I found working with bowed and twisted tongue and groove pine frustrating. Watch this video showing how I built a tool to bend bowed boards into place so I could nail them.
For some boards that are bowed convex to the installed board you can tack one and and work your way down the board muscling it into place. But, when a board was touching the installed board on both ends but not touching in the middle it was too strong to muscle into place. I needed a tool to do the job, but home depot could even fathom what I was working on, and the local hardware store knew about it but didn’t know where to get one. I tried clamping the joist with pliers and trying to pry against the pliers but it was too much work and with both hands tied up, I could operate the nail gun.
I had some scrap aluminum lying around and some angle iron used for garage door installation and got to work. I need it long ~ 40 inches or so to get some good leverage, and I needed the action to be something less than 4 inches (meaning my boards were always bowed out less than 4″ away from where they needed to be installed) I used the holes in the track to place my bolts (trial and error until I got it right) to create the lever action I needed. I cut a notch in the aluminum to use the levers downward force to clamp onto the joist and provide the fulcrum.
The rest as they say, is in the video, check it out!
Hey, I found a tool that does a similar thing. it’s pricey, but might be worth it if you can’t build one quickly enough.
Was the tool necessary? Should I have one. Tongue and Groove supplies are arriving at my house April 18th!
Matt
Hey Matt!
Well, it depends on your wood really. I had the hardest time getting my awful lumber into place. This tool made it a breeze, I mean really sped things up. There were some boards that I would have to scrap if I didn’t have this tool.
I found something similar on amazon that you can buy instead of make. I updated the post with it, and the link is here: http://goo.gl/K4E3nj
Cheers.
Adam
Got ya! The tool may not be necessary for what I am going to do. I considered getting left over (stuff they can’t sell) T & Groove just like your stuff but the amount I need to cover and the cost made sense for me to get the good stuff. From the saw mill to my driveway is a nice deal.
I have to say the way you stained your upper ceiling stopped me in my tracks. What a cool idea!
Thanks
Matt
Right on, glad you liked it. I’m super happy with how it came out.
Thanks for check my stuff out! This website is under going a lot of changes right now, as I’m trying to move the viewership from youtube to here, so I can offer more things.
Glad you found me!
Adam,
I have been watching for 3 months. I have shared your web page with people who will appreciate what its all about.
That said, I regularly watch and re watch your stuff. I am near the end of my basement re due and a garage is on my radar in a few years to come.
I have noticed the website change, stick with it, you tube is cool but your site is better! Thank you for the response I am enjoying this.
Simmons
This guy has a very similar tool to your’s.