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Home > Bob on TV > Home Again > Modern Colonial > Wood Floor Finishing > 1321 Transcript
1321 - Wood Floor Finishing
January 20-26, 2003 | July 21-27, 2003
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HI, I'M BOB VILA.
WELCOME HOME AGAIN
TO OUR CENTER-ENTRY
COLONIAL PROJECT.
TODAY WE'RE SPENDING
MOST OF OUR TIME
ON THE FLOOR.
WE'VE GOT BEAUTIFUL OAK FLOORS
HERE IN THE HOUSE,
AND WE'RE GONNA
BE SHOWING YOU
HOW TO SAND THEM
AND HOW TO PUT
A FINISH ON THEM.
ALSO, VISITING
A PROJECT NEARBY
WHERE THEY'RE PUTTING
HEIRLOOM PINE FLOORS
IN PLACE.
WE'LL FINISH THEM AS WELL,
AND TAKE YOU
ON A TOUR OF A FOREST
UP IN CASCO, MAINE,
WHERE WE LEARN A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY.
STICK AROUND. IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY
SEARS
IT'S VERY NOISY IN HERE!
HOWARD BRICKMAN
IS OUR FLOORING GENIUS,
AND TODAY WE'RE
ACTUALLY PUTTING, WELL,
THE FIRST STEPS INTO
SANDING AND FINISHING
OUR BEAUTIFUL
HEIRLOOM OAK FLOORING.
YOU ARE DOING THIS
AT AN ANGLE. WHY?
WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS
A SLIGHT AMOUNT
OF UNEVENNESS
ON ANY KIND OF
TONGUE AND GROOVE FLOORS,
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS--
LIKE IN-BETWEEN THE--
THESE ARE RANDOM WIDTHS,
SO IN-BETWEEN
THE 2 DIFFERENT BOARDS
THERE MIGHT BE
A SEPARATION.
BETWEEN THE EDGES
AND THE ENDS,
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING
IS GOING AT AN ANGLE
SO THAT WE CUT THAT FLAT.
RIGHT LIKE THAT.
AND THEN THE NEXT CUT WE DO
WILL BE CUTTING IT STRAIGHT
TO BRING IT BACK
INTO ALIGNMENT.
ALL RIGHT. PROCEED.
SO NOW YOU'RE GOING
WITH THE GRAIN.
IS THE WAY
YOU SHOULD DO IT
IF YOU'RE REFINISHING
AN OLD FLOOR
IN AN OLD HOUSE?
GO AT AN ANGLE FIRST,
LIKE A 20-DEGREE ANGLE,
AND THEN
GO WITH THE GRAIN?
WELL, THE FIRST THING
IS TO GET THE SURFACE FLAT,
AND THE BEST WAY
TO DO THAT IS BY
GOING AT AN ANGLE.
BECAUSE EVEN OLD FLOORS
CHANGE RELATIVE POSITION
BECAUSE OF THAT SEASONAL
SHRINKING AND SWELLING
THAT OCCURS.
ANY TRICKS ON GETTING
A REALLY NICE JOB
SANDING?
WELL, OF COURSE,
YOU WANT TO BE VERY GRADUAL
WHEN YOU RAISE AND LOWER
THE DRUM OF THE MACHINE
SO YOU DON'T LEAVE A MARK.
THE OTHER, I GUESS,
TRICK OF THE PROFESSIONALS
WOULD BE TO USE
THE APPROPRIATE ABRASIVES
IN THE PROPER SEQUENCE.
DON'T SKIP
TOO MANY ABRASIVE GRITS
SO THAT YOU LEAVE
A REAL DEEP SCRATCH
IN THE FLOOR.
HOW MANY DIFFERENT GRITS
WILL WE USE ON THIS FLOOR?
WE'RE GONNA
ACTUALLY END UP
USING 2 ON THIS FLOOR,
BUT MAINLY
BECAUSE OF THE MILLING,
WHICH WAS SO GOOD.
YEAH.
AND--BUT ON A FLOOR
WITH A LOT OF OVER WOOD
OR AN OLD FLOOR WITH
A LOT OF FINISH ON IT,
IT WOULDN'T
BE UNUSUAL TO USE
3 OR 4 DIFFERENT GRITS.
THANKS, HOWARD.
