DrumAdmin
Floor sanding is said to be better done by use of professionals, but you can save quite a significant amount of cash if you do decide to do it yourself. We have an excellent video from Bonasystem today to explain you step by step about how to sand your wooden floor.
Below are the procedures for obtaining great results when it comes to sanding your wooden floors.
Step 1: Prepare your room
It is important that you prepare your room before you start sanding. This involves checking nails that are sitting below the surface to avoid the sand paper from catching them and ripping.
You will begin sanding using grit 40 if your floor is newly installed or have very minimal finish, but for an old wooden floor which are even or with paint, or glue that are stick to the surface, it is ideal to start sanding with more coarse grit like 16 grit or 24. As a general rule, the more damaged or rough or harder your wood species is, the coarser your grit pass will be.
Step 2: Install the sand paper on the drum sander
Slide the sanding belt for coarse sanding under the drum sander. Sometimes, the sandpaper can be a little bit tight or hand to slide, and if that happens you can try to wipe a little bit of fine sawdust just on the inside of the belt to improve the sliding. Close the protective cover, and then plug the machine into the socket with at least 10 amps and the now you are ready to begin sanding on your floor.
Step 3: Sanding the floor with the drum sander
Before you start your drum sander machine, please ensure that the level for the roller is raised. Start the machine and let the motor run until the dust bag is filled with air. This should roughly take 10 seconds. Now slowly lower the drum and the machine will begin to sand. To achieve the best results, move at a gradual, even paces to ensure that the sander creates an even finish.
When you have almost reached at the end of the wall, push the level down to lift the drum off the floor, move backward and again lower the drum. You need to sand the same path as you sanded before.
Repeat the process for the rest of the floor, by moving forward and backward. It would be better if you work from left to right. Do not let the machine stand still when the drum is down to avoid sanding marks. If the wood or the grain is all running in one direction, it would be preferably sanded diagonally across the grain direction with course sandpaper.
Step 4: Sand the edge of your floor with an edge sander
Use the edging sander on the areas that cannot be reached with the belt sander. Make sure you use the sanding paper with the same grit as that of the belt sander and sand using circular movements from left to right. Do not put any downward pressure on the machine. Rather, let it work using its own weight.Always empty the dust bag to avoid the dust from the first sanding mixing with the dust of the next sanding.
Step 5: Use the scrapers to remove old finish from the corners
You can use scrapers with the replaceable blade to remove old finish from tight corners. And once again for best result, ensure that you move the sander with an even and gradual motion.
