How Does a Floor Sander Work?

Sanders

Wood sanders use moving pieces of sandpaper to refinish wood. Electrically powered sanders evenly grind and finish a variety of wood floor types, including stained, finished and unfinished floors. Heavy duty sanders may also be used on concretes, plastics and metals. Variations in the coarseness of the abrasive used, paired with varying sanding actions and pressures, lead to endless possibilities in finishes.

The Abrasive

The sandpaper used by your sander as an abrasive can be divided into several categories--based on the amount of sand per square inch on the paper. Coarse varieties of sandpaper grind away paint and original finishes. Coarse paper is excellent for the initial sanding process--the heavy grains clear the bulk of the work. Medium papers ready hardwood floors for staining and finishing, while light papers are used for glossy finishes. Extra light paper removes light scratches.

Sanding Action

Belt sanders grind away wood using a belt of sandpaper. They work well on heavy-duty jobs. Powered by a motor and a series of pulleys, the belt revolves at high speeds.

Drum sanders use the pressure of the drum to grind away just about any surface you'll encounter in your home. Sandpaper is attached to the spinning drum for heavy grinding--because of the weight, these devices require skill for operation.

Orbital sanders use pulleys and a drive belt to move a square or rectangular shaped piece of sandpaper in an circular motion. The circular motion of orbital sander works well for light jobs.

Disc sanders use sandpaper attached to a head that runs parallel or perpendicular to the motor. The heavy pressure and direct motion--which can follow a grain, unlike orbital and drum models--works well on metals, woods, plastics and concrete.

Edgers often use a vibrating action to reach corners and edges that may be missed by larger sanders.

Resources

• Sandpaper Selection Chart

[thebestintown]

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