Hardwood Floors April May 2018

pitch industry-related business ideas to a team of wood flooring gurus onstage during the “Opening Splash” Session.

mobile app. The winner will be announced during the “Final Dive” Session. The Grand Prize winner will receive a customized package of NWFA Marketing and Education Products and Services valued at more than $15,000. Read on to meet our finalists.

Following the presentations, Expo attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite finalist via the Expo

C ONTESTANT #2

Nail Assassin is a semi-heavy, robust, and accurate tool. It is a huge time saver, and most importantly, this tool will cause the oor’s surface less damage than a traditional nail set would, leaving a more uniform and visually appealing oor. Typical nails used are hand-forged nails or steel-cut nails. Many of these have decorative nail heads that add accent and authenticity to the wood oor. Typically, the nails need to be set at least 1/8” below the surface, and a hammer and nail set is used to countersink the nails. Issues that commonly occur when installing, sanding, and nishing wide plank oors include: Nai l Assassin Business Idea: JACOB SHELDRICK | Sheldrick’s Hardwood Flooring

• sanding o the head of the nail to a shiny surface; • damaging the oor from the movement of a traditional nail set/hammer marks; • re hazardous sparks around dust;

• damaging the sandpaper being used; • having to stop sanding to set a nail; and

• having the wrong size nail set and hi ing ngers/knuckles when using the traditional handheld nail set that has been around since the early 1900s.

How did you come up with the idea? e story began in November 2008 when a client called me about dust free re nishing for his reclaimed wide plank yellow pine oors while having a local contractor install them. During the estimate, the customer showed me a 25 lb. nail box full of Tremont’s decorative wrought head black oxide cut nails. With a smile, of course, he proceeded to give me a history lesson on the nails. It was very interesting, and he was very proud of them. We agreed to have the contractor set the nails before I came in to re nish the oors; however, this task was not completed. I realized this when I took my rst pass with my oor sander and shaved multiple heads o and had sparks ying. Due to the shape of the nail heads, at a glance, they appeared to be set. e customer wanted to have this job completed for anksgiving, so I proceeded to set the nails for eight hours as the holiday was less than a week away. During these eight hours, there were a few nails that were very stubborn, so I drilled a hole in a piece of 3/4” plate steel with padding strips underneath to avoid damage. e hole was the same size as my red nail set. So when I hit the nail set with my 4 lb. sledgehammer, all of the force set the stubborn nail without damaging the antique oor’s surface and saved me time. I have used this method multiple times and have evolved this idea into the Nail Assassin.