How to hammer in shoe molding?
#1
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How to hammer in shoe molding?
We had a botched flooring job where the contractor did not bring nails to the job. Now we have to finish it ourselves.
We got 18 gauge nails, 1.5 inches. Problem is we can't hammer them in. They either bend, or the one I did have success with only goes so far and stops with about 1/4 inch of it still out. We are super frustrated. Someone mentioned we should pre drill holes. Is that true? But how would this solve the problem of the one nail only going so far?
Thanks.
We got 18 gauge nails, 1.5 inches. Problem is we can't hammer them in. They either bend, or the one I did have success with only goes so far and stops with about 1/4 inch of it still out. We are super frustrated. Someone mentioned we should pre drill holes. Is that true? But how would this solve the problem of the one nail only going so far?
Thanks.
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Glue for shoe molding?
We had a terrible experience with a contractor, they did not bring the nails for the shoe molding. Then said they would make do by using liquid nails to attache the shoe molding.
I know nothing about flooring but my first thought was that sounded like a shortcut, rather than the proper way to do it.
Later on the phone he told me he uses glue all the time for shoe molding. Is glue ok to use? Tks
I know nothing about flooring but my first thought was that sounded like a shortcut, rather than the proper way to do it.
Later on the phone he told me he uses glue all the time for shoe molding. Is glue ok to use? Tks
#6
I wouldn't glue it, how does he propose to keep the shoe mold tight against the floor/base while the adhesive sets? I can see using an adhesive in hard to get areas [like behind a commode]
#9
No need to cut the nail, the head of the nail will fit nicely in the drill's chuck. It doesn't take much for the pointed end of the nail to 'drill' thru the shoe molding.
#10
Is your shoe molding 3/4 Round?
Some quarter round is very difficult to nail. Even with a nail gun it's hard to get a good angle and have the brad hit straight into the wood, the brads tend to bend.
A nail gun should do the job. For difficult areas, drill a small pilot hole and use brads and a nail set.
When applying trim around cabinets I will not use a nail set if the nail gun doesn't work.
Use adhesive and keep it clean. A few dabs of hot melt glue will hold the trim in place until adhesive sets.
Some quarter round is very difficult to nail. Even with a nail gun it's hard to get a good angle and have the brad hit straight into the wood, the brads tend to bend.
A nail gun should do the job. For difficult areas, drill a small pilot hole and use brads and a nail set.
When applying trim around cabinets I will not use a nail set if the nail gun doesn't work.
Use adhesive and keep it clean. A few dabs of hot melt glue will hold the trim in place until adhesive sets.
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Get some 4D finish nails. Cut the head off one, put it in a drill and predrill the holes. Hammer the nails in and use a nail set to get the head just below the surface. If you can get a nail gun use a 16 gauge finish nail...18 gauge would work but a tad small, 15 gauge would be a tad big.
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"I have merged your two threads on this issue."
So that's what happened. I was wondering why my post was not showing up. This was two seperate questions and for good reason. As you can see the question about glue has not been addressed much, probably because people did not see it attached in the middle of this thread.
So that's what happened. I was wondering why my post was not showing up. This was two seperate questions and for good reason. As you can see the question about glue has not been addressed much, probably because people did not see it attached in the middle of this thread.
#16
Marq, he has a brad nailer. See post 1.
Gluing the shoe is stupid, as mentioned, if you need to push it tight to the floor, glue isn't going to hold it down, it will want to spring up. This question has been answered sufficiently. If your brad nailer isn't driving the nails they are either too long and are hitting concrete that is behind the baseboard or you don't have the pressure on your regulator turned up high enough. Set it at 90 - 100 lbs. Some guns are also finicky about what length nails they will shoot and which they wont. Your gun might prefer 1 1/4 or 1 5/8 for all we know. Look at how they are loaded in the magazine and see if the heads are binding.
Clip the nails that are still sticking out and set them with a nail set.
Gluing the shoe is stupid, as mentioned, if you need to push it tight to the floor, glue isn't going to hold it down, it will want to spring up. This question has been answered sufficiently. If your brad nailer isn't driving the nails they are either too long and are hitting concrete that is behind the baseboard or you don't have the pressure on your regulator turned up high enough. Set it at 90 - 100 lbs. Some guns are also finicky about what length nails they will shoot and which they wont. Your gun might prefer 1 1/4 or 1 5/8 for all we know. Look at how they are loaded in the magazine and see if the heads are binding.
Clip the nails that are still sticking out and set them with a nail set.
#17
In case you didn't see my previous post.
The only place I glue down shoe (3/4" hardwood quarter round) is around cabinetry.
Even then it's only in certain areas that I know doesn't have the backing strong enough to accept a nail or a Brad gun.
You can't pound a nail in a weak area, and even a 18 gauge brad nailer might not sink fully into hardwood and then you have problems.
If you're nailing into a wall you should have no problem sinking a nail or a brad.
Edit: after seeing X's post I will add a tip. Hold the gun at a low angle and take one nail at a time. You can't nail quickly. Hold the gun firmly and don't pull back until nailing is complete.
My advice was for a rare situation where a brad won't sink due to reverberation or bouncing.
The only place I glue down shoe (3/4" hardwood quarter round) is around cabinetry.
Even then it's only in certain areas that I know doesn't have the backing strong enough to accept a nail or a Brad gun.
You can't pound a nail in a weak area, and even a 18 gauge brad nailer might not sink fully into hardwood and then you have problems.
If you're nailing into a wall you should have no problem sinking a nail or a brad.
Edit: after seeing X's post I will add a tip. Hold the gun at a low angle and take one nail at a time. You can't nail quickly. Hold the gun firmly and don't pull back until nailing is complete.
My advice was for a rare situation where a brad won't sink due to reverberation or bouncing.