Today, I used a tool for the first time that I wish I had discovered many years ago.
It’s called a BoWrench and is used to apply pressure when installing deck boards. Here is the web site of the company that makes the tool: http://www.cepcotool.com/bowrench/
In the past, I usually did this by driving an old screwdriver into the joist behind the board then leveraging the board with that screwdriver. It usually worked but was time consuming and messy.
One simply hooks the BoWrench around a joist then pushes the deck board into position, as is shown below:
Bowrench pushing deck board -small.JPG
I couldn't believe the leverage you get with it –and with very little time spent and no damage to the joist!
Here is a picture of me applying pressure to a board with one hand on the handle of the BoWrench while screwing the board with a drill in the other hand:
Frank using the bowrench to persuade deck boards (05-25) -1 -small.JPG
Then one loosens the BoWrench from the joist by tapping it with a hammer, as per the following picture:
Bowrench being loosened with the tap of a hammer -small.JPG
The instructions also tell one how to pull with the tool, but I have not tried that operation yet.