Sanding a Hardwood Floor

Equipment Needed

Drum Sander
Edge Sander
Sandpaper
Hammer and Nail Set

Helpful Hints

• Check fuse supply as the machine may overload the circuit
• Remove furniture, rugs, drapes, curtains, pictures, and any other conveniently removed items
• Complete wall covering and painting projects prior to refinishing floors
• Provide adequate ventilation during sanding and refinishing
• Never stop the sander with the drum in contact with the floor

Preparing the Floor

Remove molding or baseboard. Use a small wooden wedge between the wallboard and the pry bar to prevent damaging the wallboard.
Countersink all protruding nail heads with the nail set
Vacuum or sweep the floor

Sanding the Floor

NEW FLOORS (recently installed or slightly worn)
For the first sanding use a medium grit (36g). Place the sander along the wall in the direction of the grain, with approximately 2/3 of the length of the floor in front of you. Start the machine and ease the drum to the floor, then walk slowly forward at an even pace. As you near the wall, gradually raise the drum off the floor by tilting the machine back. Start pulling the machine backward as you lower the drum to the floor. Cover the same path previously sanded, raising the drum as you complete this pass. The next cuts should be performed in the same fashion, moving the machine approximately four inches onto the unsanded floor each time.

Upon completing the 2/3 portion of the room, turn the machine in the opposite direction and sand the remaining 1/3 in the exact same manner. Allow a two- or three-foot overlap of the first cuts.

After you have completed this operation, use the edge sander to sand near walls and in areas where the drum sander won’t reach. Move the edger in a brisk left to right, semi-circular motion. Use the same grit paper as used on the drum machine.

SECOND SANDING (fine abrasive 80g)
Upon completing both drum and edger operations with the medium abrasive, repeat the same procedure with fine abrasive.

OLD FLOORS
(A generous amount of old finish to be removed and/or uneven floor contours must be corrected.) Use coarse abrasive (20g) for first sanding.

Place the sander in position so that the first cut is made diagonally across the floor surface. Start in a corner, with the machine running, ease the drum to the floor, and walk slowly forward. As you near the wall, gradually raise the drum by tilting back on the handle. Begin lowering the drum as you pull backward on the machine. Cover the same path previously sanded. Upon completion of this pass, raise the drum slowly.

Sand the entire floor in the same direction, overlapping approximately 4 inches on each new cut until finished. Move the sander so that this operation can be repeated in the opposite direction.

After this operation is complete, use the edger with the same grit paper to sand around the walls.

For the second and third sanding follow the directions for sanding new floors.