I finally stopped using that old belt sander for floor prep after a disaster job

Back when I started, we used this heavy industrial belt sander for everything... it was a beast. I kept using it for years out of habit, even on newer engineered floors. Last fall, I gouged a client's premium oak floor in Denver because the old thing just didn't have the fine control. The repair and my time to fix it cost me over $600. I should have switched to a modern orbital sander ages ago. What's your go-to tool for sanding down high spots now?

3 comments

3 Comments

cole_lee92mo ago

But that old belt sander still gets into corners better than anything new.

andrew_kelly2mo ago

Wait, a belt sander for corners?

aaron8961mo ago

Gouging a premium oak floor with a belt sander sounds like a $600 learning experience I'd rather skip lol. That old beast probably has more power than finesse, which is great for barns but not so much for rich people's floors. My go-to for high spots now is just a good random orbital sander with some patience and maybe a cold beer nearby. Got that thing dialed in so I'm not sanding through the veneer like a maniac anymore.