SO THE DRUM SANDER
ONLY COMES TO WITHIN
ABOUT 6 INCHES
OF THE EDGE OF THE ROOM.
AND, HOWARD, WHAT'S
THIS MACHINE CALLED?
IT'S AN EDGER
OR A SPINNER.
THE SECRET
TO USING THE EDGER
IS GOOD CONSISTENT
ELLIPTICAL MOTION
MM-HMM.
MOVING LEFT TO RIGHT.
MOVING LEFT TO RIGHT.
IT'S A HEAVY TOOL, TOO.
THEY VARY IN WEIGHT
FROM 30 TO 50 POUNDS
DEPENDING ON THE MODEL.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
WE'LL BE IN CASCO, MAINE,
TO FIND OUT ABOUT
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES
AT HANCOCK LUMBER.
RIGHT NOW
WE'RE IN CASCO, MAINE--
HOME TO SOME OF THE GREATEST
EASTERN WHITE PINE FORESTS
IN NORTH AMERICA.
IT'S HERE
THAT THE HANCOCK FAMILY
HAS BEEN RUNNING A LARGE
LOGGING AND SAWMILL OPERATION
FOR 6 GENERATIONS.
ONE OF
THE LARGEST WHOLESALERS
OF EASTERN
WHITE PINE BOARDS,
THEY OVERSEE
THE ENTIRE PROCESS
FROM LAND MANAGEMENT
AND HARVESTING
THROUGH MILLING.
HANCOCK NOW MANAGES
OVER 20,000 ACRES
OF STRATEGIC
MAINE TIMBERLAND,
EMPLOYS HUNDREDS
OF LOCAL RESIDENTS,
AND IS AMONG
AN INCREASING NUMBER
OF LUMBER COMPANIES
NATIONWIDE WHO ARE
ACTIVELY PROMOTING
THE CONCEPT OF
HARVESTING LUMBER SUSTAINABLY,
BOTH ECOLOGICALLY
AND ECONOMICALLY.
THEY'RE BEING JOINED
IN THEIR EFFORTS
BY AN UNLIKELY BOOSTER.
PATRICK MOORE WAS ONCE ONE
OF THE MOST VOCAL OPPONENTS
OF ANY INDUSTRIAL USE OF
MARINE AND FOREST HABITATS
AS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS
OF GREENPEACE.
AFTER SPENDING DECADES
VIOLENTLY PITTED
AGAINST INDUSTRY,
PATRICK BEGAN TO SEE
THAT CONSERVATIONISTS
COULD MAKE MORE PROGRESS
TOWARDS SAVING
THE ENVIRONMENT
BY WORKING
WITH THE PEOPLE
WHOSE LIVELIHOODS
DEPEND ON IT.
THE FORESTS OF MAINE
PROVIDE A GREAT PLACE
TO MAKE HIS POINT.
PATRICK,
LET'S GET ORIENTED
ABOUT EXACTLY
WHERE WE ARE.
BOB, THIS IS THE FOOTHILLS
OF THE WHITE MOUNTAINS
IN SOUTHWESTERN MAINE.
AND THE HANCOCK LUMBER MILL
DOWN IN THE VALLEY BELOW
WHICH IS SUPPLIED
BY THE CONTINUALLY
RENEWING FOREST
ALL AROUND
IN THE LANDSCAPE HERE.
CONTINUALLY RENEWING.
WE'RE LOOKING
AT A FOREST--
AN ECOSYSTEM--
THAT'S PROVIDING
NOT ONLY LUMBER FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES,
BUT OTHER
IMPORTANT ASPECTS
OF OUR LIFE HERE.
THERE'S A TREMENDOUS
DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE
THROUGHOUT THESE HILLS.
THE INSECTS, THE FROGS,
THE BIRDS, DEER,
ALL LIVING
IN THESE FORESTS
AS THEY ARE CONTINUOUSLY
MANAGED FOR TIMBER AS WELL.
AND WHAT ABOUT
WATER RESOURCES?
WELL, THIS IS A BIG STORY.
HALF OF MAINE'S WATER
IS COMING FROM THE LAKE
JUST OVER HERE,
AND ALL THIS LAND
DRAINS INTO THE LAKE.
