Sanding a bathroom floor

[hoofy]

My bathroom opepe hardwood floor is getting a bit scuffed and worn in places so I'm looking to either put a new finish straight over the old one, or maybe take the old finish off if I have to. I think the old finish is a lacquer (bonakemi?) I think I also put a stain on the bare wood before I put the finish on.

The floor is about 4 square meters so renting a drum sander isn't the answer as it's not straight forward with my toilet and sink complicating things. I do have a decent random orbital sander and plenty of spare time. Am I wasting my time with that?

 

[jim1950]

I had a similar problem but a Maple kitchen floor with hard lacquer finish, give up in the end with the orbital and hired a floor sander.
The orbital had some effect but not a good enough to apply a new finish.
Good luck with the floor.
Jim

 

[hoofy]

What type of floor sander would I hire? The area is too small for a drum sander. Would I get an edging sander or belt sander or is there another tool more suited to the job?

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I did a good sized living room parquet years ago with 40 grit on a half sheet - tedious, but at least you know you can't damage anything. Flooring sanders can be a nightmare to use without leaving digs.

 

[hoofy]

40 grit on a half sheet .

What do you mean, on a half sheet?

 

[Rorschach]

You might do well to use a heavy duty carbide scraper and then sand afterwards.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

40 grit on a half sheet .

What do you mean, on a half sheet?

Sorry, a half sheet sander.

 

[hoofy]

You might do well to use a heavy duty carbide scraper and then sand afterwards.

I have a heat gun. I'll try it tomorrow with a regular scraper and see if it looks like it might be a goer with a better scraper.

 

[jim1950]

thats the problem hire sanders are all to big in a small area, start with a good 40 grit and work up the grit rating

 

[hoofy]

A friend has offered to lend me a belt sander, I'll give that a go.

 

[hoofy]

Almost finished. Just put the first coat of osmo polyx on and I'll give it one more coat in the morning.

That's the last time I'm going to do a sanding job on a floor. Even though I tried to keep doors closed to limit the spread of dust, it's still managed to get everywhere.

The floor was hard work enough but next I have to dust the whole house.