How to Use an Orbital Floor Sander
Before you can refinish a hardwood floor, the old finish must come off.. The most effective way to do this is with a drum sander, which basically is a very large version of a belt sander. But sometimes that's overkill, especially for an old floor that may have been sanded before. If you're worried that a drum sander will take off too much of the wood surface or gouge the floor, try an orbital floor sander. It uses a group of round sanding discs that vibrate in a small circular motion, making the stripping process slower but less destructive. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Hammer
- Pry bar
- Nail set
- Vacuum
- Sandpaper discs, 36, 60, 80 and 120 grits
Instructions
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1
Remove the floor trim throughout the room, using your hammer and pry bar. Remove it carefully, avoiding breakage, so you can reinstall it after you refinish the floor.
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2
Go over the whole floor, looking for any raised nailheads that will tear the sandpaper. Sink them into the wood with your hammer and nail set.
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3
Vacuum the floor thoroughly.
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4
Set up your random orbital floor sander with the 36-grit sanding discs, the roughest level. Set the machine near the wall that's farthest from the doorway and turn it on. Guide the sander back and forth, following the direction of the floorboards and keeping it moving. Move the machine at medium speed so it grinds off the top layer of floor finish and starts to grind into the wood.
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5
Vacuum up the dust. Reload your sander with the next heaviest level of sanding discs -- 60 grit. Sand in the same manner as before. Vacuum up the dust.
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Repeat the process twice more, first with the 80-grit sanding discs, then with the 120-grit discs. After the final sanding, the floor will be free of all finish, and the bare wood should be smooth and ready for refinishing.
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Tips & Warnings
Wear a paper dust mask when sanding, and ventilate the room.
