[dokuhaku]

We visited the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. If you are ever in the area, stop in for a dose of near-forgotten history.
While you are at it, check out the floorcovering! The material appears to be the ends of 2x4s. Millions of them! It was installed 8 years ago(?) and it looks great. One employee said, "it doesn't get waxed, but it does get oiled." I didn't understand, but perhaps someone here can explain. I found one edge exposed and it appears to be solid, about 9/16" thick +/-, though I could not be sure.
Who has seen this before?

 

[mrghm]

its end grain parquetry,

used in factory's / industrial applications,

very hard on sand paper when sanding.

 

[Pearce Services]

They did that on one of Bob Vila's shows once, they used a mix of sawdust and wood glue to grout the joints.

 

[Mike Costello]

So you go to a museum and all we get to see a picture of the floor?

Freak

 

[genecarp]

Nice look, i have seen it once before, here is a link...

http://www.ashcreekimages.com/Home_and_Garden/End-Grain-Fir-Wood-Block-Flooring.html

 

[Bud Cline]

All the shop floors at my high school had that type of floor three hundred years ago.

 

[dokuhaku]

...very hard on sand paper when sanding.

I bet it is. I wonder how often it would need re-sanding in a standard residential setting with moderate traffic. hmmm....

 

[dokuhaku]

They did that on one of Bob Vila's shows once...

Good info, Kevin. I will research his archives. Thank you very much.

 

[dokuhaku]

So you go to a museum and all we get to see a picture of the floor?

Freak

HAHAA! I was lucky to get that much. Officially, photography is forbidden in that museum. I had to find an vacant area of the exhibit in which to capture these covert images. I guess they don't want anyone muscling in on their 'history documentation' gig.
Also, it is hard to argue your assessment that I am a freak. Or, as I like to say, "A few planks short of a full box." :laughing:

 

[dokuhaku]

Nice look, i have seen it once before, here is a link...

http://www.ashcreekimages.com/Home_and_Garden/End-Grain-Fir-Wood-Block-Flooring.html

Awesome, Gene. Thanks for the link.:thumbup:

 

[dokuhaku]

All the shop floors at my high school had that type of floor three hundred years ago.

Nice. Do you recall how thick it was? Doubtful you would recall such trivial information 3 centuries later. :laughing:

 

[Bud Cline]

Believe it or not I do sorta recall the thickness. I was a Vocational Electric Shop Major at the time and we frequently had assignments to install lathes and saws and drill presses and stuff.

I can remember the blocks being about 1-1/2" to 2" thick. They were on a concrete substrate and not adhered to the substrate. There was some type of very thick liquid material (possibly a rich varnish) used to pour and trowel over the blocks that would settle between them and harden. The wood shop guys did that part.

 

[Mike Costello]

yep its a by product of our trade. I always look down when going into a building

 

[dokuhaku]

Believe it or not I do sorta recall the thickness. I was a Vocational Electric Shop Major at the time and we frequently had assignments to install lathes and saws and drill presses and stuff.

I can remember the blocks being about 1-1/2" to 2" thick. They were on a concrete substrate and not adhered to the substrate. There was some type of very thick liquid material (possibly a rich varnish) used to pour and trowel over the blocks that would settle between them and harden. The wood shop guys did that part.

Cool! Wow, that thick. And floating, no less. Very interesting.
Well, I am too curious to let it alone. I contacted this company and asked them to send me info and samples.
:detective:

 

[Bud Cline]

I don't see what they are specing for a grouting product.

 

[genecarp]

Cool! Wow, that thick. And floating, no less. Very interesting.
Well, I am too curious to let it alone. I contacted this company and asked them to send me info and samples.
:detective:

Funny, i did the same thing.....:thumbsup:, they already emailed me a catalogue

 

[Floordude]

End block flooring, has been around for ages. It is very expensive and very labor intensive, but it will take a beating, because of the strength in th fiber orientation. I have seen wood flour, and urethane used as a joint filler. There is also have rounds. Saw a bathroom floor where it was done with all different sizes of round ends, and urethaned. Very unique floor.

 

[PrecisionFloors]

Very cool topic, thanks for sharing :thumbsup:


I'm a freak too....you have no idea how many times the wife and I have been watching a movie and she's into the plot saying "did you see that thing do that other thing..blah, blah, blah" and I'm like "Did you SEE THAT FLOOR".....and she's like :sad: :no: :laughing: "Freak"

:whistling:laughing:

 

[dokuhaku]

Freak to freak

...the wife and I have been watching ...and I'm like "Did you SEE THAT FLOOR"...

I completely understand! :thumbup::laughing:

 

[Cdat]

http://www.elmwoodreclaimedtimber.com/wood.aspx?pgID=874
http://www.timelesstimber.com/Contractor/index.php?content=end+grain+block
http://www.endgrainfloors.com/
http://www.kaswell.com/
http://searchwarp.com/swa147690.htm
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/hard-flooring/end-grain-wood-floors-by-kaswell-055631

Becoming more and more popular. We have a movie theater decked out in this stuff. It's a little too busy for me.