Brian Milnes

latch hook rug

How Do You Bind a Latch Hook Rug?

Bond’s customer service representatives often about how to finish off or bind a carpet project. For many types of rugs, including ones made from carpet remnants, the answer can be, “Use Instabind.” For the question of how to bind a latch hook rug, it’s a little more complicated. There are at least two methods for binding a latch hook rug, and we will go over them here. 

Making a latch hook rug is an easy and fun project that even young children can enjoy. There are many types of beautiful rugs. Designing and hooking a latch hook rug is a good introduction to the art of rug making for all ages. When the hooking part of the project is finished, then it’s time to bind it to make sure it looks neat. 

The Hand Sewn Method of Binding a Latch Hook Rug

One way to bind a latch hook rug is to hand sew the edges. To do this you will need scissors, a tapestry needle, and yarn or strong thread as well as the latch hook project itself. 

Typically, latch hook projects will leave about an inch of unhooked space around the edges. To bind the rug, fold this inch of rug canvas down along the back of the rug. Then thread the tapestry needle with the yarn or strong thread and, using a whip stitch, sew the folded rug canvas to the back of the project at the edges. When you reach the corners of the project, you will want to cut out the small square of rug canvas where the edges overlap and keep stitching. When you have stitched all four sides of your rug, break your thread or yarn and knot it tightly. 

Because the yarn on latch hook rugs is long and often shaggy, the edges will be hidden by the length of the yarn. If you use the hand sewn method, the yarn will remain the visual focal point, but the project will not look as neat as if you bound it with binding tape.

Binding a Latch Hook Rug with Binding Tape

If you want your latch hook rug to look more finished and neat, you can bind it with binding tape. To do this, trim the edges of the finished rug. Leave space on the canvas two complete grid squares deep. This will be about a half an inch of canvas, and you will use it to attach the binding. 

Choose a binding tape that matches the rug. Press the edge of the tape as close to the edge of the finished rug as you can and pin it to one side of the canvas. Then, using a sewing machine, sew the binding tape to the canvas. Use a new strip of binding tape for each side of the rug, and sew each of them in place. 

The next step is to take the unsewn edges of the binding tape and pin them to the bottom of the rug. This will hide the edges of the canvas grid. From here you will hand sew them in place using an overcast stitch. When you have sewn all four edges, make a tight knot, and voilà, you’re done!

With the binding of your latch hook rug complete, you can use it either as a floor covering or a wall hanging. If you intend to use it as a regular rug, you may want to browse Bond’s selection of rug backing products. These include products that protect your flooring from scratches as well as one that keep rugs in place to prevent slipping accidents. 

Enjoy your beautiful latch hook rug! 

 

 

 

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hygge

What Is a Hygge Rug?

In the past couple of years when people have spent more time at home, the concepts of nesting, coziness, and mindfulness have become more popular. When winter comes, these seem all the more compelling. The Danes have a word for this: hygge. Let’s take a look at what it means. 

What Is Hygge? 

The Danish concept of hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”), refers to finding comfort, pleasure, and warmth in simple, soothing things like drinking coffee before a warm fire, snuggling under a soft blanket, putting on soft socks, or spending time pursuing simple pleasures with friends and family. In fact, this is not just a Danish concept. Other Scandinavian cultures like Norway and Sweden also have come up with many practical ways to emotionally and physically sustain themselves through their long, cold, dark winters. 

What Is a Hygge Rug?

There is no specific hygge rug, but there are plenty of different kinds of rugs that can be used to make a room feel like a warmer and cozier place to be. Rugs have that transformative character. They can make a cold, tiled room feel softer and more inviting. They can add artistic interest to any space. If you’re looking to create a hygge atmosphere in your home, here are several types of rugs that work well for this purpose: 

Wool Rugs 

Wool, because it’s animal fleece, is perfect for keeping out both cold and damp. It both looks and feels warm, acts as a natural insulator, and even helps to control allergies. There are so many wonderful kinds of wool rugs that you may have difficulty choosing between antique Persian rugs and wool contemporary ones. Take your time and choose well – wool rugs last a long, long time. 

Shag Rugs

The long, long strands of shag rugs feel like they are hugging your feet when you walk on them barefoot or in your fleece socks. Shag rugs were a design phenomenon in the 1960s, but now they can be used in a variety of settings to create a funky, hygge mood.

High Pile

Besides shag, there are many other types of high-pile rug choices that will give you the same soft, buoyant feel when you walk or sit on them. Is it a rug or a place to take a winter nap? You decide. 

Handmade Rugs

Braided rugs, hooked rugs, hand-woven rugs…all of these are fiber art that add a cozy, personal touch to a room. Hygge is all about feeling comfortable and content. Homemade art like quilts and knit throws go well with handmade rugs for a layered aesthetic. Bonus points for adding plenty of color, because winter days can be very gray.

If you want to create a hygge feel in your home, remember that hygge is not a specific style, it’s a mindset. If the rug you choose helps you to relax and lower your stress level, it’s a hygge rug. 

