To find the most suitable kind of floor sander for the project that you wish to accomplish, sometimes it helps to explore the various types that are available on the market.
Edging Floor Sander
Starting with the smaller variations, the first type of floor sander to look into is the edging sander. These are usually used in tandem with other sanders for larger projects- like using edging tools in painting. For those harder to reach areas, you would use this smaller sander to get to the corners and other places that drum or orbital sanders would not be able to access. These are handheld devices, lightweight but still offering enough power to make sure that the wood has been stripped and smoothed and may work with orbital motion. These should not, however, be confused with orbital sanders- they are much more powerful and will be perfect for hardwood floor use but would not be advised for smaller projects that an orbital would be perfect for. As well, you would never want to use a lower orbital for edging.
Drum Floor Sander
The drum sander is the type that most people are familiar with. Usually designed with a rotational drum wrapped in paper, a drum sander is useful for large projects and is not readily available for sale. When renting a drum sander, you will also likely receive instruction on what grade paper to use, such as fine, medium and coarse grains. These are also easy to misjudge and scar up a flooring project, so it is always wise to make sure that you are very careful with use. This is usually your best choice when it comes to profoundly damaged floors, as it can often smooth out cracks and other rough areas and stains.
Square Pad Floor Sanders
Square pad sanders are also handy tools. These are less powerful than a drum sander, and more comfortable for the do it yourself-er to manage. Though projects using these will take a little longer to complete, there is not as much risk of accidentally over sanding. Another option would be an orbital sander. Also, another excellent way for those who are redoing their flooring projects and need the wood stripped down. An orbital is a sander that will move in a circular form, and can usually be used regardless of the grain. Most of the sanders mentioned here carry some dust bag, which will have to be emptied here and there throughout the process of larger projects.
Sanders are all self-propelling, and so they take a little getting used to. Making sure that you remain in control of it is important, mainly if you are using a drum sander or similarly high-powered device. For this reason, choosing the larger sanders for flooring projects and keeping the smaller sanders, such as the handheld orbitals and the like for the smaller, furniture and other woodworking projects is essential. Choosing not only the right sander for your project but the right paper will enable you to create or refinish something beautifully.
We here at Floor Sanders London hope that our breakdown on what kind of sander is best for which situation was helpful. If you would like to learn more information about sanding wooden floors, then please Contact Us or call us on 020 8427 6604