I am trying to remove the rubber type carpet pad left behind after removing the carpet on my basement stairs. It's likely been there and walked on for close to 70 years. It's hard as rock. I have scraped and chiseled as much as possible. Now i am trying to sand down the remaining stuff. I am using a hand sander (all I have) and 60 grit paper. It works on the thinner stuff but barely makes a dent on the really thick parts. The paper wears down very quickly. Short of replacing all the wood treads can anyone suggest an alternative. And yes I tried dissolving it with floor adhesive remover. Just made a gooey mess. TYIA