The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Carpet Laying And Estimating Website
No matter what method you use, you will do a better job if you have the right tools and maintain them in top condition. As in any other field, a good mechanic is known by the number and quality of his tools and the care he takes of them. The good carpet mechanic knows which is the right tool for each particular operation.
Even the nonmechanically-minded housewife is aware of this fact, and you'll create a more favorable impression, as well as allay fears of an unsatisfactory job, if you display a fine assortment of tools, well stowed in a neat tool box, instead of attempting to get by with worn or makeshift gear borrowed here and there from fellow workmen.
Essential Tools. The following "primary" tools, illustrated in Fig. 8.1, are listed and described in addition to the numbered identification in the picture.
Power Stretcher—now a "must" for practically every installation, this versatile tool provides a powerful, uniform stretch for every square foot of carpet. It is described more fully on page 133.
Knee kicker—for stretching short lengths of carpet, especially at the edges and at seams
Metal shears—for cutting Smoothedge or other tackless strip
Carpet shears—for cutting carpet and padding
Sharpstone—for sharpening cutting edges
Reverse curved knife—for trimming padding
Carpet knife—for carpet materials where shears are not suitable
Claw hammer—for driving finish molding nails and concrete floor nails
Carpet hammer—for driving carpet nails and tackless strip
Hammer stapler—for anchoring padding
Staples—for hammer stapler
Scraper—for preparing floors or removing irregularities, etc.
Putty knife—for applying adhesives or paste
Paste spreader—for linoleum paste used in anchoring padding Paste
Pliers and screw drivers—for obvious uses
Awls—for penetrating and holding carpet to floor during installation
6-ft steel tape for various measuring and estimating
Folding rule applications 50-ft metal tape
Pipe wrench—frequently needed to move or adjust fixtures, etc.
Carpenter's square—for establishing right angles in squaring carpet or rooms
Chalk line and chalk—for squaring and cutting carpet or padding
Needles—curved and straight for hand sewing
Thread—in various weights for hand seaming and binding
Tweezers—for Chenille catcher threads
Thimble—for obvious uses
Beeswax—for lubricating thread
Nails and tacks—as required
Stanley utility knife—for cutting paint line on quarter-round molding, and other applications
Hack saw—for metal work
Pinch bar or molding lifter—for removing quarter-round base molding
