1. Drum Floor Sander
2. Edger Disc Sander 
3. Rotary Floor Buffer / Maintainer
4. Vacuum
5. Sandpaper (fine, medium, coarse)
6. Grade 120 Mesh Screen Disc with Pad
7. Hammer and Nail Set
8. Prybar
9. Hand Scraper
10. Dust Mask, Safety Glasses, Ear Plugs
Preparing the Floor
1. Remove quarter round molding or baseboard for
a professional touch. Use a small
wooden wedge between the wallboard and the
pry bar to prevent damaging the
wallboard.
2. Repair or replace loose boards by gluing and nailing.
3. Counter-sink all protruding nail heads with nail set.
4. Vacuum or sweep the floor.
Sanding the Floor
NEW FLOORS
(Recently installed or slightly worn)
FIRST SANDING: (Medium Abrasive,
Grit 36-2) Install sandpaper per machine manufacturer's instructions.
(Snug, not too tight or loose). Position the drum sander along
the wall in the direction of the wood grain, with approximately
two-thirds of the length of the floor in front of you.
(1).
Start machine and ease the drum to the floor. Walk slowly forward
at an even pace. As you near the wall, gradually raise the drum
off the floor. Start pulling the machine backwards as you ease
the drum to the floor. Cover the same path previously sanded,
raising the drum upon completion of this pass. The next cuts
should be done in the same fashion, moving the machine approximately
four inches into the unsanded floor area each time. After a
few passes, you will notice your sander's dust bag will start
filling up. Stop sanding and empty the dust bag often.
(2).
Upon completing the two-thirds portion of the room, turn the
machine in the opposite direction and sand the remaining one
third in the exact same manner, allow a two or three foot overlap
of the first cuts. If you start to notice the sanding rate is
dropping, your sanding sheet is probably clogged or worn out.
Stop sanding and change your sheet. If you continue operating
with a worn out or clogged sanding sheet, you will eventually
burn or damage your floor!
(3).
After you have completed this operation, use the edger machine
to sand near walls and in areas where the drum sander won't
reach. Move the edger in a brisk left-to-right, semi-circular
motion. (Use same grit abrasive as used on drum sander.) Hand
sand or scrape corners and areas inaccessible by machine. Vacuum
the entire floor. Apply wood putty to any exposed cracks or
holes in wood. Allow to dry before proceeding to the next sanding
step.
SECOND SANDING: (Fine Abrasive, Grit
80-0) Upon completing both drum and edger sanding operations
with medium abrasive, repeat the same procedure with the fine
abrasive - grit 80.
OLD FLOORS (Generous amount of old
finish to be removed, and /or uneven floor contours to be corrected)
FIRST SANDING: (Coarse Abrasive,
Grit 20-3 1/2). Install sandpaper per machine manufacturer's
instructions.
Divide
the room into thirds. Place the sander next to a wall facing
the direction of the grain with two-thirds of the floor in front
of you. Start the machine and slowly ease the drum to the floor
while walking slowly at an even pace. As you near the wall,
gradually raise the drum. Begin pulling the machine backwards
as you ease the drum to the floor.
Cover the same path previously sanded. Raise
the drum upon completion of this pass. Sand the entire floor
area in the same direction, overlapping approximately four inches
on each new cut until you finish. Move the sander into position
so that this operation can be repeated in the opposite direction
for the remaining one third of the room.
If your floor is severely cupped or curled
you may need to sand this first cut at a 45-degree angle to
the direction of the wood grain (see above diagram). Otherwise,
sanding should always be done with the direction of the wood
grain.
If you start to notice the sanding rate
is dropping, your sanding sheet is probably clogged or worn
out. Stop sanding and change the sheet. Failure to change the
sheet at this time will eventually lead to burn marks and damage
to the floor.
After you have completed this operation,
use the edger disc sander to sand near the walls and in areas
the drum sander won't reach. Mover the disc edger in a brisk
left-to-right , semi-circular motion. (Use same grit abrasive
as used on the drum sander.)
DO NOT attempt to remove 100% of the old
finish during this operation. Residual amounts will be removed
during subsequent sanding operations. Vacuum the entire floor.
SECOND SANDING: (Continue sanding
as indicated above, but with a medium abrasive - 36 grit. Apply
wood putty to exposed cracks and allow to dry.)
THIRD SANDING: (Continue sanding
like previous steps, but with a fine abrasive - 80 grit.)
Final Preparation
Screening The Floor
(Please note that this step is optional,
but adds a professional touch to your floor.)
Slowly lower the floor buffer with a tan
or green nylon pad attached over a 120 grit sanding screen.
Keeping the buffer balanced, sand the entire floor in the direction
of the wood grain, overlapping your passes by four inches, as
you work your way to the wall behind you. Remove screen and
shake out sawdust as it becomes clogged.
Hand scrape and fine sand areas the power
sander was not able to reach. Vacuum the entire room thoroughly,
especially around windows, sills, doors and door frames. Inspect
the floor. Hand sand any imperfections and swirl marks that
may remain.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations
and guidelines for applying your floor finish.
Helpful Hints
1. Check fuse supply as machine may overload circuit.
2. Remove furniture, rugs, curtains, pictures and any other
conveniently removed items.
3. Complete wall covering and painting projects prior to refinishing
floors.
4. Provide adequate ventilation during sanding and refinishing.
5. If the room has a large doorway, cover it with a dropcloth
or plastic covering.
Stuff towels or rags under bottoms of exit
or closet doors. Cover all air vents.
6. NEVER stop the sander with the drum in contact with
the floor.
7. Wear clean, soft footwear to avoid dirt marks and scratching.
Caution
1. Sanding dust is extremely combustible.
2. Never smoke or have open flames present while sanding or
applying finish.
3. Empty sander dust bags frequently into container.
Store container outside of job site
to prevent possible fire hazard.
4. Unplug sanding equipment when not in use or when changing
paper.
