how do you use a vibrating floor sander

An orbital vibrating floor sander is, like the drum sander, operated while standing up. The difference is that the sanding head and sandpaper do not rotate; instead, they vibrate in tight circles. After using the drum sander, the next step is usually to smooth out the wood with a vibrating orbital sander

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Full Answer

What is an orbital vibrating floor sander?

An orbital vibrating floor sander is, like the drum sander, operated while standing up. The difference is that the sanding head and sandpaper do not rotate; instead, they vibrate in tight circles. After using the drum sander, the next step is usually to smooth out the wood with a vibrating orbital sander.

What is the best floor sander for my floor?

Unless you plan to sand many floors in your lifetime, your best choice of floor sander is the random orbital sander from one maker in particular. Random orbital floor sander with rectangular base.

How does a drum floor sander work?

A standard floor sander, sometimes known as a Drum Floor Sander, uses a sleeve of sanding paper which slides onto a square drum. The paper slides along the floor as the drum spins but only a small portion of the paper and drum is in contact with the floor at any one time.

How does a floor sander belt work?

A large sandpaper belt fits over a rotating drum, which spins at high velocity and makes quick work of sanding a floor. A built-in dust bag catches most of the dust and debris, although you’ll need to vacuum thoroughly before coating the floor.

What is an orbital vibrating floor sander?

What is an edge floor sander?

What is a drum sander?

When to unplug a floor sander?

Do you need to refinish a solid wood floor?

Can you overbuy sanding paper?

Can dust explode in a floor sander?

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How do you use a rotating floor sander?

1:237:27Chapter 9 How To Operate A Floor Sander - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're gonna lower the handle just a little bit if you want to go to the left you're gonna raise theMoreYou're gonna lower the handle just a little bit if you want to go to the left you're gonna raise the handle just a little bit just in tiny fractions will cause a lot of movement.

How long does it take to sand a floor with an orbital sander?

How long does it take to sand a floor with an orbital sander? Unless your floor is in flat and in very good condition, an orbital sander is going to increase your refinishing time but 2-3 times. Let's say 2-4 days per room as opposed to 1-2 days with a full sanding kit. For handheld orbitals, double that again.

How do you use a push sander?

2:495:36HireTech Floor and Deck Sander | The Home Depot Rental - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork slowly across the surface pushing in the direction you want to sand. Never let the sander stopMoreWork slowly across the surface pushing in the direction you want to sand. Never let the sander stop in one place the sander will glide easily across the surface of the deck or floor while sanding.

Do you push or pull a floor sander?

Seriously though, to break that down a little further, when you are ready to start sanding, you push the sander to get it moving and then lower the drum onto the floor. This also means you should lift up the sander, using the lever or by tilting the machine back, before you stop moving.

Can you walk on sanded floors?

Your floor can be walked on with stocking feet in 3-4 hours and furniture can be placed back on the floor (not dragged) in 48 hours. Area rugs can be put down in one week when the finish is fully cured.

What type of sander is best for floors?

The drum sander is the real workhorse of hardwood floor sanding. It is a massive piece of equipment, too heavy for most people to lift—two people are required to carry it.

How do you sand a floor with a floor sander?

1:484:24How to sand wooden floors | HSS Hire - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipStand behind the sander as far back against the wall as you can get tilt the sander. Back switch theMoreStand behind the sander as far back against the wall as you can get tilt the sander. Back switch the sander on and gently lower the drum to the floor. And let it pull you slowly.

How do you control a floor sander?

0:082:29#3 Buffer: How to control the flooring buffer easily - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou just put your hips into it and it moves that way. So basically hold on to the machine and justMoreYou just put your hips into it and it moves that way. So basically hold on to the machine and just look where you want to go.

How long does it take to sand a wood 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.

Do floor sanders make a mess?

Yes, when you are sanding the floors, dust is created. That is just part of the process and there is no way around it. However, there are some ways to minimize it. We always put plastic around the areas not being done, and our machines are good at collecting a lot of the dust.

How many sanding sheets does it take to sand a floor?

The amount of sanding paper you'll require will depend on the size of your room. However, as a guide, for the 3m x 4m room I sanded, I used around 6-7 sheets at the roughest grit and 2 or 3 of the finest, and the same again for the edging sander. You'll need fewer sheets the finer the sandpaper gets.

Can you go against the grain with a 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.

How long does it take for orbital sander?

But how long does it take? On average, it will take you around 1 hour to sand a deck that is 10 square meters using a random orbital sander. That's roughly 6 minutes per square meter. However, that figure may vary as there are several things that impact sanding time such as the type of sander used.

