Just realized why I keep failing at tucking carpet on stairs

For three years I always used a stair tool to tuck carpet into corners, but kept getting loose edges. Last month I watched a guy in Spokane use a straight chisel instead, and it grabbed the carpet way tighter in the knee space. I tried it on a full set of 13 stairs last week and not a single edge popped. Anyone else switch tools for the tight spots?

3 comments

3 Comments

wren23010d ago

Wait, isn't a stair tool basically just a chisel with a notch in it?

charles_baker2810d ago

Huh, I think people are missing the real point here. A stair tool isn't just a chisel with a notch. The handle is shorter and shaped differently, which matters a lot when you're working in tight spaces between stringers. Plus the blade angle is ground specifically so you can slide it under carpet without gouging the subfloor underneath. A regular chisel will wreck plywood or particle board if you lean into it wrong. So yeah, in a pinch you can use a chisel, but you're trading precision for convenience. After doing this work for twenty plus years, I'd say the stair tool saves you time on cleanup and repairs, even if it costs a few dollars more.

emma9610d ago

Guess a three year mistake just means you were committed to doing it the hard way, huh? I mean who knew a chisel would work better than the thing literally named after the job you're trying to do. Glad the carpet gods smiled on you in Spokane though.