For all your rug and carpet needs, remember to call Bond Products at 1-888-800-BOND. We can help you find what you need to bind, serge, or replace your worn out carpet bindings and fringes. 

 

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used carpet binding equipment

Quality Used Carpet Binding Equipment

News commentators and economists have been discussing the possibility of the R wordrecession – for some months now. As with any recession, it’s always good for a company to take a hard look at what is working and what can be added or changed to become more profitable and efficient. Investing in equipment to increase product or service offerings can be useful. Right now Bond Products has a number of quality reconditioned used or refurbished carpet binders for sale. If you want to expand your business and are looking for a more affordable way to do it, take a look at our used carpet binding equipment. 

New Strategies for Success 

While economic downturns are never fun for businesses, they can be weathered if companies look for ways to trim and transform themselves. Adding another skill to your business’s portfolio by purchasing a carpet binder or serger can increase income for your flooring business. Customers will typically pay $7-12 per linear foot to add wide tapestry borders to carpets and rugs. 

With training, skill, and the right carpet binding equipment, you can create attractive, fully finished rugs ranging from functional to art either on location or on site. This is a simple and straightforward way to expand your customer base.

Quality Used Carpet Binding Equipment

Bond Products offers both new equipment and quality reconditioned used or refurbished equipment to our customers. If you have not yet checked out our clearance outlet page, what are you waiting for? The right machine may be waiting, and we include a 60-day warranty with every used machine we sell. 

Our used equipment inventory changes all of the time, so if you don’t see what you need right now, keep checking back. You never know what kind of great deal may be available. 

As always, if you have any questions about which type of equipment would be best to invest in, call our customer service professionals at 1-888-800-BOND today. Whether you’re interested in new or used carpet binding equipment, we will be happy to help you make the perfect choice for your business. 


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glue gun safety

Glue Gun Safety

As with any other tool, it’s important to remember best safety practices when you use your glue gun to adhere objects together. In this blog we will go over some advice on glue gun safety so you do not have to worry when you use yours for work jobs or hobby crafts

Glue Gun Risks

Glue guns are designed for a number of uses and by people of all ages. There are even glue guns for children. This is possible because both the guns and hot-melt adhesive glue are generally safe to use. Poor quality glue guns can pose a safety risk, like the Crafter’s Square glue gun recalled by Dollar Tree earlier this year. It’s worth the extra money to purchase a high quality glue gun that you can use without worry

The tip of the glue gun can get very hot, and the glue in its molten state can also burn skin, so injury is possible. However, by taking the right safety measures, these risks can be avoided.

Glue Gun Safety

  • Most hot glue gun injuries are burns to the fingers and hands. To avoid burns, use your glue gun carefully along with protective safety gear like gloves, long-sleeved shirts, and safety glasses. The hot glue can also damage surfaces like tables, so using a drip mat is advised. 
  • Before you plug in your glue gun, check to see if there is any damage to the casing or fraying of the cord. Keep it away from flammable materials, and use it in a clean, dry, well-ventilated work environment. 
  • Only run your glue gun at the recommended temperature which is designed to avoid overheating the glue and creating toxic vapors. 
  • Do not lay a hot glue gun on its side or tilt a hot glue gun upward. Use the safety stand to keep it upright when you are not using it. 
  • Do not leave a hot glue gun unattended for the same reason. This is a fire hazard. Unplug it if you are not using it right away. It doesn’t take long for a glue gun to heat up, and it’s not worth risking a fire for convenience if you need to step away from your task..
  • To remove the nozzle, unplug the glue gun and allow it to cool down until warm, but not cold. Do not touch the warm nozzle without protective gloves. 
  • If you get hot glue on your skin or in your eyes, rinse or submerge the area in cold water immediately. Do not try to remove the melted glue from the skin as it might open a deeper wound. Seek medical attention if serious injury has resulted. 

A high quality glue gun used in the correct way is a great tool for flooring, woodworking, decorative crafts, household repairs, and more. Safety first is always the way to go, though. If you have any questions about the right glue gun for your project, call Bond Products at 1-888-800-BOND. Our customer service representatives will be happy to help you find what you need. 

 

  

 

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slip-and-fall accidents

Avoid Slip-and-Fall Accidents – Secure Your Rugs!

In our last blog we talked about how to keep an area rug from creeping on carpet. A bigger problem in the home, however, is rugs slipping on wood floors or other hard surfaces. It’s a safety issue because a slip-and-fall accident can result in an injury. How can you stop your area rugs from slipping out from underneath you when you walk on them? 

Slip-and-Fall Accidents Are a Common Cause of Injury

Everyone has had a slip-and-fall accident at least once, but more than a million Americans every year go to the emergency room because of an injury sustained during a slip-and-fall accident. This is a real problem. Slip and falls cause serious injury in 20-30% of cases. About 5 percent involve broken bones. Falls are the leading cause of brain injury and hip fracture, and one-third of adults age 65 or older fall annually. 

