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My 15th year in and I'm still using a knee kicker for tight spots
Honestly, I know everyone's all about power stretchers now, and I get it, they're fast. But I just hit a job count of 2,500 installs last week and I still pull out my old Roberts knee kicker for closets and weird angles. I had a condo in Tempe last month with a tiny bathroom, maybe 5x8, and the doorway was offset. A power stretcher wouldn't even fit in the room. One good kick with the old tool and the carpet locked right into the tack strip, perfect tension. People act like it's ancient tech, but for me, it's about control in tight spaces. I'm not saying ditch the power tools, but maybe don't write off the basics. Has anyone else found a place for a knee kicker in their kit lately, or am I just being stubborn?
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amy_west1mo ago
My buddy saved a hallway job last week with his old kicker after his power stretcher broke.
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angelaw781mo ago
My uncle ran a shop in Mesa for 40 years and swore by his kicker for closets. He said a power stretcher is for the field, but the kicker is for the finish work. I still keep one in the van for exactly those tight bathroom jobs.
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Totally get keeping that kicker around. Your uncle had the right idea about using the right tool for tight spaces. That finish work really does make all the difference.
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