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Old installer told me my kicker technique was wrong. He was right.
Been installing for about 8 years and always used a short, jerky motion on the knee kicker. Last month I was working with a guy who's been at it since the 80s. He watched me for a minute and said I was fighting the tool instead of using it. He showed me to use a longer, smooth push starting from my hip instead of just my knee. Cut my time on a 12x15 bedroom by 25 minutes. Has anyone else had an old timer correct something basic that you thought you had figured out?
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dianahayes22h ago
Read in a flooring trade magazine once that the best kickers have a little bounce to them, not a slam.
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kevin_west19h agoMost Upvoted
My buddy Mike installs tile for a living and he says the same thing - it's all about feel and control, not just brute force. That got me thinking about how people open jars, too. You see someone just yank the lid and it strips, but the person who gives it a little torque and a quick pop gets it off every time. It's like that old saying about the nail and the hammer - the right amount of bounce gets the job done way better than just slamming it.
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