Of course, not all of those slip-and-fall accidents involve rugs, but every one involving an unsecured rug is preventable if you use the right products. Bond Products offers a variety of rug backing products for our customers to choose from

Anti-Slip Products

The first type of anti-slip product is safety grips. Safety grips are squares that can be peeled and applied to the back of an area rug to help it grip the floor and prevent slipping. 

MOVENOT and SUPERMOVENOT rubber backing products are two-sided backing products. Both have a felt side and a rubber side. You can glue either to the underside of a rug. If you glue the gray felt side down, it will act to protect the floor from scratching. Gluing the rubber side down stops the rug from slipping on the floor or out of position and protects people from slipping and falling. 

Another products is LOK-LIFT Rug Gripper which can be cut into strips and attached to the outline of the rug on its underside to keep it from moving. LOK-LIFT is safe for all floor surfaces. 

We also offer two non-slip rug pad products, Eco-Grip and Eco-Stay. These rug pads can be purchased to match the dimensions of your rug and cut down to size you need. Rug pads also provide cushioning underneath and make standing or walking on your rug more comfortable. 

Finally, we also offer RUGLOCK Spray which can be sprayed onto the back of an area rug to keep it in place. RUGLOCK is waterproof and spill proof and will adhere to any type of rug. This is the easiest product to use to stop rugs from slipping on any type of hard floor, and it won’t peek out from under the rug like a pad can. 

Put Them to the Test

To make sure your rug product has been applied correctly and is working, lay the rug on the floor where you want it and test it. Push it with your foot, applying pressure and trying to move it forth side to side or back and forth. If the rug doesn’t move, great! You’ve just increased the safety of the room environment. If it does move, check the directions and make sure you’ve applied the backing product correctly. 

Some products will work more successfully with certain floor types. If you have any questions about which product would work best for your rug, don’t hesitate to call Bond Products’ customer service professionals at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be glad to help you choose the right one. 

 

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hammer tackers

Shop Our New Staplers – 2 Hammer Tackers and a Hand-Binding Stapler!

If you’ve been in the market for a good stapler, now is the time to buy! Bond Products has expanded our stapler inventory with three new stapler products. Let’s go through each of your new options. All three staplers make the carpet-installation process quicker and easier to accomplish.

Heavy Duty Hand-Binding Stapler

The SSTGU81 Pro-Drive Heavy Duty Hand-Binding Stapler #81 is a versatile stapler that allows you to staple at any angle. It can be used on a variety of materials, including carpet, fabric, and paper. Loading staples is simple, and our galvanized 24/8 staples work perfectly with this stapler. It features a curved handle that is designed to minimize hand soreness when working with this tool. 

2 Hammer Tackers

Bond now offers two different hammer tackers, also called pad staplers. A tacker is a powerful stapler tool. The difference between a tacker and a stapler is that a tacker shoots the legs of the staple right into the material without bending it. It’s held and swung like a hammer. 

Flooring professionals appreciate how fast hammer tackers work to connect wood and lighter materials like carpet. Gluing and nailing take much longer than stapling. DIYers also like how quick and easy they make an around-the-house job. 

Both of these tackers are constructed from steel, are chrome plated for durability, and feature an ergonomic handle grip for a more comfortable grip.  

The 05-5010 Hammer Tacker is our bottom-loading pad stapler. This makes it quick and easy to reload without losing any parts. The magazine capacity is 168 staples or two strips. It also features a big, round buffer plate. 

The G-11 A-11 ProDrive HD Hammer Tacker is our top-loading pad stapler with a quick clear jam release. Its magazine capacity is 84 staples or one full strip. 

As always, we have all the staples you need for any of these tools! If you have any questions about these staplers, the staples they use, or any of our other flooring products, please call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to find what you need and ship it to you quickly. 

 

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moisture testing

The Importance of Moisture Testing

Water has the power to be extremely destructive. Rain storms and floods bring devastation, but a little bit of water where you don’t want it in your home can also be extremely damaging. If your subfloor has too much moisture when you lay new flooring, the end result will be a mess. Flooring manufacturers understand this very well. If you’re a flooring installer or you want to guarantee the warranty on your flooring will be honored by the manufacturer, moisture testing your subfloor is a must

The Moisture Problem

Different flooring materials react differently if the subfloor is too wet, but what can go wrong? As it turns out, a lot

With tile floors, moisture can break down the adhesive that secures the tiles to the floor. This results in loose tiles and, too often, mildew or mold growth beneath. Laminate and vinyl flooring often “float” above the subfloor, which means moisture cannot damage the adhesive, but it can damage the composition of the flooring or its finish. 

Water is the enemy of hardwood floors. Wood warps, cups, or buckles when exposed to moisture which creates bumpy and often discolored surfaces that have to be replaced. 

