I'm installing some material from ProSource. The box says "Provenza Antico Collection" ( Yes, Antico, not Amtico ). I dont know if there's a cross over name or not. I'ts a 5" distressed plank. Got down a whole 200 ft. today, ( gluedown ) 1400 to go ( Thank goodness their 5 inch widths). I'm having a heck of a time getting this stuff together. I use all my might, and cant pull it together, or push it together. The tongue and groove is tighter than I've ever seen. I ended up rabiting out the bottom side of a tapping block, to get this stuff together. But let me tell you tapping? I'm whaling & whaling on every board to get them together! Tried strap clamps, they wont budge this stuff. Dont have to worry about using blue tape, thats for sure. You cant pull this stuff apart, stomp it , kick it, whatever. Floor looks good. But what a time consuming mess !

No, the tongues shouldn't be swelled. Acclimated in boxes, in plastic, as per manuf. Could they have swelled before they went into the cartons? Maybe this milling is common for this stuff ?

Any feedback ? Any of you guys familiar with this product ???

Thanks, Howard

I don't know what type of product that is? Do you own one of these .....http://www.tools4flooring.com/powernail ... p-265.html

It should not be that much of a fight. How do small scraps fit together?

Jerry, it would be a mess trying to use a power-Jack or a Port-a-Jack, in a full spread gluedown.

When things get tough, my
http://www.lamhammer.com/
has not let me down, yet.


http://www.provenzafloors.com/products/ ... ion=Antico

I heard it was a good product but never installed it. Try taking some out and drying it a bit first. Whats the moisture content of it?

Call the manufacture and tell them your sending it back. That sucks and you have 1400 ft left? Oy

Jerry, I do have a Jack. Great tool for naildown. But wouldnt work on a gluedown very well.

Floor Guy, Thanks for th info on the Lam Hammer. Do you have the Titan model? Does it really apply a good hard hit ? I mean I am really smaking that tapping block. Smaked my middle fingernail ( that's appropriate ) with the hammer, whole nails black and blue. That just got me more pissed at the stuff. I guess the idea is to out smart the wood, Huh I will definetely invest in one of those Lamhammers, if it does the trick, for next time. ( Probably wouldnt have it in time to get this job done).
Wouldnt you know, this designer I just got in with loves this Provenza. It's all she sells her clients.

Thanks for the link to the Provenze website. I will be their first phone call monday morning.

Howard

Moisture content of the wood is about 6%. I sealed the slap with MVP ( it was just over 13% ) .

I guess I could take some outside and try drying it a bit. It was 107 degrees here Friday.

I am calling Provenza monday morning. Problem is , this is a big designer , I'm finally in with. And her client, is all torn up. I just have to get this bleep bleep wood in.

Howard

Well I'll be dipped. I feel like a fool, for not noticing this yesterday.

I just went out to clean my truck . While throwing away scraps, I tried putting 2 little scraps together ( good luck ). Im looking at the wood and all the sudden it dawned on me , finish overspray on top of the tongue ! and pretty thick at that ! Well, duh... you think that's a problem???

So you guys check for that. If you get a batch of Provenza.


Howard

Most likely. Clean up the tongue then see how it fits together. I have run across this before but not often and not on all the boards. See if some of the other cartons have the same problems. That would be considered a manufacturing defect in my book.

I'll take a sharp chisel and run it accross the top of a a tongue. I'll bet they fit no problem.

I always figure your going to have issues with a few boards. But this is every single board, in the 200 feet I got down.

Im definetely going to bring this to Provena's attention. I'm hoping this isnt common practice for them. I agree with you, in my opinion this is a manufacturers defect.

My problem is , I just need to deal with it , under the circumstances. Next week should be a riot.

Probably be a good time for me to stay off this forum next week. I can assure you I'll need an attitude adjustment.

Isnt it something, how sometimes the installer just has to take it in the shorts ! See attitude starting already

Howard

Do a Google search for Bullet Tools Skimmer.
If you do a lot of this wood, you may want to invest in this hand little tool.

That's a cool little tool. I can see where it would come in real handy now and then.

But can you see cleaning the tongues up on 1600 feet ?! I need to get this lady back in her house next week

But a great tool to know about.
Thanks
Howard

Each to their own but for me, I prefer to use my corner scraper rather than a chisel. I have much more control with a scraper.

That's a good idea, I'll use a corner scraper. Us guys that dont do S & F dont think about corner scrapers, but I have a few. I wont go into the long story why I have a few

I'm just going to scrape the finish off the tongues on a plank or two. Just dont have the time or labor to scrape the tongues on the whole job. But at least when I call Provenza tomorrow morning, I have some ammo. And I'll know for my own piece of mind.

I'll let ya'll know what Provenza says

Howard

I agree with Gary, I think you would be better off getting a new batch of wood since you have over spray on just about every board you're pulling out of the box. I guess you'll just have to weigh out the time issue since you need to get the lady back in her house next week.

Gary?? C'mon man I am vying for prized contributer here!

Also try this avenue, they don't want to taker it back and ship more so think of a number they can swallow and try and be fair. Most of them will pay you extra to do what you can do with it but you have to make sure you can do it right.