I posted this in Knots, but maybe this is a more appropriate forum…
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Just wondering if this is a laughable idea: I just ripped up a nasty old carpet that was glued to a nice big oak floor which i’m going to refinish. To get all the glue off i was going to rent a floor sander, but then i got the notion that i could scrub plane all the gunk off – sure it’d take more elbow grease (this is in my house btw) but then i could vaccuum up the shavings as i go and not creat great clouds of glue particles. Then sanding it would be a much easier task. Maybe this’d take way longer than i’m imagining. What do you think?? |
Jesse David
Replies
Doesn't a scrub plane have a slightly concave blade? Wouldn't that remove too much of the wood?
I'm sorry, I thought you wanted it done the right way.
A scrub plane has a curved edge to the plane iron, and is used to rough out a plank; kind of like the belt sander of the hand plane world. After use, you are left with a surface with lots of shallow furrows the approximate width of the iron. The process continues by using a jack and smoothing plane.
As it is oak, and a floor, you can expect a whole lot of work if you try it this way. More than it's worth, maybe, though only you could answer that. Me, I'd rent a floor sander.
Jesse - Since you seem to want to spend a few days on your knees, think about using a hand held floor scraper to get the gunk off. You might even be able to get away with a really good paint scraper, but keep it sharp. I would prefer one that cuts on the pull, not the push. If you use the floor scraper, you might be able to avoid sanding. Don
Further to Hammerlaw's suggestion, Lee Valley Tools sells a ball-joint scraper that comes with a high-carbon steel or carbide blade that might be just the ticket:http://lvott215/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=45784&cat=1,310
... a good set of knee-pads might also be in order.
Good luck
Hmmm, that ball joint scraper might not be a bad idea, probably better for the task at hand than a scrub plane. Good excuse to buy a new tool. I know it'll take longer than renting a floor sander, but I have more time than money right now, i like keeping dust to a minimum, and i'd get a new tool out of it instead of something i have to return the next day.
I'm totally open to other suggestions too, as it'll still be a few days before i get to it.Jesse David
The first thing is to investigate the gunk. Is it water soluable? If not, try a few things like mineral spirits, isopropanol, ethanol, etc. and find out what works best. Try some commercial paint strippers. If you can soften up the bulk of it, you can save yourself a lot of work and do a much better job of getting the gunk gone without hurting the wood. You may have to give a thin residue some time to re-harden before you sand the last of it off.
-- J.S.
Sounds like you have a scrub plane that needs something to do. If you take it to your floor you'll regret it in less than ten square feet. The body position needed is one of the worst (besides a ceiling?) for planing, you'll have your body weight over and behind the plane for about three feet at most. Plus aged oak is a bear to push the plane through let alone prevent tearout; I 'recycled' white oak from a barn built in the 1870's for a 12' transition and I snapped the tote clean off my Stanley foreplane. Granted your floor may not be that old but it'll be hard enough. Add to that the thickness you'll end up removing after scrub planing, then foreplaning, then smooth planing and finally scraping and you may run into trouble. The living and dining room floors in my own home are oak that was covered by shag carpet that was glued down. I tried every chemical in HD to get the glue up without ruining an otherwise pristine finish and failed. I ended up stripping, scraping and sanding.
Did I mention you only needed to take glue off, not to wax and buffit. After you can mostly get the glue off, you have to or hire floor refinisher to come in............
Hey
I did a job few years ago, I was remodeling a kitchen and the floor was linoleum, glue on over plywood (plywood or oak flooring kind of the same) the home owner wanted to put ceramic tiles, I wanted to put 1/4 durock but the budget was tight. So I went HD and just look around for floor glue remover. It was a strong stuff but it worked. I think it was liquid remover then let it set for a little and I use painter scraper to remove it. Hope it works!
Mark
Get a floor buffer w/red scotch brite pads..apply as needed.
Mayonaise will take off the glue..buy it at a big lot store..follow with mild soap and a grey buff..it works like a charm.
edit: It is the oil in the emulsion that will help..and you will destroy your planes sole with gunk..and the throat will clog when the heat softens the glue...the iron stays cool and will collect the gunk, and a scrub wants work in a diagonal to the grain..tear out city.
Don't do it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
The OLYMPICS ARE HERE, THE OLYMPICS ARE HERE!!
( oh, not London KY..Shucks, I really thought PAris Ky had a chance too)
Edited 7/8/2005 8:51 pm ET by SPHERE