Genius or Insanely Stupid use for TS55?

[nnordrum]

I had an idea this weekend that I can't figure out if it's genius or an insanely stupid use of my TS55, so figured I'd see what you guys thought.

I'm ripping out my floor in my house which was built in 1932, so, not surprisingly, there have been some questionable decisions made over the last 80 years resulting in the following buildup:
[list type=decimal]
[*]super-sexy vinyl
[*]plywood
[*]more super-sexy vinyl
[*]sub-floor
[/list]

I'm trying to get down to the subfloor with the minimal work possible so we can put down backer board for tile.

My thought was that one could lay some rails down, and then rip lines ever ~12" to make easy strips of the 3 layers to come out, since it's all basically the same thickness. Now that all seems genius, if there's no nails. Since it's so old, I obviously have no idea what's actually under there, but the nails that I have seen have been finishing nails, not some big fat head guys.

Anybody tried anything like this? I have a feeling that given the unknowns under the vinyl, this falls much closer to insanely stupid, if not completely, but wasn't sure...

Thanks!

 

[vkumar]

I did the same thing about 20 year sago.  But no Festool. I just used an ordinary skill saw with a throwaway blade and did the same thing.  Made it much easier to to peel the layers. Go for it. You should use  a beater blade.

Vijay

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

There are ways to find nails. A magnet being one of them. Your best option would be to avoid hitting them.  [wink]

 

[Walk On Wood]

I rip out floor like that all the time.. Cut the strips like you said, but just use a regular circular saw with a $5 blade.. I prefer worm drive.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Just get a proper blade for the job. Don't know if Festool blades can take a nail, but I have a DeWalt blade with my DeWalt saw that will cut through any nail without problem.

 

[Worm Drive]

If there are nails, and there will be, you will surely hit some. I wouldn't want to risk trashing a $70 saw blade. Also, if you're hooked up to a vac, you have to worry about sucking up sparks and catching fire. We use an old 77 and a beater blade for that type of work.

 

[Dan Clermont]

Just get a proper blade for the job. Don't know if Festool blades can take a nail, but I have a DeWalt blade with my DeWalt saw that will cut through any nail without problem.

I've ran through nails/Screws when trimming doors. Was pretty upset at first cause the blade was practically new. It didn't seem to affect the cut though which was a bit surprising.

I do agree with the others about using a circular saw and cheap blade. The blade on your Festool tracksaw will get gummed up from the vinyl and why risk burning up a Festool blade when you can use a $5 Circ saw blade

Dan Clermont

 

[wow]

BT, DT!

i Agree with just using a circular saw. Forget the TS and the rails - they are not a good match for this job. Well, unless you need to tell the wife that they are, and that you need to buy a couple(?) of new blades for it?

Edit: "Or need to buy a second or longer rail?"

Another advantage of a circular saw and doing it 'freehand' is that you won't create an exact pattern in the floor. This might help you avoid nails in some areas.

Just grab your circular saw and a good demo blade or two and ... Go for it!

 

[#Tee]

that poor ts55 [cool]

 

[elfick]

I did this recently with my TS75. I knew going into it that the blade I was using would thereafter be my beater blade and I was ok with that. I cut my floor into 2' x 4' sections as that seemed to be a decent compromise between flooring removal and debris cleanup.

I did start trying to do this with my old circular saw, but the amount of dust kicked up was just unacceptable.
Even if that blade is completely useless (and it made it through OK) it was worth the $80 to avoid dealing with all the dust.

I did hit a couple nails and a few staples. It cut through the staples as though they weren't there. The nails threw a few sparks but because they were sunk beneath the top layer, it wasn't anything I felt concerned about.

 

[Deansocial]

I cut about 10 nails in a floor recently and the blade seemed pretty much unaffected.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I would have already had my 55 out and been done by now.  It's just a saw blade, they can be fixed and sharpened.

 

[1951CorrectCraft]

Just did this in my kitchen 4 layers of flooring, used my OLD Dewalt and a couple of throw away blades. Made quick work of it.
Kept my 55 and track in the work shop.

 

[DavidW]

I did the same thing 8 years ago when I removed 3 layers of tiles, sheet goods and one layer of 1/4" ply. When I asked the sales rep for the least expensive Festool blade (28 tooth?) he told me I was nuts to use a high quality tool for demo work,  I told him that the 40 year old tiles most likely contained asbestos and I was using the extractor with the saw. Did I hit some nails, yes more than a few, but it kept the dust down
David

 

[wow]

I told him that the 40 year old tiles most likely contained asbestos and I was using the extractor with the saw.

It's only 8am and already I learned something today!

I never even thought of that? That's an EXCELLENT reason to use the TS.

You, sir, are a jeanious! (def: jeanious - smart person who wears jeans)

 

[Kevin D.]

I did the same thing 8 years ago when I removed 3 layers of tiles, sheet goods and one layer of 1/4" ply. When I asked the sales rep for the least expensive Festool blade (28 tooth?) he told me I was nuts to use a high quality tool for demo work,  I told him that the 40 year old tiles most likely contained asbestos and I was using the extractor with the saw. Did I hit some nails, yes more than a few, but it kept the dust down
David

I recall asking on this forum whether the CT's could be safe to use for asbestos.  I was advised by Shane that they are not.

A LOT of old flooring from decades ago had asbestos in it.  You should take a sampling of all the layers and have it tested before doing anything.  Whether you decide to rip up manually because it does have asbestos is up to you as all asbestos should be removed by certified pros in that field regardless.  If it has asbestos no way you should contaminate your home with sawing with a circular saw of any kind including a Festool TS hooked up to a CT.

 

[MattrYYC]

Very good point on the asbestos - I wouldn't risk that if that is in question. I will often have to removed vinyl + particle board underlayment over the subfloor, for that I use a circular saw with a rough blade since the underlayment is always stapled down.  Here's what that looks like, then it all gets chipped up.[attachthumb=1]

 

[DavidW]

Well, the floor I removed was in my own house not a clients. I still think collecting the dust at the source was better than ripping at the floor, trying to find the underlayment ply joints and busting up the tiles in the process. I have to wonder how much it would be to bring in a specialist to remove a 12x16' floor. I  lost a job 3 years ago because home owners did not want to pay  for having lead removal specialist tear down a wall.

 

[wow]

If I were to do that, the simple solution is to use a FESPRO blade from Oshlun. They're cheap and work OK.

http://www.oshlun.com/fespro_series.html

 

[shaun.mcc]

I got something similar coming up where I'm removing oak HW floors (water damaged) in the kitchen (the kitchen is getting DITRA & tile [personal preference]) that continue to the dining room and great room and for the demarcation/transition from the kitchen to the other rooms I want nice, clean, straight cut...figured the TS (55) would be great. Would you advise a different sacrificial blade? On second thought maybe regular old circular saw and Fein or TS to put a back cut onto the remaining HW floor (depending on which way the tongue faces).

Shaun