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Floor Sanding Technique
Place the sander on the right-hand wall (unless you are making an angled cut on uneven floors) with
about two thirds of the floor in front of you. Start the sander with the drum off the floor then walk
forward at an even pace and ease the drum on to the floor. As you near the end of the pass,
gradually raise the drum off the floor.
Practice this technique before turning on the sander.
Cover the same path you made on the forward cut by pulling the machine backwards and easing the
drum to the floor as you begin the backward pass until you reach the original starting point, then
ease the drum off the floor.
When two thirds of the floor is sanded, turn the floor sander around and sand the remaining third in
the same way. Overlap the one third area by 0.6 to 0.9 meters (2 to 3 feet) with the two thirds area
to blend the two areas together.
WARNING: never bounce the sanding drum or dwell in one place as this will sand dips and hollows in
the floor.
Floor Types
Plank and Strip Floors
Old floors in good condition - when the floor is in good condition - no uneven edges, cupping or
crowning of planks and strips –and you want to re-surface the floor, sanding back to new wood,
start sanding in the direction of the planks or strips - with the wood grain.
Start with a medium grit abrasive. Complete the first cut with the HT8-1.2 Floor Sander then sand up
to the baseboards and door thresholds with the HT7-2 Disc Floor Sander, using a medium grit
abrasive, blending the edges in with the main floor area. Sweep the floor. Using a medium/fine grit
abrasive, sand the main floor area with the drum sander and then complete the floor with the edger
using a fine grit abrasive. Sweep the floor. Finish sanding the main floor area with the drum floor
sander using a fine grit abrasive. If the floor is in particularly good condition (level with no deep
scratches or blemishes) you may re-surface the floor using the Finishing Floor Sander, however, as
the sanding action of this machine is less aggressive than the HT81.2 Floor Sander the job will take
more time.
Uneven floors - when the floor is uneven sand diagonally at 45o across the room in both directions
using the HT8 Floor Sander with a coarse grit abrasive. Only make one cut on both diagonals, this will
achieve a basic level. Now complete the floor as for a level strip or plank floor. Use the same grit
abrasive as was used on the 45o cut for the first cut parallel to the planks or strips.
Floors with an existing finish - when re-finishing a floor remove as little of the existing surface as
possible. If the old finish is worn and the floor is generally in good condition use the Finishing Floor
Sander with abrasive pads and strips which have been especially designed for re-finishing floors.
These will maintain the integrity of any stain used to colour the wood and prepare the surface for a
new coat of finish. If the floor is badly marked and scratched and has to be sanded back to new
wood use the HT8 Floor Sander and HT7 Disc Floor Sander. Always try a medium grit paper first,
particularly on a diagonal cut. If 90% of the old finish is removed and the floor is generally level, you
do not need to use a coarse grit abrasive.