Can I sand my floor with orbital sander?

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.

How long does it take to sand and small room?

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.

What grit sandpaper should I use for hardwood floors?

Start with 36-grit sandpaper for a floor that hasn't been sanded in a long time or that has a lot of heavy finish on it. Floors that have been painted may even require you to go tougher and use 24 or 16-grit paper. Maple floors are so hard that they often require 36-grit sandpaper as well.

What is a floor sander?

The best way to describe a floor sander is to simply describe the process. It’s the process of removing the top layer on a piece of material. The only difference is that it allows you to do it on a large surface area – the floor.

How to use a drum sander?

A Step by Step Guide to using an Edging Sander 1 Install a sleeve of sandpaper the same grit as the one used for the drum sander 2 Find your starting position – it is best to start where the drum sander left off and work outwards towards the wall. This will help you to blend the two sanding processes seamlessly together. 3 Start the sander 4 Keep moving as you lower the sanding drum onto the floor. This is the same feather cutting in technique as used with the larger machines. 5 When the sander is engaged, keep the same steady pace and follow the Z-pattern back and forth along the grain of the wood 6 Complete 1 – 2 feet of floor before slowly lifting the sander off as you carry on moving (this is called feather cutting out)#N#As with the larger machines, stop marks will be created if the machine is stationary at any point 7 Stop the sander 8 Move onto the next patch of floor and repeat 9 Repeat these steps until the perimeter of the floor is sanded and evenly blended

What is an orbital floor sander?

An orbital floor sander. An Orbital Sander uses a sanding pad which oscillates back and forth in an orbital motion to create a grinding action. The result is a finer sand which will give your floorboards an excellent, polished finish which will prepare them for a new layer of varnish.

What kind of sandpaper to use to remove thinset?

If you’re trying to remove thinset from a concrete subfloor, a Heavy Duty Sander with a coarse sandpaper will do the job quickly.

What is a sander called?

An edging sander. An edging sander is often known as ‘the finisher ’. It’s a lot smaller and can be held in your hands. Black and Decker invented an edging product and called it ‘the Mouse’, so that gives you an idea just how small some of them are.

How to use feather cutting in?

Use the feather cutting in technique as you set off walking backwards across the exact path you just sanded back to the starting point. By walking backwards, you are keeping the number of turns to a minimum. When you reach the starting point again, use the feather cutting out technique to bring the sander to a stop.

Where to start drum sander?

Find your starting position – it is best to start where the drum sander left off and work outwards towards the wall. This will help you to blend the two sanding processes seamlessly together.

What is the best machine for floor sanding?

I've found that Clarke-American random orbital sanders, outfitted with large rectangular pads, to be the easiest to use. They are available at most home centers in the rental department.

What kind of sander to use for corners?

A smaller orbital palm sander, combined with a scraper for corners, can be used around the floor perimeter. For large jobs, consider renting a professional floor sanding edger. Photo: Joe Provey.

When you lower a machine to the floor, is it important to run it at full speed?

When you lower the machine to the floor, it is imperative that it be running at full speed. Also, it's important not to move it too quickly across the floor surface. Above all, never turn the machine off while it is resting on the floor. Photo: Joe Provey. Advertisement.

What Does a Floor Sander Do?

Has all this talk of floor restoration got you asking, “What is a floor sander?” We’re here to explain the ins and outs of these time-saving construction machines.

Why do people use floor sanders?

People use floor sanders to smooth out an existing floor (in cases where a floor needs renovation or repair) or a newly laid floor. This is to prepare it for finishing with a coating, such as a varnish, oil, or paint.

What is a vibrating sander?

Like orbital sanders, vibrating sanders are used primarily as a finishing sander to smooth out the wood after using the drum sander. A vibrating sander is about the same size as a drum sander, and it also has a dust bag attached. However, it’s much lighter, and rather than a rotating belt, it consists of a vibrating sanding pad. This makes it much easier to move across the floor in smooth passes. Like orbital sanders, vibrating sanders are less likely than drum sanders to damage the floor.

What is the best sander to use to remove floor material?

Drum sanders, vibrating sanders, and some large orbital sanders are too big and bulky to reach into corners and along the edges of the room where the floor meets the wall. Enter the edge sander, which is a heavy, hand-held sander with an orbital sanding pad and a built-in dust bag. Because of its weight, an edge sander is as effective as a drum sander at removing surface material, but it can damage the floor if it’s improperly used, causing gouges and circular marks in the wood.

How to remove swirl from floor?

