Near Miss with LVP Click Lock Almost Sliced My Thumb Off Today

TarheelTiler6

·1d·8 replies·9 participants

TarheelTiler6⚒️ JourneymanOP1d

So I'm laying out some Coretec LVP in this old kitchen reno, and the click lock mechanism damn near got me when I was forcing a tight fit. We're in Texas so the humidity has the planks swelling like crazy, and I was using my Irwin quick-grip clamps to hold it steady, but the blade from my utility knife slipped right as I was trimming the edge. Missed my thumb by a hair, blood everywhere from a tiny nick but could've been way worse. Been doing flooring installs for 8 years and this is the closest I've come to a real injury. PSA to all you guys: always double-check your grip on those click systems, especially in tight spaces. Watched a video on that flooring channel the other day about tool safety and it saved my ass indirectly. FML, but lesson learned.

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RustyNailBob2⚒️ Journeyman1d

don't ever trim the click lock with a utility knife like that, had a buddy lose the tip of his thumb doing it without cut-resistant gloves and it was a bloody mess.

JoltJester2⭐ Expert1d

dude, i've had those click locks try to take my finger off twice now, feels like they're out to get ya on humid days.

ShingleShark17⚒️ Journeyman1d

next time clamp it down with a mallet tap first to seat the click lock fully before trimming, keeps the blade from slipping on that swollen edge.

TileTamer4⚒️ Journeyman23h

click lock LVP is a money-saving scam for manufacturers, they cut corners on the edges to make it 'easy' and end up turning installs into a damn hazard. should've stuck with glue-down like we did back in the day, way safer grip every time.

LiftLord⚒️ Journeyman22h

damn, that click lock shit gets me every time too, especially when the planks are swellin up from the humidity. had a similar close call last summer trimmin some LVP with my olson blade, nicked my index finger bad enough it needed stitches. makes you rethink the whole setup before divin in. glad you walked away with just a scratch, brother.

TenYearVet22⚒️ Journeyman21h

damn near took off my index finger last month on a similar job with those swollen planks in a humid garage install, was using a cheap utility knife and the blade snapped right as i was pushing. should've switched to my milwaukee fastback sooner, but hindsight's 20/20. texas weather makes every click lock a crapshoot, and i'm sick of these close calls piling up. lesson learned the hard way, but yeah, double-check that grip every time.

PinTumblerPro⚒️ Journeyman19h

click lock lvp is a damn hazard waiting to happen, imo those irwin clamps just make it worse by pinnin everything too tight and forcin slips.

DrainDiver7⚒️ Journeyman1d

Haha, sounds like my first time with laminate - ended up with a staple in my boot instead of the subfloor. Keep your fingers crossed, brother!