Has anyone seen this? Sanding a finished hardwood floor

Question

Rented a sander from HD and the guys there say they've never seen this before. Anyone have experience build up from the wood floor coating?

It's leaving more scratches than it's sanding

Michael Gessner · Answer

@Niklos Bosnyak your using the wrong sander. Ur causing major issues if u continue using that orbital sander. You need to get a drum sander to strip it. If u don't know what ur doing hire someone. U can easily destroy wood floors not know how to do it.

Account Closed · Answer

Looks like wax build up. Dewax the floor is my vote.

Aaron Schrader · Answer

Not sure if you got this resolved or not, but highly used wood surfaces like a floor or butcher block counters and the like are going to have all kinds of dirt, oils or in this case even wax.  If you strip the floors down (de-wax) that should take care of the build up on the sander paper.  Even then you may run into a section of dirty floor that loads the paper up.  I've installed my own wood floors and those of paying customers.  That sander you are using is awesome, I've used both the drum and the orbital type you have in the picture.  The drums work well and do a lot of work quickly, but they are VERY easy to leave drum-width dips in the wood floor.  I would avoid using the drum in your case, it is too easy to leave those dips.  The sander in the picture is maybe a little slower, but it has a lot more forgiveness for inexperience (if you are inexperienced).  Additionally, if you are using a finish paper (like 120 or 150 grit) consider going to a lower grit to avoid loading it up as quickly.

John Teachout · Answer

Residue build up on powered sanders is common. I get it on my belt sander on a regular basis.

Has anyone seen this? Sanding a finished hardwood floor

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