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Heh heh heh
- Thread starter Floorist
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He went in a a circle. Looks to be a very small room. I worked with a guy that did the circle thing once, only he did it with a crab jack.
Daris
Daris
FloorMaven
Well-Known Member
I always wanted one o those.
FloorMaven
Well-Known Member
Ernesto said:
I saw one demonstrated at surfaces. I was impressed with it. Thought it could totally replace a knee kicker. If u use it on angle you can, as jim Ryan used to say, see and feel the stretch.
That thing and the spike uses the same mechanical properties as a power stretcher, only the power stretcher's pulling capacity is not limited by it's foot planted into the carpet three feet away. It pulls off the opposite wall.
FloorMaven
Well-Known Member
Ernesto said:
The spike has no moving parts. As you pull the material it rides up and over.
If you pull hard the material bunches up behind the tail. After you pin and release the bunch flattens out. Similar to using a deadman. Great for stretching the short side on patterns too.
And that "bunch" flattening out as you release it means lost stretch. Besides that it don't work on concrete.
FloorMaven
Well-Known Member
Ernesto said:
Disagree because polypropylene has memory.
Ernesto said:
Why not?
Actually, you can get the stinger to grab on concrete. I have used one in a pinch. I bought one originally when I was seaming double wides together and you had some wierd angles and many times the walls wouldn't hold a pole stretcher.
Thats what the spike was designed for-trailer houses. I've done the marriage line and there was a picture of one stapled to the wall with one. Only thing was in the picture the tool had 3 spikes in it. It was a mill that made carpet strictly for trailers. I think they are out of business now.
Daris
Can't remember the width of that carpet, just remember it was odd sized. I know in the ones where it was already installed,it was a nightmare getting the wrinkles out. It did pay well, tho.
FloorMaven
Well-Known Member
Even with the stigma the industry places on the spike its hard not to appreciate the fact that its a tool that gets the job done.
It's another tool in the arsenal.
fysty-1
Member
I always thought that laying carpet on concrete was a no no? Doesn't concrete wick water? You need a vapor barrier & subfloor first. fysty-1
fysty-1
Member
Just as a general comment on this topic. I have seen both the stretcher mentioned as well as the knee kicker used but I have also seen the first one used in a large room that had an 8' extension between the head & the spikes. It would seem to me that using any kind of short stretcher in a larger room would be a waste of the installers time. Please remember that I am siting logic & not experience as I have none of that. lol
I always thought that laying carpet on concrete was a no no? Doesn't concrete wick water? You need a vapor barrier & subfloor first. fysty-1
It depends on the concrete. Installations on concrete are very common. Once in a while, moisture is an issue. Sometimes concrete has a vapor barrier, and sometimes concrete, especially on or above grade doesn't allow enough moisture to build up and cause a problem. Padding and carpet can vent some of the minor moisture that wicks upward and never cause a problem. That said, it's worth paying attention to.
