flooring help please

[essexsi]

Good evening. Sorry for the long post.

I have just taken up the carpets in my sisters house and there are good condition pine tongue and groove boards in hall way, dining and living rooms . Now money is very tight for her at the moment so I am helping as much as I can.

The boards are in good and what seems like original condition. There are just alot of paint splashes all over. I hand sanded one with fine sand paper and although it took ages the finish was very good.

Now the question!! Which sander would help the most in this situation. I think a hired drum sander is overkill and perhaps a random orbital or palm sander would surfice. Any advice. Many thanks. Si

 

[Roofer]

IMO the drum floor sander is too 'vicious' and it is very easy to end up with high and low points.

I have had very successful results using an edging sander together with a finishing sander

Mark 1 Hire in Sth Essex are competitively priced

 

[essexsi]

Thanks for the reply and taking the time for the very useful links roofer. I now know what the machines look like!!

I take it that by its name the finishing sander is less vicious than the drum, but will it still remove the paint splats?

Thanks again Si

 

[Roofer]

The edging sander is controllable and will easily get rid of the paint, the finishing sander gets rid of any 'swirls' in the sanding

 

[trotter]

Only way to go if you are doing as little as even one decent sized room, is with a proper continuous belt sander

They are super heavy so that you get a flat finish all over, they level the floor for you

You'll ruin your back, it will take FOREVER and burn out a few power tools using anything else and you'll get a miles worse finish

Hire the belt sander and the edging sander - and I use a hand held orbital too round the edges because the edger leaves swirls

Don't take the tight option, in terms of your physical well being and your time it's a massive false economy

 

[essexsi]

thanks roofer.

So I take it use edger first then finisher?

That hire shop does look good value as long as I can get it all done in 1 day!!!!

Have heard that the floor should be resanded after first coat of varnish as it lifts the grain. Is this correct ? I assume that this is up to your taste as it could add texture to the floor .

Thanks for you help Si

 

[essexsi]

Blimey where have all these people from essex come from!!

Cheers trotter sound advice. Having spoken to a friend who tried to do it without the correct tools , I think the big drum sander and the edger are the way to go.

Got to set aside a weekend for the sanding then get stuck in!

Cheers for all the advice

Si