Using old 3/4 in strips oak and cherry

HI everyone:
I got a great gift. My parents neighbor riped up their oak and cherry wood floors and replaced them. I savaged a lot of the floor and want to use it on an expanded room with old oak wood floors I am constructing, the match is prefect. My question is that when you are using old wood strip that have some damage to the tongue or grove does that exclude them from being used even tho the surface is fine. Any technical advice would be appreciated.

My second question: Is manual nail equipment really that hard to use and does everyone really recomend the new compressor heavy duty nail guns.
This site has been of immeasurable use
Thank-you
Kevin

 

As long as you have some tongue, you can install the floors. Most folks rent a nail gun.

For installation info and the technical manual from the National Oak Flooring Manufacturer's Association:

http://www.installingwoodfloors.com/