Luan

Hello.  If you are following along and would like to get an email notification of new posts from me let me know at dswett@hotmail.com.

My address at Swett Lodge - measuring 24'x 32' same as house on ridge in WI I built in '79 - is:  1793 West 10th Ave.  Eugene OR   97402. 

    Thoughtful reader took time, energy to have this beautiful, handy dandy tool posted to me.  Knife, pliers, wire cutter fold streamlined, pocketable.  However supplier has liberal gift return policy so I'm passing.  Why?  For starters giver should be aware a man in my mental condition should be limited access to sharp objects - especially razor sharp knives.  Already carry plenty in pockets - would rather less - am unlikely to wear.  Probably would reach for only in emergencies - other tools I own like these have larger grips with more leverage and better control.  Plan to exchange for 100' extension cord not yet in arsenal, will use lots - each time thinking of thoughtful giver.  Lovely.  Thanks.
    Another generous benefactor knowing I needed wonder bar, feeling sometime historically I introduced him to said tool (?), sent $10 gift certificate good at national home repair box store.  One dry morning set out on bike with certificate to purchase wonder bar, perhaps another item or two.  Box store offers only name brand bar priced at $9.  Look in vain through every bar offered to find one sharp both ends.  Wonder bar is for getting under things, prying loose - sharp leading edge important.  Knew local tool merchant had Chinese made bars for $2.50 so purchased string level for checking house's foundation - here with couple hundred feet of line from St. Vinnie's, fixed blade utility knife - more reliable to me than retractable blade knives but also more expensive, utility knife blades, key for front door's new deadbolt leaving a dollar on box store certificate and head for local merchant.

Sift through his even larger stack of wonder bars finding few sharp both ends.  Settled on blue bar above as the best offered at either store.  Would have been happy to buy name brand bar - as benefactor hoped, probably US made - but need bar sharp both ends.  A guy can sharpen such a tool with grinder but job has to be done carefully to not ruin temper - rather not.  Recently spent good portion of a day pulling 1-1/4" screws securing underlayment out of fir floor, spent seven hours Sunday - 12/26/10 - scraping old linoleum off original wood floor square inch by square inch first with blade on straight end finishing with hook end.  Bar performed above expectations - no chipping, breaking - keeper.

All bars I looked at were sharp on hook end but few were sharp on straight end like this.  If this bar hadn't been sharp I'd still be wondering how to get old linoleum off floor instead of being halfway done already.  Pays to know one's needs when shopping.
      I have a hairy nose.  Smoked a pack of cigarettes/day/fifteen years nasal cavities were clean as baby's hiney - now jungle.  A number of readers are concerned I take precautions when working - dust mask, eye protection, etc.  Want to remain capable.  Continue wearing specs - avoid lasik surgery - aware putzing constantly endangers eyes.  Protect eyes with body when prying.  Wear gloves when sharps abound, dust mask when dusty though steams up glasses impairing vision,  ventilate well.  Sometimes forget precautions do my best to limit harmful effects irrigating snozz - a practice nurse Kate condoneth not, eyes, gargling, washing well.   General health precautions help too - eat, sleep well; stay limber; especially when in dusty environs drink milk promoting mucous production.  Grace is ever abroad - being spared many times humbles.  Swett Lodge is largely celebration of my ability to do what it takes - hopefully for years to come.  Concern heeded, appreciated.

   Wonder bar at hand begin removing 1/4" luan (mahogany) plywood underlayment.  This spot in hall just outside middle bedroom door lifting on its own makes good start point.

Off to the races.  Shortly into it realize luan is screwed to original wood floor with 1-1/4" drywall screws.  Popping luan up over screw heads, screws stay in floor easiest least destructive to luan removal.  Front bedroom door doesn't close, in the way, fortunately both hinge pins come out easily with hammer, bolt drift.

 

Remove door, shelf above door's hardware - shelf still solid as rock, leave for now.

Up comes south hall luan sheet

revealing 2-1/4" original fir flooring with ancient linoleum permanently adhered in spots.  Ongoing penchant for thoroughness prompts me to remove loose linoleum as I pull screws.

Hammer wonder bar's hook end under screw heads and pull - hard -

or - easier - if screw head is above floor enough fit into keyhole slot on bar's flat straight end, pry.

Resulting pile of hardware.

Initially thought I'd remove only enough luan to install stove in corner below flue opening

but find rhythm sliding bar under luan, popping, pulling up, decide to go for it.  Remove luan sheet, pull screws, peel loose linoleum, repeat.   

Note scrap metal drawer for screws, nice day out west windows, ghetto blaster knob on BOB.

Getting there.  Under luan here 3-1/4" fir strip flooring on west side of house ancient linoleum spottily adhering.

Front room finished, junk linoleum piled under front window.

Luan removed in kitchen next revealing greater percentage of '30's era linoleum adhering.  Took time to remove cardboard wall board from chimney support - at right here pile of junk wall board in front of it.  Released a lot of stench

and tore ancient heat/splatter shield - light switch raised to clear taller stove when shield was new - off south kitchen wall behind old range location for good measure.

Finally remove luan in north hall - more stuck linoleum.  Gargantuan task scraping this crap off floor will be covered another time.  Swett Lodge never had owner with clue about home maintenance.  Luan screwed down over dirt, cat hair balls, coins - didn't even bother to sweep.

 

Gritty, filthy, stinky, luan - successfully removed intact for possible reuse - staged on back porch ready for 'lumber yard' - lumber/materials storage made from bathroom shelves/cabinets - soon to come under carport. 

Next time we'll look at the first journey.

Peace

d