Perform Moisture Testing to Protect Your Floors

If you don’t want water damaged flooring, there is a solution. Test for moisture before you install the flooring to make sure the moisture levels are at the level the manufacturer requires. If the subfloor is too wet, it can be dried out using fans or dehumidifiers. 

If the floor is not tested and its moisture level documented, the warranty on the flooring will very likely be nullified. Manufacturers require this because they have had to replace hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of flooring over the years since the EPA restricted the content of organic solvents in flooring adhesives. If you install flooring professionally or want to install your own flooring, you will want to do the job correctly to make sure the warranty will not be voided. Every flooring manufacturer has its own warranty terms with specific conditions that must be met and documented with written verification. 

If you want to successfully install flooring or become an inspector of warranty work, Bond Products now offers two moisture testing products, the Tramex Moisture Meters kits. 

The first kit is the Ultimate Concrete Moisture Test Kit. It measures the moisture content, relative humidity, and dew point of concrete floors and slabs. It contains the following: 

  • Concrete Moisture Encounter X5 -CMEX5
  • Moisture Encounter 5 – ME5
  • Free app available for android and iOS (phone not included)
  • Feedback Datalogger – DL-RHTX
  • 3 x Hygro-i2 Relative Humidity Probe
  • Heavy-duty Pin-type electrode
  • Hammer-action pin-type electrode
  • Infrared Thermometer
  • Calibration Check Salt
  • Hole liners
  • Extension handle

The second kit is a smaller collection of tools, the Compact Concrete Moisture Test Kit. This kit is capable of measuring the relative humidity and moisture content of concrete and wood flooring. It contains: 

  • Concrete Moisture Encounter X5 – CMEX5
  • Free app available for Android and iOS (phone not included)
  • 1 x Hygro-i2 Relative Humidity probe
  • Heavy-duty Pin-type Wood probe
  • Hole liner

If you have questions about which moisture testing kit would work best for your flooring installation needs and budget, call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to talk to you and make a recommendation. Don’t wait until you have a flooring failure, get your moisture testing kit, and start using it on your next job! 

 

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rag rug

The Rag Rug, a Piece of American History

We previously discussed America’s carpet history, but that was the history of commercial carpet making on large looms and, later, low pile looped carpet after nylon was invented. A more everyday carpet – the rag rug – was found in pioneer homes throughout the colonial and Western expansion periods.

The last half of the twentieth century was a period of unprecedented affluence for Americans. Before that time only the very rich could afford to redecorate in the sense that we think of it. People inherited furniture from their family members when they died. People inherited clothes too. This was because when you make something completely from scratch it’s a huge time investment.

Think about how much labor was involved for a housewife to make a wool dress, from the shearing of the sheep to the final stitches. Most people couldn’t go down to a fabric store and buy a bolt of wool to make something that would go on the floor. They couldn’t afford it! When the wool dress or the cotton trousers they wore got too ragged to wear, the fabric they were made of got used again. One way people did this was to make rugs out of the scraps.

Children were very often responsible for sewing narrow scraps of fabric together at the ends and winding them into balls. Sometimes these would be kept until the next rug project, and sometimes the rags were sold to people who produced these carpets for sale. With the invention of the industrial loom, much more fabric of all kinds was produced which resulted in a lowered price for fabric but also far greater scrap fabric availability. Very little was wasted; if it could be used it was, both in the home and to be sold.

There are many different types of rag rugs: woven, braided, coiled, knitted, or crocheted. Hooked rugs using a canvas backing were also common. Cotton scraps of various colors and patterns can be sewn on a machine and then crocheted to create an aesthetically pleasing finished product. From the earliest days of America to the Great Depression to now people became skilled in learning how to making something out of very little. The rag rug is both a historical artifact and a piece of art.

 

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bond machine package deals

Bond Machine Package Deals

If you’re looking to add to your business’s capabilities by purchasing a carpet binding or serging machine this year, have we got a deal for you! Actually, Bond offers 5 deals on our line of portable binders and serging machines. In this blog we will go through everything our package deals include, and we think you will agree that, when it comes to providing what your business needs to get started right out of the box, we’ve got you covered.  

Bond Machine Package Deals

Our line of portable binders makes finishing carpet on site so simple and the results are clean and elegant looking. You will be proud of the work you can produce anywhere for your customers. Our machine package deals center around a combination of carpet binding machine + binding tapes. 

Deal #1 Bond Model PBB-1X Bobbinless 2×2 Binder – For this deal you get: 

  • Bond Model PBB-1X Bobbinless 2×2 Binder AS WELL AS 
  • The top 25 colors of ⅞” veltron binding 
  • Free veltron binding color chart 
  • 1-¼” serge tape folder attachment
  • Folder bracket and guide plate for the second folder
  • The top 5 colors in 1-¼” cotton serge tape
  • Free cotton binding and serge tape chart
  • Box of 100 #25 Needles 
  • #75 Cleartone .012 thread canister (Spare)
  • Bond Spray Lubricant
  • Bond Sewing Softener
  • EZ Duster
  • Size 69 bonded nylon natural / white Tex 70

The value of all the combined extras in Deal #1 is $1,028.50, but we offer them at $875.26 with the total price of everything with the Bond Model PBB-1X Bobbinless machine for $5,926.25. It’s currently on sale for only $5,283.24. 

