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Can you use a drum sander on hardwood floors?
How long does it take to sand a floor with a drum sander?
How long will it take? Three sanding passes with both the drum sander and the edger in one room of 140 sq. ft. takes the average customer, working alone, 5 hours.
Can you go against the grain with drum sander?
Kevin Hancock: Absolutely not. Sometimes it is the only way it can be sanded. Use a finer grit than you usually would as cross grain sanding tends to cut faster. Sanding up to about 320-400 grit will make most of those sanding scratches disappear under the finish.
What kind of sander do you use to refinish hardwood floors?
Random orbital sanders are the best choice for do-it-yourself hardwood floor refinishing. They take longer to remove old finishes than drum sanders, but they do not require a lot of experience to use and are less likely to damage your wood floor.
What is a drum sander for wood floors?
A drum floor sander, also known as a belt sander, is a heavy-duty machine designed for heavy sanding of solid wood flooring. A drum sander cuts through the wood, obliterating multiple layers of wood as well as any varnish, giving you a new surface to refinish.
How long does it take to sand down a floor?
How long does it take to sand a floor? It can take 1-5 days for a professional and 2-15 days for a DIY enthusiast, depending on the size and condition of the floor. For planning purposes, it would take 1-day per room for a professional and 2 days per room for a homeowner doing DIY.
How long does it take to use a floor sander?
So how long does it take to sand a floor? If you’re using both the electric sander and the edger in 140 square-foot floor space, it will take you roughly 5 hours to do three sanding passes. Another thing you must take into account is how old your house is.
How long does it take to sand and refinish floors?
It typically takes between two and five days to refinish hardwood floors, depending on the type of polyurethane you use (oil or water-based), and the size and condition of your floors.
Can you sand wood across the grain?
The first commandment of sanding: Sand with the grain. But when you have a lot of wood to grind off, break that rule and run your belt sander diagonally across the grain (at about 45 degrees). Instead of scratching away at the wood fibers, the belt will rip them out. It’s incredibly fast—and dangerous.
Do you push or pull a drum sander?
You will be pulling your drum floor sander, not pushing. This means that you are moving the sander in the opposite of the drum motion.
Should you sand across the grain?
Depending on the tool you employ, sanding with the grain per se might not always be possible, but it is important to avoid sanding across the grain. Sanding against the grain inevitably leaves scratches that defeats the purpose of sanding the wood in the first place.
Can I sand my own hardwood floors?
Sanding wood floors is a time consuming but relatively easy procedure. Sanding wood floors & refinishing yourself will definitely save money, and even an inexperienced homeowner can likely do a better job than the lowest bidding handyperson who quotes on it.
Should I sand my hardwood floors myself?
If this is your first time refinishing floors, you are probably better off hiring a professional to sand and refinish your floors. Not only will your floors look better and last longer, but they will be finished much faster if you hire a professional (so you can move in sooner).
How do you sand and refinish hardwood floors yourself?
Can you use an orbital sander to refinish hardwood floors?
When your project doesn’t call for heavy-duty equipment, such as a drum sander, you may want to consider sanding your hardwood floors with an orbital sander. If you’re picturing an orbital sander to involve a large, rotating sheet of sandpaper, you may be mistakenly thinking of a floor polisher or buffer.
Will an orbital sander remove polyurethane?
Start at one end of the flat surface and sand lightly with the orbital sander to remove the polyurethane. Make sure to sand following the grain of the wood.
How hard is it to sand and refinish hardwood floors?
The hardwood floor refinishing process is easier and less expensive than sanding down to bare wood and takes less time. In a few hours, your floors will look as good as new. The job requires using a buffer, which you can rent at a home center, and a vacuum to suck up dust.
Do I need to use a drum sander?
“If your floor is in rough shape, cupped or damaged, or has a very heavy finish, a drum sander is what you need,” he adds. “An orbital won’t relevel your floor.”Jan 27, 2011.
What can you do with a drum sander?
Drum sanders are great for fine surfacing or sanding wood, especially figured woods that tear out under planer blades, but it is not the best tool for removing large amounts of wood, such as you would do when leveling glued up boards or surfacing stock.”.
Why does my drum sander leave lines wood?
Drum sanders with steel wheels can cause vertical lines when the wheels are worn. Sometimes the steel wheels on the sander become so worn that there is no crown left. This will leave edge marks, especially on those softer species of wood.
How long does it take to re sand hardwood floors?
Depending on the product used, and the current weather conditions, each coat could take either hours or days. Figure at least two days for the “sand and poly” job or three to seven days for a full refinishing project, plus at least one day if you’re adding color.
How much does it cost to sand floors?
Cost to Sand and Refinish Hardwood Floors Sanding costs $0.50 to $3.00 per square foot to sand hardwood floors. An average 12 x 14 foot room would cost $80 to $500 depending on how many passes it needs and the area you live in.
