Floor Coverings - Ahh Yeah!

[mrtr33]

Go nuts. Go with cork.

[CoventryCat86]

Go nuts. Go with cork.

Cork is only good for stoppers in wine bottles.

[bmock50]

Copper flooring is ~$1.44 sqft

http://thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com...-flooring.html

[ggiese]

Can't go wrong with carpeting - it evenly covers all kinds of sins.

[badwhale]

Can't go wrong with carpeting - it evenly covers all kinds of sins.

.........

[cinda]

Copper flooring is ~$1.44 sqft

http://thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com...-flooring.html

I was thinking who would do that and target their house for the people looking to cut copper out of your house for a few dollars. Then I though 1.44? what is he talking about? OMG what a kewl idea I like it!

[CoventryCat86]

Copper flooring is ~$1.44 sqft

http://thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com...-flooring.html

Hey dumbass, what about adhesive and finish?

By the way, where are you getting your "$1.44 sqft" number from? Oh, okay 12x12 sqft blocks of pennies, no shit, I had no idea that pennies were a fucking inch in diameter.

I don't know what country you're finding your pennies in but in the USA and Canada they're 3/4" in diameter which means you need at least 256 (16x16) of them to cover a square foot, not 144 which is $2.56 sqft (your price almost doubled, didn't it?) and like I said, that still doesn't include adhesive and whatever expensive epoxy you plan on sealing/covering it with.

Of course it's also highly illegal to use currency like this in the United States, check "TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 17, 331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins" of the US Code and see what can happen to one's sorry ass if they get caught.

[heftysmokes]

Maybe he's just squishing them, like those souvenir penny machines?


Actually, this got me curious and a little digging turned up this:

As you are already aware, a federal statute in the criminal code of the United States (18 U.S.C. 331), indeed makes it illegal if one "fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales or lightens" any U.S. coin. However, being a criminal statute, a fraudulent intent is required for violation. Thus, the mere act of compressing coins into souvenirs is not illegal, without other factors being present.

Section 475, which you refer to in your letter, regarding the attachment of notice or advertisement to legal tender, does not apply to your souvenirs in this case. Your are not impressing or attaching a business or professional card, notice or advertisement to a coin, your are simply making an impression on the coin.

We hope this information answers your question. If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Kenneth B. Gubin
Counsel to the Mint.

I actually did, on the vanity in the kids' bathroom, the same thing they did on the floor. And if they did theirs like I did my vanity, they didn't "alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales or lightens" the pennies. They are encased, but not destroyed in any way. I suppose if I was really in a bind for a 12 pack I could dig out the $17 worth of pennies.

[craig]

I realize news travels slowly to Cape Breton , but Canada is stopping production of the penny - which is only a few percent copper these days.

You *could* do a floor made of cigar bands ... (and urethane)

[CoventryCat86]

Maybe he's just squishing them, like those souvenir penny machines?


Actually, this got me curious and a little digging turned up this:

As you are already aware, a federal statute in the criminal code of the United States (18 U.S.C. 331), indeed makes it illegal if one "fraudulently alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales or lightens" any U.S. coin. However, being a criminal statute, a fraudulent intent is required for violation. Thus, the mere act of compressing coins into souvenirs is not illegal, without other factors being present.

Section 475, which you refer to in your letter, regarding the attachment of notice or advertisement to legal tender, does not apply to your souvenirs in this case. Your are not impressing or attaching a business or professional card, notice or advertisement to a coin, your are simply making an impression on the coin.

We hope this information answers your question. If we can be of any further assistance, please contact us.

Sincerely,

Kenneth B. Gubin
Counsel to the Mint.

I actually did, on the vanity in the kids' bathroom, the same thing they did on the floor. And if they did theirs like I did my vanity, they didn't "alters, defaces, mutilates, impairs, diminishes, falsifies, scales or lightens" the pennies. They are encased, but not destroyed in any way. I suppose if I was really in a bind for a 12 pack I could dig out the $17 worth of pennies.

That's a very strange interpretation of the US Code and I don't believe it to be correct. This Gubin guy is saying that "fraudulently" applies to everything after it meaning:

"fraudulently alters"
"fraudulently defaces"
"fraudulently mutilates"
"fraudulently impair"
etc.,

which is bullshit.

The way the code reads is:

"fraudulently alters"
"defaces"
"mutilates"
"impairs"
"diminishes"
etc.,

so it certainly can be interpreted to mean that making impressions on coins or using them as flooring material is in violation of the code. Anyone can use that Gubin guy's letter as justification for violating the code but it's going to cost you lost of money in attorney fees if someone decides they want to make a "federal case" out of it.

As for me, I'll pass and as I said earlier regarding using pennies as a floor covering material, it's not very cost effective never mind looking like crap.

[heftysmokes]

Ya, what the fuck does this Gubin guy know anyway, he's only legal counsel to the United States mint.
http://www.usmint.gov/consumer/?action=policy

[ggiese]

Hey dumbass, what about adhesive and finish?

By the way, where are you getting your "$1.44 sqft" number from? Oh, okay 12x12 sqft blocks of pennies, no shit, I had no idea that pennies were a fucking inch in diameter.

I don't know what country you're finding your pennies in but in the USA and Canada they're 3/4" in diameter which means you need at least 256 (16x16) of them to cover a square foot, not 144 which is $2.56 sqft (your price almost doubled, didn't it?) and like I said, that still doesn't include adhesive and whatever expensive epoxy you plan on sealing/covering it with.

Of course it's also highly illegal to use currency like this in the United States, check "TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 17, 331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins" of the US Code and see what can happen to one's sorry ass if they get caught.

