I’m trying to identify a tool I saw in a catalog some time ago, but can’t remember the name of the tool or the catalog. I’m hoping that someone here might have also seen it, or know of it. It’s a tool for removing old t&G flooring. The tool consists of two arms which fit on either side of the joist and extend under the flooring, and a long crowbar-like arm with which to leverage the wood upward. Any ideas? Thanks.
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Something like this?
http://www.thegutster.com/
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Well, this is the one I was thinking of (I finally remembered where I saw it), but your's looks like it might do the job, too.http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=47883cat=2,2180,41007
something wrong with link
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Been trying to fix the link and search their tools but no luck.Anyways, I just did a google images on demo tools and found that quick. Might do well with flooring ripper of some other title too. Or floor prybar.The one I linked was not exactly the picture I had in mind from seeing something like you described.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I found it after searching their site under the term "wrecking bar"
Maybe this will work as a copy paste link - there is an extra '&' character in the string.
http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=47883cat=2,2180,41007BTW, this one looks more like what I had in my mind's eye.Â
Strange but prospero keeps shaking that character out of the link! add a & symbol in front of cat so that portion reads *47883&cat=*
Â
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
 where ...
Excellence is its own reward!Edited 4/6/2009 9:18 pm ET by Piffin
Edited 4/6/2009 9:20 pm ET by Piffin
I like in the video how they gently removed delicate crown molding...
If it's headed for the dumpster!!! LOL
There are less fancy versions available at most big box stores. I can't see using it if you plan on re-using the hardwood flooring, as it does havoc on the toungs and busts out a lot of the grooves as well. But it is quick.~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com
...removing old t&G flooring. The tool consists of two arms which fit on either side of the joist...
There is a problem with this - the T&G doesnt sit on the joist, the subfloor does, and the T&G sits on that. But I think this is what you're looking for.
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=11329
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.net
See my work - TedsCarpentry.com
Maybe nowadays it does, but in many older, turn-of-the-century homes, the the t&G does sit directly on the joist.
I stand corrected. But you gotta admit it's not often you run into it. ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com
"But you gotta admit it's not often you run into it."
You must be one of those clean carpenters -- the ones who only do new construction! LOL.
I see it all the time in reno work. Usually just on the upper floors, tho'.
Mike HennessyPittsbugh, PA
I hardly ever work on newer homes - mostly 1900 - 1950s. Most of the wood flooring I see is on sleepers, which are on subfloor. Between the floor and subfloor is gas pipe converted to elec, or occasionally still has gas running through it.
Maybe the flooring directly to the joists was more commonly done in the east, while midwest was more commonly done with subfloor and sleepers. Or maybe the houses you work on tend to be a bit older, in which case I'm jealous.
But you have to remember we had that big fire here back in 1871, so not much here older than that. And most of my neighborhod didn't exist until the turn of the century.
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com
Edited 4/7/2009 9:42 pm by Ted W.
"Maybe the flooring directly to the joists was more commonly done in the east, while midwest was more commonly done with subfloor and sleepers."
Hmmm. Maybe so. I've never seen subfloors/sleepers except in a few commercial spaces that were remuddled to allow for wiring, etc. below the flooring.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I highly recommend the gutster. It can not only pry boards etc off of joists, but it excels at removing tongue and groove even when it's on a subfloor. The day we break ours I am going to buy a new one.
"I highly recommend the gutster."
I recommended the Gutster to a friend of mine who was just starting a demo job. He bought all 3 sizes. Problems developed when he was ripping up some ply subfloor that was nailed about every inch to pine plank subfloor. The tongues of the Gutster (large size) broke during prying up the ply.
He called the company, who promptly sent a replacement tool. But it's happened again two more times on the same job. Looking at the break, it looks like the tongues are cast instead of forged, so they're kinda brittle. Still, the company stood behind the product and replaced it 3 times in two months. So, you gotta give 'em points there.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
" "I highly recommend the gutster."I recommended the Gutster to a friend of mine who was just starting a demo job. He bought all 3 sizes. Problems developed when he was ripping up some ply subfloor that was nailed about every inch to pine plank subfloor. The tongues of the Gutster (large size) broke during prying up the ply.He called the company, who promptly sent a replacement tool. But it's happened again two more times on the same job. Looking at the break, it looks like the tongues are cast instead of forged, so they're kinda brittle. Still, the company stood behind the product and replaced it 3 times in two months. So, you gotta give 'em points there."How long ago was that? Maybe they quit using cast? One of the tongues on mine is bent, which suggests that they aren't cast. I bought two of them about three months ago. They are in practically daily use--we've gutted lath and plaster in three houses with them. Plus pulled off siding and flooring.
"How long ago was that? Maybe they quit using cast? "
Over the last 4 months or so. Don't get me wrong -- I'm not saying they aren't a good tool, just that they aren't indestuctable and could maybe be improved a bit. My bud was using these by ramming them under the uber-nailed-down ply and then prying. Maybe a bit more extreem than typical use like for lath & plaster or the like.
As for the construction, it seems the "meat" of the tongues is cast, but the chisel foot that's welded on isn't.
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I don't know how they do it but the local architectural salvage co. has lots of used flooring all taken out in mint condition. No nails, T&G perfectly intact.
Everytime i've demoed lots of T&G with hopes of salvaging some I've either gotten poor results or it's taken forever.
I have a potential job coming up where I want to try again and I'm thinking sawzall with a metal cutting blade.
I figure it won't make a difference when relaying the floor if the previous nails are still in it.
DC
Maybe the stuff was never nailed down in the first place. Found a bunch like that in Biloxi a couple of years back.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
I just removed a ton of oak flooring from a subfloor. I just used a long handled crowbar and pulled em up in the direction the cleats went in. I don't know why anyone needs a special tool. The floor I pulled came up like cake. Hardly took any effort at all.
edit: and if you really wanna reuse the flooring spend a little time with a grinder to cut the nails after the floors up. Each nail takes about 2 seconds to grind through....if that.
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Edited 4/6/2009 10:32 pm ET by andybuildz
I have not had that good of luck removing nails from oak molding or other lumber I have tried to salvage. If I had a bunch to do, I would consider indulging my tool Jones and springing for a pneumatic denailer.http://www.toologics.com/News/Top_Ten_Lists/Seven_Tools_That_Remove_Nails_20080303571.html
I can understand that but I just recently removed a ton of oak flooring with the hooked end of my long handled crowbar and it came up like cake. I needed to save a few pieces and used my grinder to cut the nails off and lemmie tell you....each nail took about a second or two to grind off flush to the oak. Can't imagine anything that'd be easier but then again I never tried anything else b/c I never had the need before.
Just letting you know my recent experience with it fwtw.
Good luck
andy
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
I'm removing degraded 120 year flooring from joists, no subfloor, so the task is a bit trickier.