FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

Floor Sanders

muggs56 | Posted in Tools for Home Building on August 20, 2007 06:17am

Bought another big old house; needs to be rebuilt top to bottom. Figure by the time I refinish these beautiful floors if I rented a floor sander I’d have paid for at least 1 1/2.

Now my question;
I’ve used drum sanders, edgers and hand sanding to re-finish a number of old floors. Pretty confidant with those. But have heard lately that floor re-finishers like the orbital. Seems to me you would have quicker sandpaper usage and need more fine because you’re not following the grain.

What would you buy?

Reply
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles

Replies

  1. DanH | Aug 20, 2007 06:23pm | #1

    > What would you buy?

    A newer house.

    So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
    1. muggs56 | Aug 20, 2007 06:32pm | #2

      Funny!But between what I've seen in the construction of new homes vs. old; I like old.

      1. DanH | Aug 20, 2007 06:39pm | #3

        I like old too, so long as I don't have to clean or maintain it.
        So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

        1. muggs56 | Aug 20, 2007 06:50pm | #4

          Points!

  2. JonE | Aug 20, 2007 09:49pm | #5

    I rented an orbital to do my new floors, so they weren't in bad shape.  Took forever, and even with forever they still aren't great.  I'd get the drum sander and rent an orbital to do the final sanding and buffing.

     

    1. DanH | Aug 20, 2007 10:05pm | #6

      Of course the problem with the drum is that you can gouge the floor in about two seconds.
      So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

      1. JonE | Aug 20, 2007 10:53pm | #7

        Yep.  One's too fast, t'other's too slow.   The orbital (actually I think it was a floor buffer with a sanding screen and not an "orbital floor sander") did a fine job, but that meant that you spent hours upon hours sanding the floor with 60 grit.  And no dust collection. 

      2. muggs56 | Aug 21, 2007 12:17am | #9

        Yeah, the first time I used a drum sander, couple decades ago, in my first house; I dug great drainage trenches round the sides. Quickly learned, don't let the m-f hit the wall- it'll dig in fast.

        1. wivell | Aug 21, 2007 04:33pm | #11

          "Quickly learned, don't let the m-f hit the wall- it'll dig in fast"

          That one had me laughing Muggs.....

          1. muggs56 | Aug 21, 2007 05:49pm | #12

            Well... at least when I don't do good work, I'm good for laughs.

  3. alwaysoverbudget | Aug 20, 2007 11:18pm | #8

    i bought a  obs orbital sander 600.00 from hd out of there rental fleet.12x18 pad ,it goes pretty slow but you  can not screw up a floor with one. there is a orbital that uses 4 pads that they say is faster.i had a chance to buy one for 850 and passed.

    if you think your compentent enough to run a belt type,you might rent one for a day or 2 and sand the whole house with 40 grit,then take a orbital that you own and go from there..    larry

    hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.

  4. IdahoDon | Aug 21, 2007 05:44am | #10

    I'd pick up a small buffer. 

     

    Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.

  5. cynwyd | Aug 21, 2007 08:40pm | #13

    I've been intrigued by the U-Sand and expect to rent one sometime soon for a parquet floor sanding job.  Home Depot  now rents them so you could try before you buy.

    The claim of one machine has obvious appeal as  does easy paper change.

    1. BobI | Aug 21, 2007 11:11pm | #14

      Ijust did about 1200 sqft of floors with a U-Sand machine that I rented from HD. This is the machine somebody else mentioned that has 4 round pads that run in a random-orbital pattern. A week before that I did 800 sqft with a "SquareBuff" sander which is a large (12"x18") vibrating pad sander. The old fashioned "orbital" motion.Most of my floors are pine but about 400 sqft are oak. There's also a smattering of very old chestnut in there. (Much harder than I expected!) The U-Sand was quicker and more aggressive than the SquareBuff and just as easy to control. Both are far easier to control than a drum sander.I used the orbitals because I know I don't have the skill to do a good job on softwood floors with a drum sander. In fact most of the hard work in my project was a result of bad drum-sanding by the previous homeowner. (I assume it was a DIY job because it was so bad I can't imagine anybody paying for that job.) It took a long time to sand out those deep corrugations in the pine.The U-Sand worked well on both the pine and the oak for normal refinishing. The remedial stuff (sanding out the divots) was difficult with either sander but a little easier with the U-Sand. I've sanded hardwood with a drum sander before and the U-Sand was much easier to control and just as fast on floors that are good and flat. On my oak floors which were in good condition it took only about 4 hours to sand 400 sqft to bare wood and run up through the grits to a final surface. If your boards are cupped or heavily damaged the time may go up dramatically from there. In short, I'd recommend the U-Sand type random-orbital sander over the large pad sander hands down (faster and just as easy to control). Comparing the random-orbital to a drum sander I'd say it depends heavily upon your skill with the drum sander and condition of your floors because it is faster to remove material but harder to control.If you have softwood floors I'd definitely recommend the random-orbital.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Two Ways to Test Windows

New devices showcased at the Builders' Show make it easy to measure glass performance, u-factor, SHGC, window thickness, and more.

Featured Video

How to Install Exterior Window Trim

Learn how to measure, cut, and build window casing made of cellular PVC, solid wood, poly-ash boards, or any common molding material. Plus, get tips for a clean and solid installation.

Related Stories

  • Midcentury Home for a Modern Family
  • The New Old Colonial
  • Modern and Minimal in the Woods
  • Bryce Hollingsworth, Dry-Stone Waller

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 333 - August/September 2025
    • A Practical Perfect Wall
    • Landscape Lighting Essentials
    • Repairing a Modern Window Sash
  • Issue 332 - July 2025
    • Custom Built-ins With Job-Site Tools
    • Fight House Fires Through Design
    • Making the Move to Multifamily
  • Issue 331 - June 2025
    • A More Resilient Roof
    • Tool Test: You Need a Drywall Sander
    • Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 330 - April/May 2025
    • Deck Details for Durability
    • FAQs on HPWHs
    • 10 Tips for a Long-Lasting Paint Job
  • Issue 329 - Feb/Mar 2025
    • Smart Foundation for a Small Addition
    • A Kominka Comes West
    • Making Small Kitchens Work

Fine Home Building

Newsletter Sign-up

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

  • Green Building Advisor

    Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

  • Old House Journal

    Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Follow

  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
  • Fine Homebuilding

    Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X
    • LinkedIn
  • GBA Prime

    Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

    Start Free Trial Now
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
  • Old House Journal

    Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

    Subscribe Now
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

  • Home Group
  • Antique Trader
  • Arts & Crafts Homes
  • Bank Note Reporter
  • Cabin Life
  • Cuisine at Home
  • Fine Gardening
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Green Building Advisor
  • Garden Gate
  • Horticulture
  • Keep Craft Alive
  • Log Home Living
  • Military Trader/Vehicles
  • Numismatic News
  • Numismaster
  • Old Cars Weekly
  • Old House Journal
  • Period Homes
  • Popular Woodworking
  • Script
  • ShopNotes
  • Sports Collectors Digest
  • Threads
  • Timber Home Living
  • Traditional Building
  • Woodsmith
  • World Coin News
  • Writer's Digest
Active Interest Media logo
X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Online Learning

  • Courses
  • Project Guides
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • X
  • YouTube
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
  • Tiktok

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

Enjoy unlimited access to Fine Homebuilding. Join Now

Already a member? Log in

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in

Privacy Policy Update

We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

Cookies

Analytics

These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

Advertising/Social Media

These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

Essential

These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

Delete My Data

Delete all cookies and associated data