Deal #2 Bond Model PBB-2X Bobbinless 4X4 Binder – For this deal you get: 

  • Bond Model PBB-2X Bobbinless 4X4 Binder AS WELL AS 
  • The top 25 colors of ⅞” veltron binding 
  • Free veltron binding color chart 
  • 1-¼” serge tape folder attachment
  • Folder bracket and guide plate for the second folder
  • The top 5 colors in 1-¼” cotton serge tape
  • Free cotton binding and serge tape chart
  • Box of 100 #25 Needles 
  • #75 Cleartone .012 thread canister (Spare)
  • Bond Spray Lubricant
  • Bond Sewing Softener
  • EZ Duster
  • 12/4 Tex 135 Glazed Cotton Color Maple thread

The value of all the combined extras in Deal #2 is $1,048.00, but we offer them at $892.81 with the total price of everything with the Bond Model PBB-2X Bobbinless machine for $6,890.75. It’s currently on sale for only $6,151.29. 

Deal #3 Bond Model PBB-1X Bobbinless 2×2 Binder – For this deal you get: 

  • Bond Model PBB-1X Bobbinless 2×2 Binder AS WELL AS 
  • The top 25 colors of 1-¼” veltron binding 
  • Free veltron binding color chart 
  • 1-¼” serge tape folder attachment
  • Folder bracket and guide plate for the second folder
  • The top 5 colors in 1-¼” cotton serge tape
  • Free cotton binding and serge tape chart
  • Box of 100 #25 Needles 
  • #75 Cleartone .012 thread canister (Spare)
  • Bond Spray Lubricant
  • Bond Sewing Softener
  • EZ Duster
  • 12/4 Tex 135 Glazed Cotton Color Chestnut thread

The value of all the combined extras in Deal #3 is $1,176.75, but we offer them at $1,008.69 with the total price of everything with the Bond Model PBB-2X Bobbinless machine for between $6,074.50 – $6,174.50. It’s currently on sale for only $5,416.67 – $5,506.67

Deal #4 Bond Model PBB-2X Bobbinless 4×4 Binder – For this deal you get: 

  • Bond Model PBB-2X Bobbinless 4×4 Binder AS WELL AS
  • The top 25 colors of 1-¼” veltron binding 
  • Free veltron binding color chart 
  • 1-¼” serge tape folder attachment
  • Folder bracket and guide plate for the second folder
  • The top 5 colors in 1-¼” cotton serge tape
  • Free cotton binding and serge tape chart
  • Box of 100 #25 Needles 
  • #75 Cleartone .012 thread canister (Spare)
  • Bond Spray Lubricant
  • Bond Sewing Softener
  • EZ Duster
  • Size 69 Tex 70 NATURAL / WHITE nylon thread 16 oz spl

The value of all the combined extras in Deal #4 is $1,157.25, but we offer them at $991.14 with the total price of everything with the Bond Model PBB-2X Bobbinless 4×4 machine for $7,000.00. It’s currently on sale for only $6,249.62. 

Deal #5 Bond Alpha Mini Portable Serger -The Bond Alpha Mini- 2000 Portable Serger works great for serging carpet anywhere, producing beautiful carpets and rugs. For this deal you get: 

  • Bond Alpha Mini Portable Serger AS WELL AS 
  • Cotton Serge Yarn TOP 20 colors
  • Free Serge Yarn Color Card
  • Pack of Serger Needles
  • Size 207 Tex 210 Nylon White Thread
  • Size 207 Tex 210 Nylon Black Thread
  • Size 207 Tex 210 Nylon Royal Blue Thread
  • Size 207 Tex 210 Nylon Gray Thread
  • ⅞” Veltron Poly tape Color 315
  • ⅞” Veltron Poly tape Color 975
  • ⅞” Veltron Poly tape Color 990
  • ⅞” Veltron Poly tape Color 995
  • ⅞” Veltron Poly tape Color 324

The regular price of everything in Deal #5 is $7,855.00, but we are offering it to our customers currently at $7,213.97.

If you’re wondering which carpet binding machine would be the right one for your business, we covered that extensively in a previous blog. Please click here for a handy breakdown of the machines we offer and, if you have more questions, call our helpful customer service department at 1-888-800-BOND. We are always happy to assist our customers in finding the carpet and rug products they need. 



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carpet beveler

What Does a Carpet Beveler Do?

Bond Products offers a wide variety of products designed to make carpet installation, rug making and maintenance, and rug binding simpler. One of these tools is the carpet beveler. If you’re wondering what a carpet beveler is and how it works, read on. 

