How to Sand Hardwood Floors with Orbital Sander?
Orbital Sander is a type of sander having sanding surface that moves in small and tight orbit motion. The sander is controlled and driven by a high-speed electric motor. The Orbital Sander can be used to sand hardwood flooring for which the user needs to follow the below-given steps:
- Clean The Flooring:
The first step will be to clean the hardwood flooring either by sweeping and vacuuming in order to remove all the elements from the wood flooring that can damage the Orbital Sander such as tacks, nails, and other substances. - Prepare Orbital Sander:
The next step will be to prepare an Orbital Sander by attaching the Sandpaper and a Course Grit to the bottom of the sander. It has been recommended by the experts to use lower grit sandpaper in order to achieve better results such as 40-grit sandpaper. - Start Sanding:
The third step will be to start sanding the hardwood flooring from the farthest end of the room and work in the direction of the wood grain. The sanding will automatically create a pattern that will allow the user to finish sanding at the exit of the room. - Use Hand Sander:
In order to sand low spots and edges of the hardwood flooring, the user needs to switch to a hand orbital sander using the same level of grit paper. The small sander is always used to cover up the areas left by the normal sized sander in order to achieve the desired result. - Clean The Flooring Again:
The dust and debris of sanding need to be removed from the hardwood flooring by sweeping and vacuuming. The user needs to constantly clean the surface in order to protect the orbital sander from unwanted elements that can damage the sander. - Apply Mineral Spirits:
Once sweeping is done, the user needs to pour some mineral spirits on to the clean towel and wipe down the entire hardwood flooring with it. The step is required in order to remove the fine layer of dust from the flooring. Also, the step helps in providing the flooring a smooth look. It has been recommended by the experts to use gloves during the step as some skins are very sensitive to chemicals. - Let The Flooring Dry:
The last step will be to let the flooring dry completely before applying a coat of hardwood flooring finish on to it. The user needs to follow the instructions of the manufacturer while choosing the finish for his hardwood flooring and needs to apply the finish according to the label instructions.