Caustic bath to strip spotted gum floorboards - other options ?

[fgwyn]

We have some lovely 22mm spotted gum floor boards (removed from a basketball court about 15 years ago) that we are planning to lay in major house extension.
They are in good condition but need stripping.
We have got conflicting advice on using a caustic bath to do this - some say that it is the only option given that the finish needs to be cleaned out of some tongue and grooves where it has seeped through. (we have about 700 linear metres of the spotted gum so big job)
Others that caustic bath is not recommended for hardwood and could damage the wood - impact on the colour etc.
Have not found much detail on the web about the detail of setting up a caustic bath for something like floorboards ( strength of solution needed etc)
Any advice (including possible alternatives) much appreciated.
Thank you !

[Bloss]

I would not be attempting a caustic bath for this job. It is dangerous, you need to dispose of the used solution to comply with EPA rules, trying to set up to deal with flooring strips will be difficult and to top it off it will almost certainly alter the colour of the timber. Timber or other items cleaned using caustic baths also need to be rinsed off with water to remove traces of the caustic solution and water and timber are mostly not a great combination - especially if you hope to use the timber to look natural as in this case. I have used such baths for old furniture and metal parts too, but there are better ways to strip now.

In this case I'd be looking at running them through a thickesser. That won't do anything for the T&G edges, but if it has come up off a floor I doubt that'll be a concern anyway. Whether you try to DIY or take it to a timber yard or cabinet makers to get it done professionally depends on your time and money and your assessment of your own skills. Ideally you should run a stick through the sort of lower price thicknessers you can buy online or at Bunnings/Masters etc if you know someone with one. My guess is that would give you a pretty good result. They need care in setting up, a spare set of blades, and really work best with two people - one feeding in and one tailing-out. Also need to take smallest amount off needed - start with half a millimetre or even a bit less.

In any case you might not want to do anything before laying. Since you will be sanding them again once laid why would you not lay as is then get your sanding specialist to work as they are used to re-doing old floors and this is no different. One of the flooring guys such as Larry, Dusty, Namtrak and so on, (plenty on here who know their stuff) can give you more certain advice.

[Gaza]

denail,
lay floor clean up any bad tongues with old school hand rebate plane, should not be to much
sand like a normal floor with few extra cross cuts with heavy grit.

dont dip the timber it will change the M/C of timber and potential stuff it.

[Larry McCully]

I have laid plenty of recycled boards. Dont worry about any coating on the surface, that will get sanded of when the time comes to be sanded. In my experience, the only dirt is on the top of the tounge, i only use a air duster on my compressor and drag the nozzell along the top of the tounge and some times in the grove if needed. It blows of all the bits . its fast and works fine, Any stubbon bits, i just scape of. Job done. Two people can clean 700 mt in about 3 hours if you work to a system.

[Dusty]

Excellent answer up ^^ there^^ somewhere, from Bloss - great detail.

As the others have already pointed out - lay them, sand them, finish them. There, job's done.

[Bloss]

I have laid plenty of recycled boards. Dont worry about any coating on the surface, that will get sanded of when the time comes to be sanded. In my experience, the only dirt is on the top of the tounge, i only use a air duster on my compressor and drag the nozzell along the top of the tounge and some times in the grove if needed. It blows of all the bits . its fast and works fine, Any stubbon bits, i just scape of. Job done. Two people can clean 700 mt in about 3 hours if you work to a system.


There you go :whs:

[GraemeCook]

:wts:

[dazza71]

Good old fashioned wire brush on T & G

"A Sander makes a good layer & a layer look good"

[Larry McCully]

Dazza, your a poet........
Good old fashioned wire brush on T & G

"A Sander makes a good layer & a layer look good"

[Bloss]

Dazza, you're a poet........ and didn't know it . . . :)