What Kind of Sander Is Used to Sand Hardwood Floors?

Beech, oak and teak are three hardwoods used for flooring.

There are many kinds of sanders used to sand hardwood floors, including drum sanders, hand sanders, edge sanders, orbital sanders and belt sanders. However, the critical difference between all of them, with respect to this potentially laborious job, is ease of use. In other words, how you hold them and the position you adopt when using them.

Palm Sanders

As the name suggests, you hold a palm sander in the palm of your hand, guiding it lightly from place to place, and allowing the sandpaper to do the work. Many of them use a quarter-sheet of sandpaper. You wouldn't use a palm sander to sand the whole of a hardwood floor, but it is invaluable for sanding bits that you can't get at with other kinds of sanders, especially around the edges. On a floor, you would kneel or crouch to use a palm sander.

Hand Sanders

You usually use two hands on a hand sander. Some have a looped belt of sandpaper, running between two rollers and others use a third flat sheet. You hold a hand sander at the top or back with one hand, and on the hand support at the front with the other hand. You push it along, but generally don't push it down, allowing the sandpaper to do the work. Using a hand sander on a hardwood floor, you will be on your knees a lot, so you might want to invest in a pair of knee pads.

Sander With Side Handle

Some rotary sanders have a side handle to give you more control. A rotary sander is one that spins a circle of sandpaper. You place the sander parallel to the hardwood floor, holding the body with one hand and the side handle with the other. Rotary sanders can sometimes gouge circles into the wood if you apply too much pressure. You can remove the handle on some sanders, to give the tool more clearance.

Standing Machines

Standing sanding machines are available as belt sanders, drum sanders, random orbital sanders and disc sanders (See Reference 1). The two main advantages of using a standing machine are a more comfortable, standing position, and a faster rate of work on account of the larger sanding surface. In some cases, this is 12 by 18 inches, which is considerably more than that of a typical hand sander. Standing machines tend to be noisier, however, and produce more dust, so it makes sense to use ear defenders and a dust extraction system.

References

• IVIE: Hardwood Floor Sanders, Parts and Abrasives