerwood floor too...

Take care,

Curtis