Wondering if there is any point to invest in floor sanders and buffers for your collection? It depends, of course. Investing in floor sanders and buffers is justified only if you are planning to use them quite often, no matter if it comes to professional use or you are planning a few DIY projects around the house. In fact, floor sanders and buffers are those power tools you are not going to use on a weekly basis, not even on an annual one if you are not using floor sanders and buffers as part of your everyday job.
Renting floor sanders and buffers from your local floor services provider is always an option if you are planning a DIY project and it is a one-time thing. However, no matter if you are planning to actually buy floor sanders and buffers or rent floor sanders and buffers, one thing is for sure, you need to understand how floor sanders and buffers are used, how the different types of floor sanders and buffers will be or will not be useful during the floor sanding and refinishing process. This is the only way you are making sure you get the right floor sanders and buffers for the project and you are not spending your money on something you don’t actually need.
Floor sanders and buffers, as the name suggests, are used for floor sanding and refinishing projects, generally for stripping off the top layer of a wooden floor along with the old finish and paint or stain. There are different types of floor sanders and buffers available on the market and for hiring. In this guide to floor sanders and buffers, we will provide you with a more in-depth look at the different types and how you can use them for a project.
Floor Sanders and Buffers: Edging Floor Sander
Floor sanders and buffers: Edging floor sander
Edging floor sanders and buffers are heavy-duty machines designed for refinishing the edges of a wooden floor, as the name suggests – an edger. Edge sanders are used for sanding off all those nooks and corners that are hard to access and reach with other floor sanders and buffers. Thanks to the edger you can achieve a uniform and even look and feel for the entire surface of the floor.
The edger is operated by holding it in your hands – one of the few floor sanders and buffers that are actually not that chunky and large. This type of sanding equipment is then moved back and forth in a zig-zag pattern so the whole area is covered and worked on. This type of floor sanders and buffers produce a good finish and are pretty effective and necessary for a floor sanding project. The edging floor sander is beneficial for every project not only because it can work in hard-to-reach areas, but also because it easily removes surface issues and imperfections and smooths out the surface of the floor.
Floor sanders and buffers: Drum floor sander
Floor sanders and buffers: Drum floor sander
Drum sanders are those types of floor sanders and buffers that are used for rough floor sanding projects. These types of floor sanders and buffers are the most heavy-duty and larger machines you will use during a project, therefore, it is recommended to better hire them instead of investing in buying one you will use rarely and wonder how to store. Drum floor sanders and buffers are designed to successfully remove all imperfections on the surface of the floor and leave the surface of the floor super smooth and even.
When working with this type of floor sanders and buffers, make sure you are operating them in the opposite direction of the drum motion for perfect results and to avoid damages and over-sanding. The results you get with your floor when using this type of floor sanders and buffers is a very smooth and uniform surface. Drum sanders are also good at removing soft grains from the floor.
Floor Sanders and Buffers: Dust-Free Floor Sander
Floor sanders and buffers: Dust-free floor sander
Dust-free floor sanders and buffers are among the most innovative and advanced machines in the flooring world. These floor sanders and buffers are designed in a way they collect the majority of the wood dust and dirt created during the process of floor sanding. Floor sanding is usually a messy service and it creates a lot of dust and dirt you need to deal with after the project is finished. Thankfully, the flooring industry has created dust-free floor sanders and buffers that collect the majority during the process of sanding and you don’t need to stress over dealing with all the mess at the end of the project. Dust-free floor sanders and buffers are connected to a vacuum that sucks the dust-up. Dust-free floor sanders and buffers leave your wooden floor with a clean finish.
Floor Sanders and Buffers: Buffer Floor Sander
Floor sanders and buffers: Buffer floor sander
Buffers are used once the floor is completely sanded and ready for the finish. These floor sanders and buffers are designed for applying oil finishes to the surface of the floor. These floor sanders and buffers are used during the last stage of the floor sanding and refinishing process and for the final touches of the project. In addition, this type of floor sanders and buffers are very efficient and used for flattening and evening out the surface of the floor, removing all marks left by the more heavy-duty floor sanders and buffers used previously. These types of floor sanders and buffers are not that heavy-duty and hard to operate.
In fact, buffers are pretty easy to work with. You just need to start from the corner of the room and make sure the handle is well raised. There is not a high risk of over-sanding the floor, which makes this type of floor sanders and buffers the best equipment for DIY-ers with no previous experience. The finish you get with this type of floor sanders and buffers is very smooth. This type of floor sanders and buffers is worth considering an investment. Of course, you can hire floor sanders and buffers. However, re-oiling the floor is required every few years and you can consider buying your own buffer as it will be more convenient.
Floor sanders and buffers: Edging floor sander Floor sanders and buffers: Drum floor sander Floor sanders and buffers: Dust-free floor sander Floor sanders and buffers: Buffer floor sander