A carpet beveler is similar in function to a rug carver in that it shaves away parts of the carpet, but where a rug carver is used to make designs in the rug, a beveler’s job is simpler. It tapers the edge of the carpet. This is useful because the carpet binding often can’t cover the whole width of the carpet fiber, so trimming it will create a smooth transition from the carpet fibers to the area the binding covers. Thicker carpets will always require beveling before they are bound. Lower-grade commercial carpet will not. 

Two Beveler Options 

Bond offers two different carpet beveler choices to our customers: 

The EW-610 Carpet Shearer/Beveler – This beveler is an affordable, variable-speed,110V tool that makes shearing heavy plush and Berber carpets simple, saving you time on carpet binding or custom border rugs. 

The EW-311 Shearer/Beveler with Speed Control – This 110V, variable-speed beveler is a coarse-cut, handheld tool. It’s used solely on carpets with loose piles and is not intended for use on either loop-pile carpets or Berber carpets. Use the EW-610 beveler to work on those. 

Two products we recommend using with our bevelers are our Bond Sewing Softener, which will soften the hard backs of carpet to make working with them easier, and Bond Spray Lube to keep your beveler’s blades lubricated and in good condition. If you invest in our quality carpet tools, our Spray Lube will help keep them working for you for years. 

With the proper training and the right equipment, you can easily bind beautiful carpets and rugs. Many carpets are functional works of art and should be bound with care and maintained well so they last a lifetime for their owners.

If you need carpet binding tools like bevelers, rug carvers, carpet binders, or others – we’ve got you covered. Call us at 1-888-800-BOND for any assistance you may need in choosing the right tools and products. That’s what we are here for. 



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rug hooking

Have You Ever Thought about Rug Hooking?

Last time we discussed the practical old art of rag rug making. So many of our crafts come from meeting a specific need that people had in living day to day, and over time, as our lives became more affluent and people had access to better resources and materials, craft became art. Today many hooked rug makers are artists using a cloth medium. Let’s explore how this art originated.

It’s easy to understand a need for carpet. Floors are often cold without them, and every hard floor needs a nice area rug. The materials needed for making a hooked rug are rather simple: some kind of hooked tool, rougher woven material for the backing, and pieces of fabric for the face of the rug. This last was often strips of wool from old blankets or discarded clothing. Rug hooking appears to go back in time to at least as early as the third century A.D. when the Copts were practicing it. People in the British Isles also made these sorts of rugs as sort of disposable flooring. They would get too dirty to clean and so new rugs would have to be regularly made for the floor during slower times of the year like the dark days of winter. These rugs were probably quite a lot less artistically made since they didn’t last.

The Artistry of Rug Hooking

American hooked rugs became more decorative and artistic in expression over time. In the new world, people often used burlap sacks for the backing of hooked rugs because it’s what they had lying around. Many edible goods were shipped in burlap sacks, including rice, wheat, flour, sugar, coffee, and livestock feed. This gave the poor a free medium with which to work. Prior to that, they would have had dirt or bare floors in their houses or tenements.

Not only was burlap now available, but fabric scraps were as well. The wool from blankets or clothes was still used, but cloth manufacturing brought down the price of other fabrics as well, particularly for scraps or remnants.

In the nineteenth century, new synthetic dyes were being developed in the laboratory. This meant that a variety of new colors were available for rug hookers to use. These colors created a palette from which to create flowers, trees, and other natural scenes. People and pets were remembered in cloth, and important dates or historical events were recorded. Every house could have a little bit of art now, either on the floor, on the bed, or on the wall.

 If you are near to completing your hooked rug project, Bond Products has a number of binding tapes and equipment available to finish your rug so that it looks neat and beautiful wherever you choose to place it in your home.

 

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braided rug care

Braided Rug Care: How to Clean Your Braided Rug

Braided rugs are a traditional American decorating choice with a great deal of versatility. Adding one to a room makes it both warmer and cozier. They can be hard to clean, however, because they are often made of dense wool, and dirt can get into their braided fibers. In this blog we will discuss braided rug care so that you can keep your rug looking great for many years of use. 

Dealing with Minor Stains 

If your braided rug has a small localized stain, you can spot clean the stain by combining water and white vinegar in equal parts and then soaking the stain. By scrubbing gently either by hand or with a toothbrush, many stains will come out without too much effort. 

Some braided rugs are lightweight and made of cotton. They can be thrown into the washing machine, cleaned on the gentle cycle, and dried in the dryer or left out to dry. Wool rugs are heavy and need special care, however. You can use a wool cleaning product or one of the foam carpet cleaners available on the market. Just make sure that the product you buy is safe for use on wool and carefully follow the instructions on the label. 

When you are done with any localized or spot cleaning, rinse the area with water, vacuum the rug, and allow it to dry completely. You do not want to leave a harsh chemical residue in your rug as it may damage the wool over time. 

More Extensive Braided Rug Care

If you want to get your braided rug really clean, you should take it outside. Wool can often absorb a great deal of dirt without looking dirty, and your vacuum may not be able to get it all out. So once or twice a year, take your braided rug outside and deep clean it. 