AND IT'S ALL
BEAUTIFUL PURE WATER
THAT'S BEING FILTERED
THROUGH THE BRANCHES
AND ROOT SYSTEMS
OF THESE TREES
AS IT MAKES ITS WAY
TO THE LAKE.
NOW, A CENTURY AGO,
THIS DID NOT LOOK
AS WE SEE IT TODAY.
WELL,
UP UNTIL THE CIVIL WAR,
THIS LAND
WAS CONTINUOUSLY
BEING CLEARED
FOR AGRICULTURE.
AND IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
A CHECKERBOARD
OF SOME FOREST
BUT MOSTLY FARMS
AT THAT TIME.
BUT SINCE THE CIVIL WAR,
AND ESPECIALLY DURING
THE LAST HUNDRED YEARS,
THIS LAND HAS EITHER
JUST RE-FORESTED NATURALLY
BECAUSE FARMS
WERE ABANDONED,
OR HAS BEEN PLANTED
BACK TO TIMBER AGAIN.
WHAT WAS IT
ABOUT THE CIVIL WAR
THAT MADE
THIS TIPPING POINT?
WELL, THE EARLY SETTLERS
WHO CAME HERE--
THIS BEING THE FIRST
STOPPING-OFF POINT
AFTER GETTING OFF
THE BOAT--
CLEARED THE LAND
FOR FARMS.
BUT WHEN
THEY WENT TO WAR,
THEY FOUND THE MORE
FERTILE LANDS TO THE WEST,
PARTICULARLY
IN THE MIDWEST,
AND MANY OF THEM ABANDONED
THEIR FARMLANDS HERE.
THIS IS VERY ROCKY SOIL.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO FARM.
WHEREAS THE RICH SOILS
OF THE MIDWEST
WERE MUCH BETTER.
AND SO A LOT
OF THESE FARMS
WERE ABANDONED,
AND IT JUST CAME
BACK TO TREES AGAIN.
OK. AND, SO,
IN A WAY, AGRICULTURE
IS THE BIGGEST ENEMY
OF THE NATURAL FOREST.
WELL, THERE'S JUST
NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
WORLDWIDE,
90% OF DEFORESTATION
IS SIMPLY CAUSED
BY PEOPLE
CLEARING THE FOREST AWAY
TO GROW FOOD.
AND IN
THE TROPICAL COUNTRIES
WHERE POPULATIONS
ARE ARISING,
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM
WITH DEFORESTATION.
THANKFULLY, WE DON'T
HAVE THAT PROBLEM
IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE FOREST TODAY
IS ABOUT THE SAME AREA
AS IT WAS 100 YEARS AGO,
AND THERE'S 25% MORE
TREES IN THE FORESTS
OF THE U.S. TODAY
THAN THERE WAS
JUST 40 YEARS AGO.
THE FORESTS
ARE GROWING AND ABUNDANT
IN BOTH THE UNITED STATES
AND CANADA.
AND EVEN THOUGH WE'RE
THE HIGHEST USERS OF WOOD
IN THE WORLD
ON A PER-CAPITA BASIS,
OUR FORESTS ARE HEALTHY
AND ABUNDANT,
WHICH TELLS YOU
THAT CONTRARY TO
THE POPULAR BELIEF
THAT BY USING WOOD
WE CAUSE THE FOREST
TO BE LOST,
IN FACT,
WHEN WE BUY WOOD,
WE'RE SENDING
A SIGNAL FOR PEOPLE
TO PLANT MORE TREES.
THE MORE WOOD WE USE,
THE MORE FORESTS ARE GROWN
TO SUPPLY THAT WOOD,
WHICH IS WHY THERE
IS SO MUCH FORESTED LAND
REMAINING
IN THE U.S. TODAY.
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE
THAT YOU'VE GOT
A KIND OF A HARVESTING
OPERATION GOING ON,
AND YET, WE'RE WALKING
THROUGH WHAT LOOKS LIKE
THE FOREST PRIMEVAL
HERE.
IT'S NOT PLANTED
IN A ROW OR ANYTHING.
THERE'S BIG TREES
MIXED WITH LITTLE TREES.
WELL, BOB,
THIS IS A CLASSIC CASE
OF SELECTIVE LOGGING.
