On several occasions now I've had to run several thousand sq. of tongue/groove wood flooring.  I've always struggled with "fitting" those pieces that are closest to the finishing wall.  On the last two/three runs I start to get where I have little room and mating the tongue with the groove (of the previous board) proves nearly impossible.

I'd like to know if anybody is aware of tools or techniques that may assist in this work; home brew or otherwise.

Quote from: OilyRascal on November 30, 2012, 05:15:07 AM
On several occasions now I've had to run several thousand sq. of tongue/groove wood flooring.  I've always struggled with "fitting" those pieces that are closest to the finishing wall.  On the last two/three runs I start to get where I have little room and mating the tongue with the groove (of the previous board) proves nearly impossible.

I'd like to know if anybody is aware of tools or techniques that may assist in this work; home brew or otherwise.

I get it as close as it will go and tack it down.  Putting on the base board will cover any slight gap left to get the board in..

No real tools, but a technique.  Start with the groove side towards the wall, proceed across the room nailing tongues thru grooves at an angle or with a floor nailer.  When you get to the last one or possibly two rows, rip the bottom leg off the groove.  Add a little wood glue and use some face nails at about 4' on center just past the groove.  If you get too close it will split off.  Face nail the last board where the base will cover them.  Even on prefinished flooring, the face nails really don't show that much if they're sunk and filled.

I would normally run it nailing the tongue.  I have a Stanley Bostitch pneumatic flooring nailer.  It had never occurred to me removing the lower/bottom part of the groove would make it easier.  Normally I just fight it with various size blocks and a pry bar against the plate of the wall.  I don't have a problem hand nailing the tongue until the last board, and I would normally face nail it under the base.

I think this bottom rip is what I've been lacking in technique.  I will try it.  I appreciate the pointers.

Pneumatic nailers are cheating.  We had the old manual version.  Actually,  you don't have to always remove all of the bottom leg of the groove, just enough to gain the swing angle to get it in.

They sell a tool to hammer the last piece of wood in, like a pry bar that hooks to the wood & you can hammer it into the groove.. "Knuckle-Head-Pull-Bar"
http://www.tools4flooring.com/crain-560-knuckle-head-pull-bar-p-335.html

Never saw one of those.  Neat concept & website.