How small a room before drum sander is not worth it?

[Kaymo]

So, as the title suggests. I am wondering if there is any rule of thumb of sized room before the big drum sanders you can hire become more of a hindrance than a help. When I have used these before, even in bigger rooms you have to start a good bit into the room because the handle and you are behind it, and you can't get too close to the wall on the other side, so you end up doing quite a lot of it with other sanders.

The room I am going to sand next is only 3m by 3.8, and the boards run along the 3m length, so feels like the drum sander will be starting nearly half way across the room, but my belt sander which I have used in smaller spaces like the hallway, might be a be a bit much. Wondering if maybe just hiring an edging sander on its own might be the sweet spot?

 

[ree]

OP,
Besides drum sanders there are other sanding machine options available, & although I've never tried it even a belt sander.

 

[Kaymo]

OP,
Besides drum sanders there are other sanding machine options available, & although I've never tried it even a belt sander.

Which options?

 

[johnny2007]

It depends on what finish you have now and what finish you're going to use after sanding.
If using the same kind of varnish, stain or paint, you don't need to remove all existing finish.
For example, if floor is varnished and you're varnishing again, a good sanding to take existing shine off is sufficient and recommended.
I would only remove all existing finish if going from water based to oil/solvent based finish.
Even then, I once was asked to pass a coat of solvent based paint over a lightly sanded windowsill finished with water based paint.
I visited the property a few years later and all was still perfectly fine.
In other words, you could do it by hand or with an orbital sander but I wouldn't use a belt sander, there's risk of digging in the wood.

 

[Kaymo]

It depends on what finish you have now and what finish you're going to use after sanding.
If using the same kind of varnish, stain or paint, you don't need to remove all existing finish.
For example, if floor is varnished and you're varnishing again, a good sanding to take existing shine off is sufficient and recommended.
I would only remove all existing finish if going from water based to oil/solvent based finish.
Even then, I once was asked to pass a coat of solvent based paint over a lightly sanded windowsill finished with water based paint.
I visited the property a few years later and all was still perfectly fine.
In other words, you could do it by hand or with an orbital sander but I wouldn't use a belt sander, there's risk of digging in the wood.

Sorry, I should have been clearer about the details. These are solid wood boards which have been varnished. They are not original pine or oak boards, but rather semi modern t&g solid wood which I suspect were fitted around 30 years ago throughout the downstairs of the house. They are dark wood, possibly walnut or tropical, I have never been able to figure out the species but they are excellent quality and have stood up incredibly well, even in areas where there has been dampness.

I have lifted them and refitted, as I had to replace the joists underneath so as they are relaid on new joists and ply the floor is fairly flat. The main purpose in sanding is to remove the varnish. I have done this to the same wood in two other rooms in the house so far, then covered with a hard wax oil and they have come up really well. In the larger of the other two rooms I used an upright hired sander, in the other (the hall) it wasn't worth hiring as the hall was two small sections separated by steps and I would barely have moved a step forward before needing to turn around. I used a belt sander in the hall and I didn't have any gouges, but it was really hard work holding on to the thing and controlling it.

I can't see me being able to do it by hand, the varnish is really tough, while at the same time prone to scratching, which seems like a contradiction!

Hire of the sander is about £100 and if I was strapped for cash I would just use my belt sander, but the cost isn't an issue if it would significantly reduce the time. I had just been thinking the room might be a bit small for the big push sanders. Maybe if I go diagonally or across the boards until the varnish starts to come off it would be less of an issue.

 

[ree]

Poster #4,
I've never seen a floor the OP's size floor sanded with an Orbital sander - or imagined doing it that way.
Belt sanders are a compromise but they will never dig in as much as drum sander's can dig in.

 

[Kaymo]

Poster #4,
I've never seen a floor the OP's size floor sanded with an Orbital sander - or imagined doing it that way.
Belt sanders are a compromise but they will never dig in as much as drum sander's can dig in.

So what is it you would suggest then, or what would you do, for a room this size?

 

[opps]

The last floor I sanded- the room was big enough to warrant a drum sander but it had been sanded a few times in the past. I only used the drum sander for the first couple of passes. I then used my 180mm Festool rotary sander. Additionally, I used that as the edging sander as well.

Hard work though, being on your hands and knees.

You can hire dedicated rotary floor sanders which are designed for hardwood floors.

Hire Floor Sanders in London | Floor Sander Consumables

Whether you want to hire a floor sander in London, or are just looking for hire based on contract period, here at Floor Sander Hire we are fully equipped.

www.floorsanderslondon.co.uk

 

[johnny2007]

Poster #4,
I've never seen a floor the OP's size floor sanded with an Orbital sander - or imagined doing it that way.
Belt sanders are a compromise but they will never dig in as much as drum sander's can dig in.

An orbital sander is the easiest tool to use to create a key for new finishing coats to grip.
As said, taking off all of the existing finish is a different matter and of course it would need a different approach.

 

[aveatry]

I have done a similar sized room quite successfully with a DIY planer attach a hover to it instead you will be forever empting the planer onboard bag
Obvs bang the nails down first.
And use ear defenders