STAIRS - LARGE SANDING PROJECT. HIRE OR BUY EQUIPMENT

[QfanatiQ]

Ok, I am due to undertake a large project on the stairs. Currently these are stained/varnished wood, some natural hardwood.

Looking around the house, I can’t see any other sanding jobs that can’t be done by my gop or hand electric sander.

As the stairs are so much bigger I wonder
1. Is it worth hiring a large scale professional tool
2. Is there anything I might be overlooking
3. Is it a legitmate excuse to buy another tool (after all I AM MAN)

The end project is seeing these
1. closed at the back (open tred)
2. Low voltage lights put in the sides (see other post (LINK TO BE ADDED WHEN DONE))
3. Painted White
4. At the back of the stair, this will be tongue and groove boarded and also provide space for wires

Any pointers, advice, or previous experience on this type of job greatly recived.

Q

 

[foxhole]

Doubt you will have room for anything bigger than a small belt sander on stairs.
Simpler/quicker and cleaner to burn off paint with heat gun.

 

[QfanatiQ]

They are stained/varnished. I want to get rid of this to paint them.

Q

 

[foxhole]

You can rub down and paint, no need to remove varnish.

 

[QfanatiQ]

You can rub down and paint, no need to remove varnish.

I thought a varnish/stain just wont let paint key in well?

So I don't need to go down to unfinished wood? Would I need to put a decent primer down beforehand?

If thats the case, it might take longer, but I coudl just use my current tool and spend money saved on multiple sanding pads!

Q

 

[foxhole]

Decent primer and paint, should be quicker as removing would take days of hard graft.

 

[QfanatiQ]

Thats some very good news. Now, do I tell the wife!

Q