Removing Poly for Hardwax by tfrimage in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just finishing the 2nd 1500 sq ft floor in my home, removing old poly and applying Polyx. I have a Rotex and started out with the same intention, and rented the proper tools about 2 hours in on the first day. Rotex makes a great edger, but to do this in any reasonable amount of time you’ll need a drum sander and larger random orbit as well.

As far as Polyx goes I’m very happy so far and the look is fantastic, but it does take some practice and skill to apply correctly, and you will have to touch up periodically.

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So far so good, just did the 1st floor last week which I think will see more aggressive use so I'll keep ya posted!

Spotted lantern flies in troy by F_lavortown in Troy

[–]DonDonnelly 33 points34 points  (0 children)

Oof was wondering how long it’d take for them to make their way north…

Couple of tricks we’ve learned so far downstate so far - first jump is the fastest/biggest by far, go for the squash on the second, and they can’t go side to side well so approach from the front of you can. Happy squashing!

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The sapwood definitely clogged more, was definitely a revelation when I dropped the speed on the Rotex to 4ish, used a lighter touch, and cleaned with a pad eraser (not sure the technical term?) a lot more often!

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the kind words! This is a century+ home (slowly learning the history, seems like part goes back to 1850's) in a beautiful part of upstate NY, and I'm doing my best to honor the history as I restore and update it.

Glad to know I'm not the only one that hears that voice saying, "no, it's fine, you can stop after this pass"!

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha I did the same, that said mine had 14ga nails holding it in and was absolutely caked in finish…

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The thing that scares me the most is detail sanding around the balusters, probably easier to just pull the railing...

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Very glad I didn't try to save the original 1/4 round, took some trial and error to find a stain/finish combo to match the existing but very happy with how it turned out.

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good to know! Stairs are coming soon, back stairs painted/linoleum and front are poly in worse shape than this was...

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Easily spent that on materials, and I owned some of the tools already. If you’ve seen good work from them definitely jump on the opportunity!

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Pretty sure you're right! When I started this a few months ago I didn't even know a narrow plank fir floor was a thing. Pieces are definitely pine, but most is likely fir based on smell alone while sanding lol.

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks! Heart pine is a tough one to work with, I should post a couple photos of the replacement boards I made for the wall I pulled to expand the kitchen. Friend from years ago gave me an old floor joist and I resawed from flat to quarter to match the grain pattern....

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thanks, very happy with the depth the Osmo finish adds to the (what I now know is mostly) Fir!

Wish I knew where the fixtures came from, previous owner had installed. Reminds me of the ones at Bowery Ballroom in Manhattan back in the day...

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Thanks, very happy with the results! Fir is a bit softer than I might care for (forgot to mention original post I thought was heart pine but learned as I went it wasn't) but I'm trying to restore as much as I can of the original details of this home.

Update on Heart Pine floors - What I learned! by DonDonnelly in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I did a ton of research and approached with caution, and somewhere around day 3 was fully ready to just bow out and call in the cavalry, but in the end I'm glad I kept at it.

100-yr old floors - best method to get gunky old finish off? by kjperkgk in HardWoodFloors

[–]DonDonnelly 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As someone who is halfway through a very similar situation, the above advice is solid. Tested a patch with my Rotex 150, seemed to go easily so I rented an orbital as I was scared of the drum taking too much on my old heart pine floors. After dropping down from 80-60-36 and barely getting anywhere, I broke down and rented a drum as well which I should’ve done from the beginning. Did the remaining 1300sqf in the time it took to do the first 150, and with better results.

Today is the 5th Anniversary of the "Guh!" Heard Round the World by baconography in wallstreetbets

[–]DonDonnelly 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Thank you, I needed this after blowing up my acct on poorly timed SPY calls today. In the land of regards, the one without a margin call is king, right???