Hardwood Floors June/July 2026

By Terry Patton | NWFA HARDWOOD HINTS

Scrapers

Like most of us in the flooring trade, I’ve got my favorite scraper – the one I always keep in my bag. Over the years, I’ve learned that when it comes to getting through a sand and finish job, one scraper just isn’t enough. I like to show up with a handful of scrapers already sharpened and ready to go. It saves time, plain and simple. Instead of stopping to sharpen in the middle of the job, you can just grab another and keep moving. It also helps avoid dropping metal shavings onto the floor while you’re trying to clean up corners, toe kicks, and tight spots. It sets the tone for the crew. When there are extra tools ready, no one’s standing around waiting, and it gives newer pros a chance to stay in the flow and learn good habits. So, keep your go-to scraper close. But when it comes to a production job, make sure you’ve got a whole bucket of them ready to go. It makes the day run smoother.

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

WATCH IT! See Terry Patton discuss this topic in a video on NWFA’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

VIEW MORE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF NWFA

78 hardwood floors hardwoodfloorsmag.com