Putting QuikBrace™ To Work
The QuikBrace™ is used in place of conventional flooring methods to assist with the laying of wooden floors. Before operating the QuikBrace™ for the first time you should familiarise yourself with the QuikBrace™ Components, QuikBrace™ Care and QuikBrace™ Techniques. Once you understand these basic concepts then you will be ready to move onto the Operating Procedures
QuikBrace™ Components
The Spike Block is designed for using over joists, plywood and all wooden type subfloors. The spike block is not designed for use over concrete. The spike pins are used to anchor QuikBrace™ and provide a solid base to push or clamp floorboards.
TIP See reference in section “Adapting for Direct Stick to Concrete” elsewhere
There is a spacer between the spikes and the underside of the spike block. This is used to ensure correct height when clamping 19mm thick floorboards. When clamping 10 – 12mm thick floorboards, this spacer can be removed.
NOTE Strike the spike block with a mallet to ensure the spikes are well-anchored before operations.
The Wall Foot is used to brace off a wall when there is no room to use the spike block. Position the wall brace so that it spans two studs for support. You may need to use a length of timber to span the gap for the wall foot to push against.
The Push/Pull Head is used to grab the boards. The push/pull head is attached pointing away from the main unit for pushing/clamping functionality, or pointing toward the main unit for the pulling functionality.
TIP Stand on the push/pull head to keep downward pressure on the clamped boards.
QuikBrace™ uses an air compressor (not supplied with machine) to apply pressure. The air is released by moving the lever forward. Your nail gun (not supplied with machine) can be attached to QuikBrace™ to use the same compressor.
NOTE Pull the lever BACK before starting and release the lever SLOWLY to change the pressure.
The Handle fits into the handle mount that is located on the ram. It is best to have the ‘L’ part of the handle over the machine as this provides good centre of balance rather than facing out the back.
The Ram contains all the moving parts of QuikBrace™. The air supply fitting is on the handle mount at the rear.
QuikBrace™ Techniques
QuikBrace™ makes laying timber easier and quicker through three basic techniques that can be applied to your flooring project no matter the surface you are laying onto. These techniques use several of the QuikBrace™ components in different ways.
TIP Visit here to view instructional videos and find detailed operational fact sheets
QuikBrace™ can push or pull a number of boards together, allowing you to keep the boards square and tight while you nail them into place. QuikBrace™ can then be slid along the length of the boards to nail them into place.
Pulling onto
QuikBrace™ can pull boards onto other boards. The two holding points allow you to straighten bowed boards and nail them to the surface easily and successfully.
Pushing
QuikBrace™ can also push boards together, just turn the push/pull head around the opposite direction, assisting you to lay boards on joists, battens and over glue.
Wall Foot
QuikBrace™ can make laying those last few boards simple; the wall foot is used to push against the wall to pull the floor boards back giving you more space to place those last boards.