First, if the rug is small enough, shake it and beat it with a wooden spoon to get as much dirt out as possible. If the rug is larger, drape it over a fence or a patio railing and use a tennis racket or larger implement and hit it until the dirt stops shaking out. You may be surprised at what comes out. Wool can trap a lot in the spaces between its fibers. 

When you’re done beating it, you can spray it with a hose. Don’t use hot water on wool, as the heat can shrink it. The water will dissolve remaining dirt and pull it out. You may think this might damage the material, but wool is an animal product, sheep fur, so it can survive getting wet just fine. Wool has a natural waviness to it which is why it is a good insulator. It traps air. Unfortunately, it can also trap water in it if you do not fully dry it. 

After you’ve cleaned the carpet, air dry it in the sun. Exposing the rug to the sun and breeze will dry it faster which is important because you do not want the wool surface to grow mold or mildew. If you need to clean your braided rug when the weather is colder or wetter, you can steam clean it as well. Use a fan to help the drying process go more quickly. Wool does take a long time to dry. Turn the rug over and expose the other side to the fan too so the backing doesn’t grow mold. 

With the right care, your beautiful wool area rug can grace the floor of your home for years and years. Many wool rugs last for a century or more and are works of art. If you need rug backing products for your wool rugs or any other carpet products, please call us at Bond Products. We are always happy to help our customers find what they need to make their rugs and carpets look great. 

 

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carpet cutting

What Are Your Carpet Cutting Options?

At Bond Products we offer a wide variety of tools for making carpet installation easier. In order to install new flooring, though, often you have to remove the old. What products are best for carpet cutting beyond your basic utility knife? In this blog we will go through the options, from the affordable, lower-tech products to ones that are more complex and powerful. 

Your Carpet Cutting Options

People automatically think of scissors or shears when they think of cutting, and Bond has them! Our smooth-cut shears are made of sharp stainless steel and versatile, great for rug work and cutting carpet. 

One of the most popular and affordable carpet cutters we have is the needle nose cushion back cutter. It has a point that separates carpet fibers when you push the tool through the pile, splitting the carpet evenly to create a nice, straight cut. Its firm, grippable handle won’t slip in your hand either. 

Our motorized tool, the Bond Model 1925-A Cordless Carpet Cutter is wonderful for cutting through stubborn carpeting, padding, or hair padding on a concrete floor. This portable, cordless cutter sharpens itself with the touch of a button and comes with a rechargeable battery and charger. If you want to save time (and money!) on your carpet jobs, this tool will help. 

The cordless carpet cutter has two optional attachments, a 90-degree wall trimmer and a single-strip cove base cutter, to meet those tougher cutting challenges. We also recommend purchasing a second battery so you never need to pause your project to recharge it. 

If you’re looking for a “big gun” carpet cutting solution, we also offer the Bond #840 Carpet Pattern Cutter (carpet jigsaw). People do not immediately think of using a jigsaw to cut carpet, but this type of tool offers a very accurate cut through two layers at a time. It can also be used to cut leather, polystyrene, or cardboard. Bond’s 110V carpet pattern cutter offers variable speed and a lock-on trigger switch. It can perform 95% of what more expensive scroll saws do for a much smaller investment. This is a portable and lightweight tool that will save you time and money! 

Your Carpet Problems Solved

Our goal at Bond Products is to make every carpet or rug project possible by providing our customers with the tools they need to accomplish them. If you have any questions, our customer service staff would be happy to answer them. Call us at 1-888-800-BOND anytime. We are here to help. 

 

What Are Your Carpet Cutting Options? Read More »

tapping block

Bond’s ProDriveHD Tapping Block Makes Installing Flooring Simple

One of the biggest challenges of floor installation is getting pieces of flooring to fit together correctly. Many flooring professionals use mallets to tap pieces or boards together. Bond’s ProDriveHD® Tapping Block is designed to make this process even simpler. Let’s talk about its features and how it’s used. 

Laminate flooring is designed with interlocking tongue-and-groove ends and edges. These must be connected properly for the finished floor to have a fully smooth, aesthetically pleasing surface. Unfortunately, it can be tricky to make the different pieces mesh correctly.

Flooring professionals often rely on hammers or mallets, used together with a tapping block, to force the different pieces together. The tapping block is necessary because many types of flooring, including laminate, are fairly delicate. Hitting a piece of laminate directly with either a mallet or hammer often results in damaged edges. When you place a tapping block parallel to the piece of flooring, you can tap the block instead. The force transfers through the block to the flooring and forces it into the adjoining piece without damaging its edge. 

The ProDriveHD® Tapping Block 

Our tapping block is made in the USA and ideal for installing vinyl plank, engineered, or solid hardwood flooring without using a mallet. You only need your hands and the tapping block to do the job, allowing for faster work with much less risk of damage to workers or materials.