Remove this by sanding the swirl by hand with 80-grit sandpaper. Using an orbital or vibrating sander to remove the swirl will over-polish the edges, giving them a different texture than the rest of the floor.

How many people do you need to carry a drum sander?

Drum sanders are massively heavy beasts that generally require two people to carry. A large sandpaper belt fits over a rotating drum, which spins at high velocity and makes quick work of sanding a floor. A built-in dust bag catches most of the dust and debris, although you’ll need to vacuum thoroughly before coating the floor.

What is a drum sander?

Drum sanders are powerful enough to remove finishes and stains, smooth high spots, and take the floor down to a layer of bare, untouched wood. If you’re not experienced with this type of machine, you can quickly cause serious, permanent damage to your floor if you aren’t very careful. If the sander isn’t positioned just right and properly operated, it can grind deep grooves and valleys into the wood.

How many passes does it take to sand a floor?

Sanding a floor involves multiple passes over every inch of the surface. With each subsequent sanding, the sandpaper grit gets finer. Most floors require about four passes. The more damaged the floor, or the harder the wood, the courser the starting sandpaper grit should be. Here are a few tips to help ensure the best sanding job possible.

Do you vacuum after sanding?

After each pass, vacuum the floors, even if there’s a bag attached to the sander. This will ensure pieces of sanding grit that fall off the sander don’t damage the floor on subsequent, smaller-grit passes.

What is a drum sander?

The machine of choice for wood-refinishing professionals,the drum sander has a cylindrical sanding belt that makes quick work of smoothing down wood floors. The operator, however, must be well-trained in proper sanding techniques because many first-time users have ruined a wood floor with a drum sander. For instance, a drum sander must be used in ...

What is the difference between a square buffer and a drum sander?

For instance, a drum sander must be used in the direction of the wood grain. Also, if the user spends too much time in one spot, he risks gouging the wood floor. Square buffers, on the other hand, are less aggressive. The oscillating operation of the square buffer allows the machine to glide in any direction, with or against ...

What is the purpose of coarse sandpaper?

The job of the coarse sandpaper is to remove the previous floor finish and smooth out scratches and imperfections in the floor. When this is achieved, switch to coarse sandpaper. Repeat the sanding process to remove the scratch lines from the very course sandpaper.

Can you use a square buff sander with a drum sander?

With a square buff sander, you'll be able to get into corners and up to edges much easier than you could with a drum sander or rotary machine.

Can you buff wood floors with a drum sander?

You can refinish your floor at a fraction of the cost with a rental device. With a square buff sander , you'll be able to get into corners and up to edges much easier than you could with a drum sander ...

Can you turn off a sanding machine while it is resting on the floor?

Above all, remember to never turn the machine off while it is resting on the floor. For any of these different mistakes, the consequence is the same: circular scratches on the floor surface. They may not be very noticeable as you’re sanding, but they’ll definitely show up when you apply the finish. Advertisement.

Can you use a drum sander to remove old floors?

Sure, it may take longer to remove old finishes than it would with a drum sander, but you don’t need a lot of experience to operate a random orbital sander and most importantly, it’s less likely to permanently damage your floor by causing grooves or valleys that are impossible to fix.

What is an orbital vibrating floor sander?

An orbital vibrating floor sander is, like the drum sander, operated while standing up. The difference is that the sanding head and sandpaper do not rotate; instead, they vibrate in tight circles.

What is an edge floor sander?

An edge floor sander is a small, hand-held sander designed to get in those hard-to-reach areas that the drum sander and large orbital sander cannot reach. An edge floor sander has a dust bag. Edge floor sanders available for rent are far more powerful than hand-held orbital sanders that many homeowners may already own.

What is a drum sander?

The drum sander consists of the sander body itself, a large dust bag, and a drum on which you attach large belts of sanding paper. The drum sander rips off the bad spots, the high spots, stains, paint drips, and even some deeply embedded stains from your floor.

When to unplug a floor sander?

Always unplug the floor sander when changing the sandpaper or working on any part of the machine.

Do you need to refinish a solid wood floor?

If you have a solid hardwood floor, chances are good that at one point you will need to refinish it . Along with staining and top-coating, sanding your wood floor is a major component of refinishing the floor.

Can you overbuy sanding paper?

It is better to overbuy sanding paper, as most rental yards will buy back unused paper, though you should confirm this ahead of time. The drum sander is the real workhorse of hardwood floor sanding. It is a massive piece of equipment, too heavy for most people to lift—two people are required to carry it.

Can dust explode in a floor sander?

Air-borne fine dust can explode. When using the floor sander, always make sure that no flames are present in the room or nearby. Always ventilate the room well.