IN THIS KIND OF FOREST,
WHICH IS MIXED HARDWOOD
AND CONIFER,
MAINLY THE WHITE PINE,
THE BEST WAY
TO MANAGE IT
MOST EFFICIENTLY
AND ECOLOGICALLY
IS TO JUST TAKE
SOME OF THE TREES.
SO EVERY 25 YEARS OR SO,
YOU COME IN AND REMOVE
SOME OF ALL THE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF TREES,
EXCEPT IN THE SPECIAL
ECOLOGICALLY-SENSITIVE SPOTS
WHERE YOU DON'T
TOUCH IT AT ALL.
BUT BY AND LARGE,
THIS FOREST IS MANAGED
ON A TOTAL
SELECTION HARVEST.
SO THERE'S
ALWAYS A FOREST HERE.
THERE'S NEVER
A TIME WHEN IT'S
NOT COVERED IN TREES.
BUT YOU'RE SAYING
100 YEARS AGO,
THIS WAS PASTURELAND
OR FARMLAND, RIGHT?
THAT'S RIGHT.
WHEN SETTLERS
ABANDONED THIS LAND,
WHICH THEY CLEARED
WITH THE SWEAT
OF THEIR BROW,
IT JUST NATURALLY GREW
BACK UP INTO TREES AGAIN.
SO, THIS IS WHAT
IT LOOKED LIKE,
YOU SUPPOSE?
IT LOOKED
A LOT LIKE THIS
IN THE OLD TIMES,
EXCEPT THE WHITE PINES
WERE PROBABLY A LOT BIGGER.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN
QUITE MAJESTIC
YEAH, YEAH.
IN NATURE.
AND, ACTUALLY,
THEY'RE MANAGING IT NOW
TO BRING BACK
THAT CHARACTERISTIC,
TO BRING BACK
SOME BIGGER WHITE PINES
AND LEAVE SOME OF
THE TREES IN THE LANDSCAPE
TO GROW
THROUGH GENERATIONS.
THE BLUE MARKS
ON THE TREES
MEANS YOU'RE
GONNA HARVEST THOSE?
THAT'S RIGHT,
BUT THEN THIS ONE
HERE'S GONNA BE LEFT,
AND SO'S THAT ONE
UP THERE.
AND THOSE'LL
GET A CHANCE TO GROW
ANOTHER 25 YEARS AT LEAST,
AND THE NEXT TIME
THEY COME IN,
THEY MIGHT LEAVE
ONE OF THEM AGAIN.
AND THEY'LL GET
EVEN BIGGER.
WELL, LET'S TALK
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT
THE PHILOSOPHY INVOLVED
IN GROWING HERE,
AND LET'S SAY HELLO
TO...
PETER McKINLEY HERE.
HE'S THE STAFF ECOLOGIST
WITH HANCOCK.
SO, IT'S INTERESTING
THAT A FORESTRY COMPANY
WOULD BE HIRING
AN ECOLOGIST.
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU DO?
I LOOK FOR
ECOLOGICALLY-SENSITIVE
AREAS LIKE THIS.
THIS IS
A FROG-BREEDING HABITAT.
A FROG-BREEDING HABITAT.
WHAT DOES
THAT HAVE TO DO
WITH HARVESTING LUMBER?
WE WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE
MANAGERS FOR THE LAND,
AND HANCOCK LAND COMPANY
HAS HIRED ME
TO MAKE SURE
THAT WE TAKE CARE
OF THE NON-COMMODITY
VALUES, TOO,
SUCH AS YELLOW-SPOTTED
SALAMANDERS
AND WOOD FROGS THAT NEED
TO BREED HERE EVERY SPRING.
AND THE FOREST
SURROUNDING IT
IS JUST AS IMPORTANT
AS THIS POOL,
WHICH IS DRYING OUT
BUT WAS WET BACK IN APRIL.
THIS IS A VERNAL POOL,
WHICH MEANS
THAT IN THE SPRING
THERE'S WATER HERE.
IT'S A HABITAT
FOR HATCHING LITTLE
TADPOLES AND WHATNOT.
EXACTLY.
IT'S AN INTERESTING STORY.
THEY DO NOT
GET EATEN BY FISH
BECAUSE THERE ARE NO FISH
THAT CAN LIVE IN A POOL
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.
A POOL THAT DRIES OUT,
SURE.