Bill - hate to say it, but on one DIY channel "Bath Crashers" episode they used pennies to create a "unique" section of a bathroom floor. I suppose they would be subject to TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 17, 331 of the USC, however I believe the federal government is apparently more focused on other violations at this time since I've not seen the shows producers being carted away in handcuffs...

Just sayin'....

[CoventryCat86]

Bill - hate to say it, but on one DIY channel "Bath Crashers" episode they used pennies to create a "unique" section of a bathroom floor. I suppose they would be subject to TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 17, 331 of the USC, however I believe the federal government is apparently more focused on other violations at this time since I've not seen the shows producers being carted away in handcuffs...

Just sayin'....

Trading with the Enemy Act (buying Cuban cigars) is illegal too but you're right the federal government is apparently more focused on other violations at this time since I've not seen anyone being carted away in handcuffs for buying Cuban cigars but just because you and I haven't seen this happen doesn't mean that it can't. I drove 85 mph down Route 2 in Glastonbury & Hebron yesterday for twenty minutes and I didn't get a speeding ticket either. I also threw a gum wrapper out of the window.

Just sayin'....

[cinda]

I drove 85 mph down Route 2 in Glastonbury & Hebron yesterday for twenty minutes and I didn't get a speeding ticket either. I also threw a gum wrapper out of the window.

Citizens arrest!!!!!!!!! Citizens arrest!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hey kitty if you send me a large pizza I will forget this all happened.

[badwhale]

Hey dumbass, what about adhesive and finish?

By the way, where are you getting your "$1.44 sqft" number from? Oh, okay 12x12 sqft blocks of pennies, no shit, I had no idea that pennies were a fucking inch in diameter.

I don't know what country you're finding your pennies in but in the USA and Canada they're 3/4" in diameter which means you need at least 256 (16x16) of them to cover a square foot, not 144 which is $2.56 sqft (your price almost doubled, didn't it?) and like I said, that still doesn't include adhesive and whatever expensive epoxy you plan on sealing/covering it with.

Of course it's also highly illegal to use currency like this in the United States, check "TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 17, 331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins" of the US Code and see what can happen to one's sorry ass if they get caught.

Costwise, this is still on par with other flooring prices. I'm doing some eng. hardwood that's $3 finished. Add labor, you're probably up around $4. Unfinished will get you to about $4, while reconditioning, you'll be at around $3 - $3.50

I'll leave the opinion of if it looks like shit or not to the individual.

[CoventryCat86]

Costwise, this is still on par with other flooring prices. I'm doing some eng. hardwood that's $3 finished. Add labor, you're probably up around $4. Unfinished will get you to about $4, while reconditioning, you'll be at around $3 - $3.50

I'll leave the opinion of if it looks like shit or not to the individual.

"Finishing" hardwood and "finishing" this stupid coin floor idea are two completely different methods. You don't just put a couple of coats of polyurethane over the coins and call it a day, you'll need to use some kind of expensive epoxy bar type finish like those used by people on bar tops and that stuff ain't cheap. Besides that, it won't stand up for use on a floor and will look like crap after a couple of weeks of use. You also have an added cost of some type of sub-floor material on which to attach the coins.

So this is NOT "on par" with other flooring prices.

[ashauler]

"Finishing" hardwood and "finishing" this stupid coin floor idea are two completely different methods. You don't just put a couple of coats of polyurethane over the coins and call it a day, you'll need to use some kind of expensive epoxy bar type finish like those used by people on bar tops and that stuff ain't cheap. Besides that, it won't stand up for use on a floor and will look like crap after a couple of weeks of use. You also have an added cost of some type of sub-floor material on which to attach the coins.

So this is NOT "on par" with other flooring prices.

Huh? That makes no sense. A floor is a floor is a floor.....Marble costs more than concrete. Who gives a fuck if they require "different methods". Cost is cost.

[badwhale]

"Finishing" hardwood and "finishing" this stupid coin floor idea are two completely different methods. You don't just put a couple of coats of polyurethane over the coins and call it a day, you'll need to use some kind of expensive epoxy bar type finish like those used by people on bar tops and that stuff ain't cheap. Besides that, it won't stand up for use on a floor and will look like crap after a couple of weeks of use. You also have an added cost of some type of sub-floor material on which to attach the coins.

So this is NOT "on par" with other flooring prices.

Yes it is. I think "on-par" could go up to $5/SF and still be a vaild statement. There are domestic and exotic hardwood floors that exceed that SF prcie. If it tripled the SF price, then no.

You can't count sub-floor. Any floor needs a proper sub-floor.

[bmock50]

Hey dumbass, what about adhesive and finish?

By the way, where are you getting your "$1.44 sqft" number from? Oh, okay 12x12 sqft blocks of pennies, no shit, I had no idea that pennies were a fucking inch in diameter.

I don't know what country you're finding your pennies in but in the USA and Canada they're 3/4" in diameter which means you need at least 256 (16x16) of them to cover a square foot, not 144 which is $2.56 sqft (your price almost doubled, didn't it?) and like I said, that still doesn't include adhesive and whatever expensive epoxy you plan on sealing/covering it with.

Of course it's also highly illegal to use currency like this in the United States, check "TITLE 18, PART I, CHAPTER 17, 331. Mutilation, diminution, and falsification of coins" of the US Code and see what can happen to one's sorry ass if they get caught.

Hey dumbass, see the squiggly line? That means its an APPROXIMATION.

[bmock50]

Wassa matter, cat got your tongue?

I had to read all your chatter!

I think bmock posted up that blog as kind of a "hey this is cool, check this out" rather than a serious alternative for a kitchen floor. Kinda like cork and carpet were also mentioned. Who the hell has carpet in their kitchen?

Exactly, it's not practical, but in some uses it would be cool.