Rotex R0150 for small/medium floor sanding?

[Deke]

Okay, I may just be trying to make an excuse to buy a new sander, but I have a DIY project and a 8' x 16' oak floor to refinish and was thinking maybe, just maybe, it might be possible to do with a Rotex 150. I'm in no hurry so even if it took a few hours more than with a drum sander, or even a whole day, I could live with that. I have a CT 36 and a RO90 (now that would be pushing it) and ETS 150/3. I use the heck out of them and could see other uses for the bigger Rotex.

This guy and a few others seemed to do okay:

P.S. It would be even less square footage if I were to skip sanding where the cabinets will be (kitchen), but if that is sloppy/lazy work I would do it right.

 

[Wuffles]

I reckon whatever anyone says, you're still going to be pushing to get the RO150  [smile]

Also, never trust a man wearing Festool socks.

Your argument seems sound enough to me, but then I refer you to my first sentence, I'm exactly the same.

 

[#Tee]

i want his socks lol

 

[Deke]

Actually I just found this 5 year old thread and the few who tried this did not have fun. http://festoolownersgroup.com/home-improvement-other-projects/sanding-wood-floor-with-the-rotex/

Looks like renting a drum sander and using the RO 90 for edges is the way to go. However, maybe I will buy those socks!

 

[Alan m]

i once sanded a floor with a  floor sander,
that was great but required a lot of extra sanding my ro150 did great at getting into the corners . I even gave the whole floor a run . the floor came out great.

I wouldn't hesitate to do the whole floor with the ro150.
it will take longer  but if its your own floor then give it a go

 

[Wuffles]

You're a stronger willed man than me [member=5251]Deke[/member]

I'd have buckled already and bought the 150. Good on you and best of luck.

 

[sae]

I did my floors w/ the RO150/RO90. I was gunshy about using the drum sander because the last person who touched my parents' floor left a huge gouge.

I started w/ a belt sander, and the intense amount of dust is really what got me to pickup the RO150. Started w/ Saphir 24 grit, and did Granat 40-60-80-120.

I won't say it was fast, but it allowed me to be anal retentive. All my boards were warped from being not touched in the last 60 years, but the Saphir paper made pretty quick work of it (relatively). I plan on finishing my stairs and another bedroom.

RO150 front handle is almost a must for this task IMHO.

 

[PA floor guy]

Please do not do this!!!!!!  Call a professional and ask him to just sand your floor and you will do the finish work yourself.  I do this for alot of people.

 

[mike_aa]

When I sanded about 500 square feet of newly installed oak flooring, this is the sander I used.  If you'd like to DIY it, I highly recommend renting one of these machines if you can.  I tried a drum sander, but I found it demanded a large learning curve for a novice and it was a real pain to use.  The U-Sand is almost like using a Rotex on steroids to do your floors and It allows you to sand quickly while maintaining a really flat surface, and gets right up to the wall.  I liked it so much I ended up buying a used one to use on the rest of the floors in my house.

Mike A.

 

[Sparktrician]

I refinished floors in two houses, starting off with one of those Clark drum sanders.  I was very fortunate to have had some good advice up front from a friend's dad about using them, so I didn't make a mess of it, but I can certainly see how it could happen.  In any case the floors came out beautifully, and I didn't have any Festools at the time. 

 

[rizzoa13]

I just did this at my home and I want to be honest with you, it hurts your body A LOT. I'm 29 years old and in really good shape and sitting on that sander giving it the pressure needed to strip the floor for days on end nearly killed me. I striped the floor with 40 grit and then skimmed out filler over the whole thing. I started in on it at 60 grit and finally said F this and rented the floor sander from Home Depot. Plugged my 36mm hose into it instead of the dust bag and had such an enjoyable experience.

I spent less than $175 on rental/ pads and saved myself days of aggravation.

 

[Mitchwood]

The RO150 is great for the edges but for the main floor area I use a Lagler Trio, 100% dust free and doesn't make gouges.

 

[sae]

Please do not do this!!!!!!  Call a professional and ask him to just sand your floor and you will do the finish work yourself.  I do this for alot of people.

Care to expand (other than it cuts into your business [tongue])?