WE'VE GOT VERNAL POOLS,
WE HAVE STREAMS
FOR FLY-FISHING,
WE HAVE WILD ORCHIDS,
AND THOSE ARE SOME
OF THE EXAMPLES
OF OTHER AREAS
THAT WE
TAKE SPECIAL CARE
TO MANAGE AROUND.
WE'RE IN A BUFFER ZONE
RIGHT NOW.
BUT RIGHT AROUND ME
I HEAR THE BUZZ
OF THE MACHINERY
EVERYWHERE.
WHAT'S GOING ON?
THEY'RE RIGHT NEARBY.
WELL, AS YOU SAW
A MOMENT AGO,
WE HAVE TREES
PAINTED WITH BLUE PAINT
MARKED FOR HARVEST.
ISN'T IT TOUGH
TO HARVEST ONE
WHEN IT'S SURROUNDED
BY ALL THESE LITTLE
SAPLINGS AND STUFF?
WELL, THAT'S
WHY WE HIRE CREWS WITH--
IT'S CALLED
A FELLER BUNCHER,
AND IT'S ACTUALLY
ABLE TO REACH IN
WITH A HYDRAULIC ARM,
GRAB THE TREE,
PULL IT OUT,
AND LAY IT DOWN.
SO YOU DO MINIMAL DAMAGE
TO THE ACTUAL AREA
WHERE YOU'RE PLUCKING
THESE OUT OF.
WE DO.
WHAT'S THIS MONSTER
COMING DOWN THE LANE NOW?
I THINK WE HAVE
A SKIDDER PULLING
A HITCH OUT RIGHT NOW.
THE FELLER BUNCHER
HAS HARVESTED THE WOOD.
YOU CAN BRING
A SKIDDER THROUGH HERE
WITHOUT DAMAGING,
OR DO YOU HAVE
A SPECIAL TRAIL?
WE HAVE
A SPECIAL TRAIL.
WE FLAGGED OUT A TRAIL
RIGHT OVER THERE.
WE'RE CAREFUL
NOT TO STIR UP
OR DISTURB THE SOIL.
HE'S BRINGING THAT HITCH
TO THE AREA WE CALL
THE LANDING.
THE LANDING IS WHERE
THE WOOD IS PROCESSED,
LOADED ON TRUCKS,
AND TAKEN TO THE MILL.
Patrick:
NOW, YOU'LL NOTICE
TO PROTECT THE SOIL
THEY'VE LAID DOWN
BRANCHES AND TOPS
FROM THE TREES
THAT ARE BEING HARVESTED,
AND THESE
GREAT BIG WHEELS
ARE ACTUALLY
QUITE LOW-IMPACT.
AND SO YOU DON'T
DAMAGE THE SOIL AT ALL.
YOU'LL BE
GROWING NEW TREES
RIGHT ON THAT TRAIL
IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.
WE HARVEST
THROUGH ALL SPECIES
AND ALL AGE CLASSES,
SO WE MAINTAIN
WHAT WE CONSIDER
A GOOD APPROXIMATION
OF THE NATIVE FOREST
IN THIS LANDSCAPE.
Vila: MATT HANCOCK
AND HIS FAMILY
HAVE BEEN LUMBERING
IN THESE PARTS
SINCE 1840, MATT?
1848, YES.
THAT'S A WONDERFUL
FAMILY HISTORY.
NOW, HERE WE ARE
VISITING A PART
OF YOUR LANDS
THAT WAS--
WELL, WHEN WAS THIS
HARVESTED LAST?
LAST YEAR.
JUST LAST YEAR.
SO IN A YEAR,
THERE'S BEEN
SOME CHANGE,
BUT THE FIRST
QUESTION IS,
WHY'D YOU
DECIDE TO LEAVE
SOME OF THESE
BIG WHITE PINES
STANDING?
WHY NOT
HARVEST THEM?
WELL, ANY TIMBER COMPANY
CAN HAVE GREAT
ECONOMIC GAIN
IN ANY YEAR
IT CHOOSES TO DO SO,
BUT FROM A SUSTAINABILITY
PERSPECTIVE,
WE'RE LOOKING
TO SUSTAIN OUR ECONOMY
WITHIN AND ACROSS
GENERATIONS.
