Day one not bad just need the little stuff

My first floors · More Info

My first floors · More Info

Day 2 stuck in the mud next to no progress

My first floors · More Info

so is the foam pad why its having such a hard time? for the difference between day 1 and 2 are staggering

Yes, it is too soft and just flattens out. Replace it with a stiffer one. Use black if, you need to. And place a sand bag on top.

Once you remove the finish, you can switch to the softer pads.

the folks arent sure how many times the floors been redone, the 36 wont be pushing my luck with shaving to much off the floor?

oh and thank you very much for the advice. im going to try that today

You've gotten good advice on how to proceed with what you have, personally I'd drive however far I need to to rent a drum sander (and and edger while you're there).

Check your floor thickness before you have a bad surprise-- it's too late when you start seeing the nail heads. Look for a place at the edges or where there's a floor register where you can see the edge. If you're really concerned drill a hole someplace relatively inconspicuous (but away from the edge) that you can come back and fill with a matching cross-grain plug. Real floor guys may well have a better trick for measuring remaining floor thickness.

Oh-- and use your sandpaper as if someone else is paying for it.

Since you've said you don't have access to a drum sander, I'm assuming you weren't the inexperienced idiot that ground the horrific drum sander marks into the floor as shown in your last picture.

I'd attempt to take those out with a 50 grit on a 4" wide belt sander with dust collection before going any further.

@Chadd - To check the thickness of the wood (to see how much 'meat' you have to work with) find a cross section of the floor (super easy: find a floor vent and measure the amount of wood sitting ABOVE the tongue...you need 3mm to complete a full sand and refinish).

You are getting great advice. The small, light weight machine is slowing you down and the lack of weight is preventing the pads from 'biting' into the finish. In other words the finish is TOUGHER than the pads and therefore the finish is 'winning' whereas your pads are loosing. Add some weight to the machine and stiffen up the pad (as suggested by G & S).

I applaud your wish to tackle this project in an area with limited access to equipment. As you have discovered your TIME is now the MOST VALUABLE asset at this time. Given the task, you are going to take 3-4 TIMES the amount of time normally needed. Be OK with that. You've started and have found your approach to be less than effective.

You have reached out at the right time (at the START of the project and not at the end). Good for you. Keep asking questions. It is how EVERYONE learns (do you think Neurosurgeons are born to do what they do?). They are TAUGHT. And let me tell you how many questions they ask during their Internship! HUGE amounts of questions thrown at their Mentors.

Keep asking = keep learning. You'll get there.

had to adapt and over come the weight situation. no sand bags haha. but it's worked amazing. but...

this is what's left for materials on the orbital.

one of the owners tried to help and left.....this. how the hell, and do I just sand the he'll out of it? hand belt sander maybe? I'm on the 36 with weight and I'm still having a hard time

only in this area and it's tough. I don't want to use to 20 test. chemical removal?

Chadd:

If you're going to ask for help, please be polite enough to read and comprehend the preceding posts.

I used a 3 head orbital sander from Home Depot. (I had used a 4 head one on a previous floor that was soooo much faster and better!) I did have to use 20 grit to get to this. The progress is shown.

I was unaware that was what you spoke of Joseph I apologize, you could have told me those where cheetah track. this is all a learning experience for me.

Why are you getting paid to do something that is clearly beyond your skill level? How did you BS your way into this? Do you have ANY form of license and insurance? What legitimate business do you actually run? Because you are way out of your lane here.

You need to hire a real flooring Specialist subcontractor, even if it comes at a loss to you. You’ve already lost any credibility and reputation with the homeowner for taking as long and doing as poor a job as you have. The only way to salvage that is to get the real pro involved that should have been doing the job to begin with.

I always wanted to be a brain surgeon, but learning and getting experience and all that boring stuff is such a drag.

I feel like a lot of progress was made today, I'm saving the area with the scuffs for last. and for the green fellas comment. I'm not getting paid for this. this is for a friend in need with nowhere else to turn.