Table of Contents
What tool do I need to make tongue and groove?
Tongue-and-groove joints are commonly made on a table saw. But with the right bits, the joints can be made just as easily on a router table.
How do you start tongue and groove?
Start with your first piece: groove facing the wall, tongue facing out. Use the framing gun to add a nail to the tongue of the plank and secure in place. For the next piece, you will connect the groove of the new piece into the tongue of the first piece.
How deep should a tongue and groove joint be?
The groove should ALWAYS be slightly deeper than the tongue is long, by as much as 1/16″ for 3-inch wide boards. The reason for this is two-fold. First is to prevent problems during assembly.
Do you nail into the tongue or groove?
For tongue-and-groove flooring, drive a nail at a 45-degree angle through the tongue, then conceal it by engaging the groove of the next board. Be sure to countersink the nail — drive it slightly below the surface of the wood — to prevent interference in the joint.
Does the tongue or groove go against the wall?
Which to Install First. Which side is the tongue, which the groove, and which goes first during installation? The tongue is the side that you will want to place against the wall as you start your laminate-flooring installation.
Is a router plane useful?
Router planes, which are more like shoulder planes than routers, are invaluable for cleaning up and trimming tenon cheeks and other joinery, hinge mortises, inlay mortises, and more. But to do its best work, this small plane must be properly tuned. Learn how to get it that way, and how best to use this handy plane.
What is a rabbet joint?
A rabbet (American English) or rebate (British English) is a recess or groove cut into the edge of a piece of machinable material, usually wood. A rabbet can be used to form a joint with another piece of wood (often containing a dado). Rabbet joints are easy to construct and have good appeal to them.
What router bits are needed for tongue and groove?
Step 1: Generally speaking, it’s easier to cut the groove of a T&G joint first, then mill the tongue to fit the groove. A 1/4-in. straight bit or spiral upcut bit makes an ideal groove-cutter into the edge of a workpiece.
How do you make wood ridges without a router?
Alternative Ways to Cut Grooves (Rabbeting) Table Saw Method. Typically, grooves cut into wood on a table saw are cut using a dado blade. Dremel Tool Method. Rabbeting Plane. Chisel Method. Rounding and Chamfering with a Plane. Using Molding Planes. Molding with a Scratch Stock. Keyhole Slot.
Should tongue-and-groove be glued?
The recommended glue for floating installation is Tongue and Groove engineered flooring glue. Glue placement is very important. The glue must be placed along the topside of the groove the full length of the grooved side and end.
Are tongue-and-groove joints strong?
A tongue-and-groove is stronger than simple butt joints due to the increased gluing surface and mechanical interlocking of the two mating pieces. As a bonus, the tongue also serves to perfectly align the workpieces during the glue-up for a smooth surface.
Can you nail hardwood floor on the groove side?
To nail the groove, you must nail by hand, but you have a very small space in which to work. In addition, you must countersink every nail to avoid interfering with the tongue of the next plank. For most applications, this isn’t feasible or desirable.
Can you install tongue and groove backwards?
Vinyl plank flooring was designed to install in one direction but it is still possible to install it backward. When doing so, you either have to modify the tongue and groove or be prepared to work slowly and perhaps have some waste.
Can you glue tongue and groove to the wall?
The boards can be glued or nailed to the walls, or both. I recommend a paneling adhesive and toothed trowel, or a paneling adhesive applied from a caulking gun. Follow the adhesive instructions for application.
Do you cut the tongue off the first row of laminate?
Place the first plank with the tongue side towards the wall, being sure to allow 1/8″ for expansion. We recommend cutting off the tongue on this first row to avoid any problem with the expansion gap. If it is too short, cut a new plank in half and use one half to start the second row.
Should I start shiplap from top or bottom?
You can start applying shiplap either at the top or at the bottom of your wall. If you start at the bottom, gravity will work for you. If you start at the top, you’ll have to prevent each board from falling before you nail it in place.
Should I stagger shiplap?
Stagger the shiplap boards so that the end joints are spread out along the wall or ceiling randomly. If you stack seams on top of each other, you’ll create an eyesore that draws your eye to the dark lines of the jointed ends. Building pros agree that staggering seams provides a better looking aesthetic.
How do you join the ends of shiplap?
It’s up to you. After all your shiplap is installed, run a bead of caulk around all seams where the shiplap terminates to a wall, or along inside corners. Fill in all your nail holes and seams between boards with wood filler and a putty knife.
What bit should I use to make a groove router?
A chamfer bit is also used to create V-shaped grooves between boards (when two chamfers meet edge to edge they form a V-groove). Chamfer bits come in various sizes and a few different angles. We’d recommend one with a 1-1/4-inch diameter. This is a nonpiloted router bit that cuts round-bottomed grooves.