THESE TREES THAT
WE'VE LEFT BEHIND HERE
ARE THE NEXT GENERATION
AND THE FATHERING
OF THE NEXT GENERATION.
AND, PATRICK, WHAT'S
ALL THIS BEHIND YOU
THAT'S COMING UP?
WELL, I SEE, MATT,
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF
BALSAM FIR BACK HERE.
IS THAT A TREE YOU'RE
TRYING TO GROW
FOR ECONOMICS?
THE BALSAM FIR IS
A COMPONENT OF THE SOIL,
SO THAT'S PART OF
WHAT'S GONNA COME BACK.
THERE IS
SOME ECONOMIC VALUE,
BUT IN ESSENCE, PART
OF THE IMMEDIATE VALUE
IS THE SHADE COVER
IT'S GONNA CREATE
FOR THE NEXT GENERATION
OF PINE THAT'S COMING
BACK HERE NATURALLY.
SO THE WHITE PINE
IS THE MAIN THING
THAT WE'RE
INTERESTED IN
IN THESE PARTS,
'CAUSE IT'S THE MAIN
LUMBER PRODUCT
THAT'S USED FOR
CONSTRUCTION, RIGHT?
WHITE PINE AND RED OAK,
OUR 2 MOST VALUABLE
COMPONENTS,
IS WHAT YOU'LL FIND HERE.
IS THAT WHAT
WE'VE GOT HERE?
YES.
HOW DO WE USE
THE RED OAK?
THE HIGHER-GRADE RED OAK
WILL GROW
INTO A VENEER PRODUCT
THAT WILL BE USED
FOR PEELERS,
AND THEN
THE NEXT PRODUCT DOWN
WILL BE USED
BOTH TO SAW LOGS
AND ALSO INTO PALETTE.
SO, THIS OAK HERE'D
BE LIKE 2 GENERATIONS
DOWN, WILL IT?
IT'LL BE GROWING FOR
ANOTHER 30-40 YEARS HERE.
THIS'LL BE MY GRANDKIDS THAT
WILL GET THIS ONE, NOT ME.
THAT'S A GREAT WAY
TO LOOK AT IT.
NOW, HOW LONG WILL YOU
LEAVE THIS ALONE?
WE'LL BE BACK IN
HERE IN THE NEXT
15-20 YEARS,
DEPENDING ON HOW
THE STAND RECOVERS
FROM THE HARVEST
LAST YEAR.
AND AS I--
THESE THINGS NOW,
THINGS HAVE
REALLY COME WELL.
AND I--IN THE NEXT
15-20 YEARS,
WE'LL BE BACK.
Vila: NOW, THIS
HAS NOT BEEN CUT
IN ABOUT A DOZEN YEARS,
YOU'RE SAYING?
Hancock: RIGHT.
LAST TIME WE WERE
IN HERE WAS 12 YEARS AGO.
BUT SOME OF THESE
TALL WHITE PINES
LOOK LIKE THEY'RE
READY TO GO TOMORROW.
WELL, THEY'LL BE AROUND
FOR ANOTHER FEW YEARS,
AND WITHIN
THE NEXT 6 OR 7 YEARS
WE'LL BE IN
AND TAKE ABOUT
HALF OF THE CANOPY OFF
ON THE TALL
EASTERN WHITE PINES.
SO, ON THE WHOLE,
IT'LL BE ALMOST
A 20-YEAR GAP
BETWEEN CUTTINGS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
INTERESTING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
ISN'T THIS
THE BEST SYSTEM
IMAGINABLE?
BOB, THIS STYLE
OF FORESTRY IS
A TOTAL WIN-WIN.
FIRST OFF, THE LAND
REMAINS FORESTED
CONTINUOUSLY
FOR WILDLIFE
AND BIODIVERSITY.
MM-HMM.
THE LOGGING
PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT
FOR LOCAL PEOPLE
AND RECREATION.
THEY CAN HAVE
HORSEBACK RIDING,
FLY-FISHING, HIKING,
AND ALL OTHER
FORMS OF RECREATION
IN THIS FOREST.
SO, YOU DO KEEP
EVERYTHING EVEN THOUGH
IT'S PRIVATELY HELD.
YOU KEEP IT OPEN
TO THE PUBLIC?
