leej52•14d ago

Heard a young guy at the supply house say he only uses a knee kicker now

I was picking up a roll of padding in Tacoma last Tuesday and heard a new installer, couldn't have been more than 25, tell the counter guy he'd never used a power stretcher. Said his boss told him a knee kicker was 'good enough for most jobs.' It really took me back. I remember when I started in the late 90s, my first boss made me practice with a power stretcher for a week before I even touched a real job. He'd say, 'A tight carpet is a happy carpet, and a kicker won't get you there.' That tool, and taking the time to use it right, was just a basic part of the job. It makes me wonder if the rush to get jobs done fast is pushing out some of the craft. Has anyone else seen this shift away from power stretching, or is it just a local thing?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_jenny14d ago

Knee kickers get the job done faster.

julia_lee1d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly Jenny, how much time are we really talking about here? I've seen guys save maybe ten minutes on a whole room with a kicker, but then you're crawling around on the floor all day. Is that little bit of speed worth the ache later?

the_tyler14d ago

Have you ever tried a power stretcher? They give a tighter finish and are way easier on your knees in the long run.