QA

Question: How To Use A Floor Drum Sander

Is it hard to use a drum floor sander?

A drum sander is a completely different tool in that a loop of sandpaper continually moves around the drum, ripping down the wood as far as you want to go. With an orbital floor sander, it’s hard to go wrong, since it’s difficult to take off too much wood.

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.

How hard is it to use a floor sander?

There’s really no getting around it – sanding your floors is hard work and physically tiring. Mostly, this is down to the floorboards not being completely flat which means that the drum of the floor sanding machine won’t be able to reach all areas of the floorboards in one go.

How much does a drum sander remove?

The drum sander you described will remove about 0.005″ to 0.007″ (five to seven thousandths of an inch) per pass. Even a small 12″ portable planer will remove 0.125″ to .

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.

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.

What is the difference between a drum sander and a belt sander?

Belt sanders simply allow one to slip sanding belts on and off without much effort. Drum machines take longer with abrasive sheets being wrapped around one single drum (photo above) and clamped into place by way of its own locking mechanism.

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.

How do you sand a wooden floor?

Sanding a wood floor is a multi-step process. Determine your grit sequence. Sand all main field areas with the drum sander on the first grit of your determined sequence. Use the edger (using the same grit you just used on the drum) to sand all the areas that the drum couldn’t reach. Sweep or vacuum all sanded rooms.

Is it easy to sand your own 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.

Is it difficult to sand hardwood floors?

Sanding hardwood floors might seem like a pros-only project. And then there’s that big, scary sanding machine… But it’s really not that difficult. I’ve helped hundreds of homeowners—some of them complete DIY novices—successfully prep their floors for a new finish.

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).

Is it worth getting a drum sander?

The drum sander is an incredibly useful tool that will have a huge impact in your workflow. It will also open up a bunch of doors for you, especially when it comes to the world of home-sawn veneer. Although they aren’t inexpensive, I do consider them to be a worthwhile investment.

How useful is a drum sander?

A stationary drum sander is a great tool for a smoothing everything from narrow strips to wide panels, while producing parts of consistent thickness. Drum-sanding is also an efficient way to smooth and level assembled frame-and-panel cabinet doors.

What are the benefits of a drum sander?

While one of the major benefits of a drum sander is it’s ability to considerably speed up the sanding process, it can also do things just about impossible for the thickness planer or jointer, and much quicker and easier than you can achieve with hand tools.

Can I sand a hardwood floor with a belt sander?

A belt sander will make stripping and sanding the floor quick and easy. A belt sander for finishing a wood floor should be a hand-held one so you can move the tool around on the surface of the floor. Belt sanders will do a good job of leveling out the floor and preparing it for a finer sand.