ABSOLUTELY,
AND THAT'S PART
OF THE MAKEUP
OF THE STATE OF MAINE
IS THE DEPENDENCE
ON THE NATURAL RESOURCE
COMMUNITY.
BETWEEN FARMING,
FISHING, AND FORESTRY.
NOW, WHY WOULD SOMEBODY
BUILD A STONE WALL
IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE WOODS?
THIS IS ACTUALLY
OLD PASTURELAND.
AND YOU CAN TELL THAT
BY THE MAKEUP OF THE STONE.
IF IT WERE
AGRICULTURAL LAND
THAT HAD BEEN TILLED,
YOU WOULD FIND
A FINER MAKEUP--
SMALL STONES
IN THE WALL.
BUT HERE
IT WAS JUST PASTURE,
SO THEY ONLY CLEARED
THE BIG ROCKS
AND USED THEM
FOR A STONE WALL.
THAT'S RIGHT.
HOW INTERESTING.
YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW
EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU, MATT.
THANK YOU, BOB.
THANK YOU, PATRICK.
THANKS, BOB.
NEXT, HOWARD BRICKMAN
WILL BE SANDING AND FINISHING
OLD GROWTH
WIDE PINE FLOORING.
STICK AROUND.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'LL BE SPENDING MOST
OF OUR TIME ON THE FLOOR
AT OUR CENTER-ENTRY
COLONIAL PROJECT.
HOWARD BRICKMAN WILL BE HERE
TO SHOW US THE PROCESS
OF SANDING AND FINISHING
OLD GROWTH OAK FLOORS.
HE'LL ALSO PUT
A FINISH ON SOME HEIRLOOM
PINE FLOORS AS WELL.
THEN WE'LL TAKE YOU
TO CASCO, MAINE,
WHERE WE'LL LEARN
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY.
HERE, TREES
ARE SELECTIVELY HARVESTED
WHILE THE FOREST HABITAT
IS MAINTAINED
FOR WILDLIFE
AND RECREATION.
SO DON'T MISS IT.
THAT'S NEXT TIME
ON HOME AGAIN.
NEXT TIME ON...
WE'RE SANDING
AND FINISHING OAK FLOORS
AND LEARNING ABOUT
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY IN MAINE.
DON'T MISS IT.
THE FLOORING
THAT I'M WALKING ON
HAS ALREADY HAD A COAT
OF A TUNG OIL BASED FINISH.
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL OLD-GROWTH
EASTERN WHITE PINE.
SOME OF THESE BOARDS ARE
AS MUCH AS ABOUT 20 INCHES,
AND IT'S FROM CARLISLE.
BUT IN THE NEXT ROOM,
WE'VE GOT HOWARD BRICKMAN,
WHO IS ABOUT TO START
PUTTING THE FINISH
ON THE REST OF THE FLOOR.
HOWARD, HOW MUCH SANDING
IS REQUIRED HERE?
IT'S PRETTY MINIMAL WITH
THIS PARTICULAR MATERIAL
BECAUSE THE MILLING
IS SO GOOD
THERE'S VERY LITTLE
OVER WOOD TO TAKE OFF.
THAT'S THE SECRET--
THE QUALITY
OF THE MILL WORK
IS REALLY SUPERB.
WHAT KIND OF SANDING GRIT
DO YOU NEED TO USE HERE?
WE USE A 60-GRIT PAPER
TO DO OUR FIRST CUT
WITH.
AND WITH THIS MACHINE
YOU BASICALLY JUST
LAY THIS DOWN.
LAY IT DOWN, AND THEN
THE ABRASIVE PAD
GRABS THE SAND--
IT'S ACTUALLY
A SAND-SCREEN MATERIAL.
OK.
AND IT RUNS IT
UNDER THE MACHINE.
AND THIS VACUUMS
AS IT GOES ALONG?
VACUUMS
AS IT GOES ALONG.
IT'S A RANDOM
ORBITAL MOTION,
UNLIKE A POLISHER,
SO IT ACTUALLY IS LIKE
A BIG DUAL-ACTION
HAND SANDER.
ONLY WE GET TO WORK
STANDING UP.
FABULOUS.
LET'S WATCH.
Vila: NOW,
WHAT KIND OF A FINISH
ARE WE PUTTING
ON THE FLOOR?
