Parquet sanding problem

[steveyo]

Hi
This is my first post so you may have heard the question before.

I'm on my 3rd day of sanding my old 5 finger basket pattern parquet.
I've hired a sander (drum type with the sanding sheets). I've been over it now with G40 and G80. The problem I've got is there are quite a few areas where the blocks are so low that the old varnish is well below the blocks adjacent. Do I have to pull these up or can I just leave them? It doesn't look too bad at present but I'm worried it might look crap when I re-varnish/wax.
I'm getting tired of sanding now and the house resembles the surface of Mars with all the red dust.

Ta.

 

[WoodYouLike]

We would never recommend a drum sander, but a more professional belt sander. The metal bar of the drum sander, with which you have to keep the sand paper pressed against the drum fairly quickly gives shatter marks.

And you are right about not sanded parts due to unlevelness of the floor will look very strange when revarnishing, re-oiling. Wasn't the reason you started the job anyway: to improve the look of your old floor?

If possible, hire a much heavier bell sander (drum sander around 45 kg - belt sander 75 - 80kg) that'll make a big difference. Start over with grit 40 to level everything out. Then grit 8- to smooth it even further.

Hope this helps, but for others: always use professional sanding equipment. Although more in price, the time it saves you is tremendous!