Lifting very old floorboards

At what point does a floorboard stop being a floorboard, 7" holey moley. Sounds like a solid build.

I suspect a dremel will not do decent 7" board. Normally a hole saw or flat drill bit. Though my knowledge is poor.
 
7"!!?
Yeah push the filler down the cracks.
If the boards are level (they look it?) then a random orbital to knock back would be enough before filling with draughtex and applying a couple of layers of floor varnish. That is, if all you're looking to do is get a quick refurb. If you want them stripped to bare wood then hire a drum sander.
 
James Peach said:
Thanks all.
I've basically discover that they are at least 7" deep. that's right. My floorboards are 7" deep. Each one. So there's no chance of lifting them.
So I'm just going to sand them and then treat them.
Unsure whether to rent a massive sander or just use an orbital one myself. Probs the former.

Also need to look into treating price.

Question; what's the best way to cut a hold in a piece of wood when you can't get all the way through. A Dremel, right?
I want to fit a USB-C power hub in there but can't work out a way of doing it neatly.
Click to expand...
Router
 
I don't know exactly what you mean by saw the bottom... But if you want a hole that doesn't go through (a blind hole), use a Forstner bit. Or just a spade bit if you want cheap and fast.
 
LuckyBenski said:
I don't know exactly what you mean by saw the bottom... But if you want a hole that doesn't go through (a blind hole), use a Forstner bit. Or just a spade bit if you want cheap and fast.
Click to expand...
I sort of didn't understand how a plunge router worked; I assumed you cut four lines and then I wondered how you managed to slice the underside of it.
Basically I was imagining trying to spoon it out in some way : )

I bought a plunge router and a straight bit and I'm basically proposing I go to town on my floorboards and make the entire thing just made of power sockets.
 
James Peach said:
I sort of didn't understand how a plunge router worked; I assumed you cut four lines and then I wondered how you managed to slice the underside of it.
Basically I was imagining trying to spoon it out in some way : )

I bought a plunge router and a straight bit and I'm basically proposing I go to town on my floorboards and make the entire thing just made of power sockets.
Click to expand...
Try and build yourself a jig to stop it being all jaggedy. Doesn't need to be complex - outline on the floor in masking paper and an old bit of wood to keep the router straight and true.
 
You can tidy up the gaps between boards using floorboard slivers. You can buy them off eBay, made from old floorboards. They are wedge shaped, which you glue and hammer in. Chisel off what's left proud then sand and finish the floor. It's hard work but gives a good finish for an old floor.
 
James Peach said:
Thanks all.
I've basically discover that they are at least 7" deep. that's right. My floorboards are 7" deep. Each one. So there's no chance of lifting them.
So I'm just going to sand them and then treat them.
Unsure whether to rent a massive sander or just use an orbital one myself. Probs the former.

Also need to look into treating price.

Question; what's the best way to cut a hold in a piece of wood when you can't get all the way through. A Dremel, right?
I want to fit a USB-C power hub in there but can't work out a way of doing it neatly.
Click to expand...
Rent a massive sander. They aren't hard to use. Your back will thank you. Plus you'll get a better finish.

Also I'd be tempted to just get a circular saw on the filler if it doesn't flake out.

Long term putting filler between boards isn't a good option as it'll eventually fall through.
 
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James Peach said:
what's the alternative? Leaving the gaps? The problem is that it's 7 inches or so depth and there's a LOT of dust and nasty stuff inside there that I simply can't get out.
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I suggested an alternative in my post before the one you quoted.
Old floorboard slivers. It'll give you a much better finish and because they are wedge shaped they are less likely to fall through.
 
Nutty_Death said:
I suggested an alternative in my post before the one you quoted.
Old floorboard slivers. It'll give you a much better finish and because they are wedge shaped they are less likely to fall through.
Click to expand...

My bad. I did read your post but had yet too look up the slivers. I got thinking about that Sharon Stone movie; Sliver which was not good. Let us hope they bolster my floorboards more than they did Sharon Stone's career.

Side note; I think I didn't recognise the post bc of the profile picture sitch on this site which is (actually not unlike Sharon Stone's oeuvre) fun but ultimately frustrating.
 
Nutty_Death said:
I suggested an alternative in my post before the one you quoted.
Old floorboard slivers. It'll give you a much better finish and because they are wedge shaped they are less likely to fall through.
Click to expand...

Is it a problem that they're all different sizes and change widths?

A video explaining the sitch and referencing SS.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fexqx9ca4ckvhwn/IMG_5251.MOV?dl=0

Also I've rented a sander for next Monday. Is it best to have them all filled and ready for then? if so I may need to reschedule the sander. I got a bit ahead of myself.
Perhaps you have to fill and then so they're all the same height?
 
Your video :D

I would certainly choose slivers over filler for those gaps. There's no way filler will stay in those. You can get random size slivers so you can mix it up. Sometimes you might just get a couple of mm in a tiny gap other times you might need to wedge two in together. Some times you might need to snap s length in half and go down to a smaller size as the length changes size. It's pretty simple to work out how to do it but like I say it's back braking work. Think I spent 4 days on our old small dinning room...

To me it looks like you need to spend time scraping out the gaps. Circular saw may help. Them slivers. Then chisel off anything proud. Then sand.

I'd say you've got a lot of work ahead of you but the end result could be a very impressive looking floor.

Completely doable within the inexperienced DIY skill level but like I said it's back breaking. I did mine in my mid 20s and in my late 30s it would certainly take a toll now.
 
dLockers said:
Try and build yourself a jig to stop it being all jaggedy. Doesn't need to be complex - outline on the floor in masking paper and an old bit of wood to keep the router straight and true.
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I need you to know that because of your message I have the song "yo diggity" in my head but with the lyrics replaced with "all jaggedy." I'm telling you this because it's torture and I want you to experience it too.
"I like the way you work it ... all jaggedy."
 
James Peach said:
I need you to know that because of your message I have the song "yo diggity" in my head but with the lyrics replaced with "all jaggedy." I'm telling you this because it's torture and I want you to experience it too.
"I like the way you work it ... all jaggedy."
Click to expand...
:cry:

I really want some of what you are taking.
 
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