THIS IS AN OLD-STYLE
TUNG-OIL VARNISH.
THE ORIGINAL FORMULA
MADE IN 1916, I BELIEVE.
OH, REALLY?
AND, SO, IT POURS OUT
RELATIVELY
LOOSE AND CLEAR?
YEAH, IT'S A PRETTY
LOW-VISCOSITY FINISH.
OH, THAT'S NICE.
IT'S GOT THAT NICE
AMBER TONE TO IT.
IT SURE DOES.
AND THEN YOUR APPLICATOR
IS NOT A LAMB'S WOOL PRODUCT.
WHAT IS IT?
THIS IS JUST A LITTLE
SYNTHETIC FOAM PAD
WITH FUZZ ON THE FACE,
SO IT ALLOWS ME
TO CUT IN
AND DO THE BODY
OF THE FLOOR
AT THE SAME TIME.
OK, YOU'RE GONNA GET STARTED,
WE'RE GONNA WATCH YOU,
BUT IT'LL TAKE
HOW MANY--2 OR 3 COATS?
ACTUALLY,
THIS IS A 4-COAT SYSTEM.
4 COATS.
2 COATS OF SEALER,
AND THEN
WE PUT 2 SATIN ON TOP.
AND THEN YOU GOTTA WAIT
LIKE A DAY IN-BETWEEN COATS?
A DAY PER COAT.
ALL RIGHT.
SEE YOU LATER, HOWARD.
WHEN WE COME BACK,
HOWARD BRICKMAN
WILL APPLY
THE FINISH COAT
TO THE OAK FLOORING
IN THE SUNROOM.
Vila:
BOY, THAT IS GORGEOUS,
AND IT DOESN'T EVEN
HAVE A FINISH ON IT YET.
NOW, HOWARD,
WHAT ARE THE STEPS
THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH
AFTER THE BIG MACHINE?
WE RUN THE CORNERS
WITH A HAND SCRAPER,
WE PUT THE PALM SANDER
AROUND ALL OF THE PERIMETER
TO BLEND
THE SANDING MARKS OUT,
AND THEN WE USE
A FLOOR POLISHER
WITH A SCREEN DISC ON IT
AND MATCH UP ALL
THE GRIT MARKS
SO THAT EVERYTHING
IS VERY UNIFORM
AND SCRATCH--
AND THEN
WE VACUUM THE HECK
OUT OF THE WHOLE THING.
MAKE SURE
IT'S VERY CLEAN.
AND, ONCE AGAIN,
WE'RE JUST GONNA BE
POURING SOME TUNG OIL.
I'LL LET YOU DO IT.
GOT IT?
Vila: SO JUST
THE SPONGE APPLICATOR
TO CUT IN.
AND WILL THE TUNG OIL
BE JUST A ONE-COAT
APPLICATION,
OR 2 OR 3 COATS?
IT'S ACTUALLY 2 COATS
OF THE SEALER OR PRIMER COAT,
AND THEN WE'RE GONNA
PUT 2 COATS OF SATIN
ON TOP OF THAT.
OK.
PUT SOME--OK, THAT'S
THE LAST OF THAT CAN.
HOWARD, THAT LOOKS GREAT!
AND WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
COME HOME AGAIN NEXT WEEK.
WE'LL BE STENCILING
THE DINING ROOM,
AND WE'LL VISIT WINTERTHUR
IN THE BRANDYWINE VALLEY
TO SEE SOME ANTIQUE
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE.
TILL THEN, I'M BOB VILA.
IT'S GOOD
TO HAVE YOU HOME AGAIN.
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Additional Bob Vila Showrooms• Radiantec - Radiantec: radiant floor and solar heat & hot water systems
• FloorMall.com - Hardwood Flooring and Area Rugs
• Bellawood - Prefinished Hardwood Floors
• Chadsworth's - Columns, Pillars, Pilasters & Balustrades
• Circle Redmont - Glass floors & stairs made simply beautiful
• CertaPro Painters - America's Most Referred Painter
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 | Carpentry, Construction & Materials
• Hancock Lumber (Casco, ME) - Lumber
Floors, Stairs & Elevators
• Carlisle Restoration Lumber - Oak flooring
• Howard Brickman Consulting (Norwell, MA) - Flooring Installation
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