This tool measures 3.25″ x 15’5″ x 1.5″ and is made of thick black textured HDPE for enhanced durability. It features an extra-long wooden D grip that protects the fingers of the user from crushing. It’s heavy enough at 46 ounces to be able to push the flooring planks together with only one or twice strikes. This tool is ideal for working with longer planks. 

For flooring professionals, our tapping block is a must-have tool. If you have any questions about the ProDriveHD® Tapping Block or any of our other flooring tools, our helpful representatives are happy to talk to you. Call us at 1-888-800-BOND to order all of your flooring products. 

 

Bond’s ProDriveHD Tapping Block Makes Installing Flooring Simple Read More »

curved sewing needle

Uses for Curved Sewing Needles

Bond Products offers several types of needles, both for carpet machinery and also for hand sewing. Most people understand the mechanics of straight needles, but many do not realize how handy curved needles can be for sewing, embroidery, and repair. In this blog we will go over a number of uses for curved sewing needles. 

Tasks for Curved Sewing Needles

Curved needles come in a variety of sizes and thicknesses and are used by crafters, seamstresses, leatherworkers, and of course rugmakers. Here are some tasks that you might use a curved needle to accomplish:

Repairing upholstery or mattresses – Curved needles are sometimes referred to as upholstery needles because upholsterers use them so often. They are great to use to sew or repair any seam that cannot fit through a sewing machine or be flattened. This would include furniture, lampshades, and rugs. Lampshades can be especially challenging to fix because they will be exposed to direct light (which might reveal inexpert stitching) and heat (which can cause glue to break down over time). 

Repairing cushions – It can be almost impossible to repair a cushion or stuffed pillow with a straight needle, but a curved needle makes this an easy task. 

Rug mending and rugmaking – Especially for working with thicker rugs, using a curved needle can make it much easier to push through layers of fabric. Instead of pushing on the eye, you can push the curve so that your fingers and thumbs don’t take all the pressure and get hurt or punctured. It’s simple to repair a rug where it is on the floor with a curved sewing needle. 

Embroidering and hand quilting – Sewing through multiple layers of fabric can be simple and fast with a curved needle. 

Beading – Beads can easily dislodge themselves from a straight needle. A curved one can make them easier to control while you are attaching them to fabric or leather or making jewelry. 

Curved needles are also used in bookbinding, weaving, and even wig making. If you have a challenging sewing situation, using a curved needle might be the solution! In fact, people who struggle with arthritis or frozen joints often find that it’s easier and less painful to handle a curved needle than a straight one. 

Bond’s curved sewing needle is a 3-inch hand sewing needle. It’s a very sturdy product. If you’ve never used a curved needle, don’t fret. There can be a learning curve with this needle, but there are many online tutorials from sewing experts that will help you. Here is one that demonstrates how a curved needle is used in upholstery:

As always, if you have any questions about any tool you need to work with carpet or rugs or any product we carry, don’t hesitate to call us at 1-888-800-BOND. We will be happy to figure out what you need and how we can help you. 

 

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colorful rugs

Carpet Trends 2022: Bright Colorful Rugs

According to the home design website Homes and Gardens, “…carpet is making a comeback in a big – and very stylish – way. Looking into carpet trends 2022, it seems we will be expressing our creativity in bold, imaginative and innovative style.” Bright, colorful rugs are once again appealing to homeowners across the country. Many are designing the look of their favorite rooms from the floor up at this moment in time. 

Carpet Trends 2022 

Trends come and go. What appeals to people right now may seem not nearly as interesting next year and utterly passé by 2025. We’ve blogged about carpet trends before, including the layered rug trend, the carpet runner trend, and the gray carpet trend. All of these trends resulted in arresting home looks even if they are not as popular right now. 

In recent years, the colors people were choosing to design around were neutral like gray and beige. Patterned carpets have been more understated and have often been made of natural fibers like jute and sisal. Now bright, colorful rugs, sometimes wildly patterned, are coming back in style and not just in the bedroom, but in common rooms like the living room as well. Some designers compare adding a heavily patterned rug to a room to adding an arresting piece of art. As we know, many rugs are pieces of fabric art and one of a kind. 

A brightly colored rug can liven up a practical space too, like a hall or laundry room. No one expects the laundry room to contain a design surprise, so it can be a visual treat for anyone who wanders in or has to stay awhile doing chores. Kitchens, dining rooms, foyers, even bathrooms, can all benefit from a striking design piece on the floor.

“A heavily patterned design is a bold decision, but if you love it, go for it.”

We always recommend that people choose their rugs for function and look. Go with what makes you happy and fits your family’s needs. It’s fun to follow design trends, but most people are not interior designers and don’t want to redecorate their homes on a yearly basis. Trends change all the time too and vary by location. Still, it’s fun to incorporate something different into your decor, and one simple way to do that is to switch out your area rug. 

Bond Products has everything you might need to bind, back, or fringe your area rug and the tools necessary to install carpet too. Call us at 1-888-800-BOND for all of your area rug and carpet supplies. Our carpet experts are always ready to help. 

 

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