Stripping Deck Floor

[tedrin]

What would be the best sized  RO sander to strip paint off this deck floor?...The boards aren't all flush and I think they are 2x4's....Would the RO-90 be the best choice because the pad is 3.5"? What would be the best sandpaper choice ,an 80 & 100 grit granat?[attachimg=1]

 

[tjbnwi]

Look more like 5/4x6 planks.

RO 150.

Granat-60-80-100.

Do not paint the deck again please.

Tom

 

[tedrin]

Look more like 5/4x6 planks.

RO 150.

Granat-60-80-100.

Do not paint the deck again please.

Tom

Thanks Tom,

What does 5/4x6 mean?  You mean a 4x6 ---> 6" wide planks?...The RO-150 is a 6" pad and that might be a tight fit given the boards are not flush?...How about the RO-125 instead which is a 5" wide?

I plan to finish it with Flood solid colour stain in the same white...I did my own deck with that stain 4 years ago and it is still mint...We have brutal winters in Calgary.

 

[Walk On Wood]

5/4x6 means 1 1/4" thick x 6" wide. I sand a lot of decks.  I would recommend you rent a floor sander and sand the deck flat.  Then use the rotex150 for the edges.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Rotex 150 or perhaps 125. Not the 90, it's too small.

Looking at the state of the paint it will probably come off very easy, so I'd start with 80 instead of 60.

 

[tedrin]

I just checked and the floor  boards are 5.5"...That probably means that the RO-125 with a 5" pad  is the best bet...I already own a 125 ETS finishing sander & CT-26 dust extractor...BTW ---The 125 ETS does a phenomenal job on drywall mud sanding...I've been using  it for over 5 years as a pro painter.

I really should buy a RO-90 because I would use it 10X more than the  RO-125 but that deck will take forever with a 3.5" pad.

I just checked out the prices in Canada and they want $563 for the RO-125,almost $100 more than the cost in the US..What a ripoff!!!..It's a German Built product.

 

[leakyroof]

I just checked and the floor  boards are 5.5"...That probably means that the RO-125 with a 5" pad  is the best bet...I already own a 125 ETS finishing sander & CT-26 dust extractor...BTW ---The 125 ETS does a phenomenal job on drywall mud sanding...I've been using  it for over 5 years as a pro painter.

I really should buy a RO-90 because I would use it 10X more than the  RO-125 but that deck will take forever with a 3.5" pad.

I just checked out the prices in Canada and they want $563 for the RO-125,almost $100 more than the cost in the US..What a ripoff!!!..It's a German Built product.

  Or, you could heed Walk on Wood's words and rent a sander. Even if it's not a larger 8" or so Floor sander, it will be easier on your back and knees than using a Rotex.
It's your choice since you already own a CT extractor, and I also think Granat will work better with paint or old finish on those boards than the abrasives of many common floor sanders, but again, your choice.
  There's also the used route. People sell used sanders here all the time in the Classified Section. There's a 150 Rotex for sale right now, I think.
Sure, it's a different diameter than your current sander, so that means another sized assortment of abrasives to buy, but it's one sander that's up for the job on your 5 1/2" boards if you don't want to mess with a Floor sander.

 

[tedrin]

I just checked and the floor  boards are 5.5"...That probably means that the RO-125 with a 5" pad  is the best bet...I already own a 125 ETS finishing sander & CT-26 dust extractor...BTW ---The 125 ETS does a phenomenal job on drywall mud sanding...I've been using  it for over 5 years as a pro painter.

I really should buy a RO-90 because I would use it 10X more than the  RO-125 but that deck will take forever with a 3.5" pad.

I just checked out the prices in Canada and they want $563 for the RO-125,almost $100 more than the cost in the US..What a ripoff!!!..It's a German Built product.

  Or, you could head Walk on Wood's words and rent a sander. Even if it's not a larger 8" or so Floor sander, it will be easier on your back and knees than using a Rotex.
It's your choice since you already own a CT extractor, and I also think Granat will work better with paint or old finish on those boards than the abrasives of many common floor sanders, but again, your choice.
  There's also the used route. People sell used sanders here all the time in the Classified Section. There's a 150 Rotex for sale right now, I think.
Sure, it's a different diameter than your current sander, so that means another sized assortment of abrasives to buy, but it's one sander that's up for the job on your 5 1/2" boards if you don't want to mess with a Floor sander.

I've never attempted to use a floor sander on a deck such as that because the boards are uneven...It's not like sanding a hardwood floor where everything is perfectly flat...That's why I inquired about the rotex sanders...My guess is that it is better to do it board by board...I should be able to strip it in a few hours at most...I agree about the 80 grit...That was my first choice too..On the real nasty paint I use a 40 or 60 grit  first.

 

[Walk On Wood]

A floor sander will flatten out the uneven boards.. I sanded an extremely uneven deck last week, about 400', in 3 hours using an ez-8 (a rental level sander I have just for doing decks), a RAS, and a Rotex 150

 

[PA floor guy]

I agree. Get an ez8 from any tool rental place. I sand at least 20-25 decks every year.  It's the only way to do it.

 

[AlexThePalex]

...I've been using  it for over 5 years as a pro painter.

I really should buy a RO-90 because I would use it 10X more than the  RO-125 but that deck will take forever with a 3.5" pad.

I just checked out the prices in Canada and they want $563 for the RO-125,almost $100 more than the cost in the US..What a ripoff!!!

Since you're a pro painter I think the RO90 is a definate must-have. I'm not a pro but I grew up in a bodyshop and still do a lot of painting and have 11 Festool sanders. The RO90 is one of my most used sanders together with the DTS400 and the RO150. Wouldn't want to be without any one of those 3, and I'm only a hobbyist.

I'd say, take the guys up on their advice and rent a floor sander to do the bulk of the work, and then use your newly bought RO90 to clean it up nicely.

In Canada you'd probably have to pay a bit more tax than in the States. But when you walk across a bridge, you'd have a good chance to get to the other side, while in the States ....  [poke]

 

[tedrin]

Are there any advantages to buying the hard pad accessory?...Will it make any difference on a deck floor?

 

[AlexThePalex]

Are there any advantages to buying the hard pad accessory?...Will it make any difference on a deck floor?

It has lots of advantages. Stripping will be done quicker because the cushioning effect of the soft pad is gone. And it will be easier to get a flat result. I almost exclusively use the hard pad on my Rotexes, except when I do a car or a more delicate piece of furniture.

 

[tjbnwi]

Forgot to mention in my first post-----set the nails or screws below the deck surface prior to sanding.

Tom

 

[tedrin]

I just want to thank you all for contributing to this thread...I think I'll buy the hard pad accessory for the RO-125.

Next on the wish list is a RO-90  [big grin]

 

[Holmz]

I am in the same boat.
There is a cabin porch deck with 2x6 that are all cupped nails sticking up.
My plan at the moment is to remove the nails, put countersunk holes in, and screw the boards down.

One option is to remove the boards, sand, and finish them before screwing them down.