Spltting parquet blocks

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raynerd:
Chris

Oddly enough, I`ve just returned not 5 minues ago from picking up more reclaimed parquet blocks for my newly built porch as I ran out yesterday.

To remove the tar, make sure the blocks are cold (some say put them in the freezer) and tap it off as best you can with an old chisel. Took me a few hours, but I got most of the big lumps of. Provided the back is flat, just get what you can off.

Lecol 5500 is what I`m using to stick them down. It`ll stick bitumen provided you give it a little longer to harden off.

How much are the blocks out in thickness. I had some which must have been from a different lot and I used my mill to fly cut the odd one down to a nearer size...HOWEVER...I`m not at this stage yet, but I`ve been told to just lay them all with the odd thicknesses and then use a barrel sandler with heavy grit to sand them all level. Obviousy, this means not using any parquet blocks that are very thin as the floor will ultimately be sanded down near to the thinnest block.

I`m no expert, I`ve never laid parquet in my life but I`ve been reading LOTS over the last couple of weeks.

I`m actually going to post my results later today or tomorrow, but I`ve just tried inlaying an oak block with some maple on my cnc machine. Went OK by the looks of it but the proof will be seen later on!

Chris

Chris O:
Hi Chris, thanks for replying. I look forward to hearing how you get on, I am sure you'll crack it. Some good news from me, the better half has just had an experiment with our table saw and cut a parquet block depth-ways. Now got 2 x good thinner clean blocks - on the one side of course. Tomorrow we are going to have a go at the rest of it. Hoping that my motivational speech still holds up ! Will write back and say exactly how we did it, but I've had some really good advice from people on here, most grateful. Kind regards. Chris O

Chris O:
Hi Everyone

I am pleased to say that we have split the reclaimed parquet flooring. We have a basic old table saw without a guard on it but it has an adjustable side guide on. We couldn't find to buy or hire the saw Timeone used on his parquet but many thanks to him for all his great advice. The Better Half got a piece of stainless steel angle. On the inside of one of the angles at the back you need a small piece of plywood glued on to push the back of the parquet block through the saw. He glued a handle on top of the angle (the angle is 60mm x 60mm x 450mm long). Measure the thickness of the parquet block you require using the adjustable guide on the table. Then put the parquet block on the table 'good' side against the guide, put the angle on top of the block with the small piece of plywood on the vertical angle at the back of it inside. With your right hand hold the handle on top of the angle, press with the left hand, keep pressure on the left vertical angle and pressure holding the block down. The small piece of plywood on the back of the vertical angle inside will catch the back of the block as you push it through the saw - and the angle will protect your hand and fingers.

We even managed to get two thinner pieces of parquet out of the one old block, and the tar side is disposed of. I've still got loads of old parquet left and might chop the tar end off and sell it cleaned up.

Again can't thank you all enough.

raynerd:
Sounds good Chris. Coincidently, I laid my parquet the other day and have today just finished the first stages of sanding. I spent a few hours with an old chisel and scraped as much as the bitumen off the bottom until I was just left with staining and the odd spot of bitumen. I then used F.ball B92 adhesive with a B2 trowel and secured the blocks to the ply sub floor. After 24 hours they seem rock hard.

How thick are your blocks now you have cut them? I`m guessing they are all pretty even now anyway but the only thing I would say is that I used 40 grit paper on my 3" hand held belt sander and rubbed this over my 3 sq meters for nearly 2-3 hours!! The blocks are now level on the whole but a hell of a lot of sawdust (many bags full!) have been removed. My point is, you need to leave enough on the blocks to allow you to sand them level!!

I`ve still got the boarder to fit and lots more to do but I`ll put some camera pics up when I get a chance.
Chris

Chris O:
Excellent points Chris, I'll reply within the next few days. If it helps, have googled that wood floors put thousands on the value of your home for sale purposes - which is a bonus ! Chris O

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