This issue’s tip comes from Mitchell Canter, owner of Elite Hardwood Floors in Neosho, Mo.
I was in my tool trailer earlier getting an old flat trowel I usually use to wedge down between hardwood flooring and carpet while I am edging to protect the carpet. I happened to glance across a piece of Z-bar sitting on a lower shelf, and it hit me: That would work great to stick down along the edge of the carpet and protect it. It’s perfect because it is long, I won’t have to move it as often, it’s cheap and I won’t be messing up a good flat trowel. Turns out it worked great. On some carpeting you can even put the short side down and it will pull the carpet below the surface of the wood you are sanding so there is about a 3⁄16 gap and you can very easily edge without hitting even the metal. Just be cautious, however, as the metal can have sharp edges.