Refinishing Oak Floors

DrHicks

^ The different kind of sander is the key. Drum vss Random Orbital. It's the difference between a hand-held belt sander, and hand-held random orbital sander.

Another thing I really like about the RO Floor Sander (at least the ones I've rented) is that they have a bagging system that leaves virtually no dust behind.

management

This RO Floor Sander doesn't pick up any dust at all. It doesn't go airborne just left all on the floor. Only a little dust in the bag. I used my dust vac instead of the bag and same result.

It does the job though.

management

How long does the stain before the poly have to sit before applying the poly?

Bud Cline

Until it is dry.

DrHicks

You must be using an entirely different kind than the ones I've used. The ones I've used have a vacuum and bag right on the machine.

management

There is on directly on it but it's sucked. You can take it off and and use a dust vac.

DrHicks

That's what it's supposed to do!


Actually, I don't know what to tell you. On the machines I've used, the vacuum worked great. The sander left virtually NO dust anywhere.

ddawg16

Same for me....and it was a rental from HD....

As for the stain...if you use an oil stain and want to cover it with a water based latex clear coat...you need to wait at least a week....

Oil based clear over oil stain? Couple of days....us woodworking guys have the same issue....

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management

Ok so I got the stain down. The grain really is showing very strong. Any reason why that is? Is it the stain choice?

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DrHicks

Looks like you used pretty dark stain.


This is an oak floor of a rental house bedroom I refinished a couple years ago. I used what was called "natural" stain. I liked the warm feel it gave the wood.

management

Didn't think it would be that dark but yeah. Gonna change the wall color though. It came like that with the house.

DrHicks

Looks like you probably used a "dark oak" stain. Not too much you can do about it now. If it were me, I'd go no glossier than "satin" for the poly. "Semi-gloss" or "gloss" give it a little harsher look, in my opinion.

The right color paint will really make those rooms look nice!

DUDE!

Just saying,, on the poly, the strength is in the degree of gloss,, was told to go high gloss first two coats, then use satin for top coat if I wanted to tone down the shine.

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jcrack_corn

did you put a sealer on before the stain?

sanding sealers tend to even out the stain and give you MUCH greater control over the shade (ie, if you put stain on unsealed wood, it will soak it up pretty instantly, if it has a sealer on it you have time to wipe off excess and coat to color/use multiple coats to get desired shade).

Ironlight

That looks like a nice old red oak with winter wood and dark grain. Tends to stain out that way in my experience and I for one love it.

As for how long to let the stain dry, 24 hours at room temperature and 50% humidity will do it, provided you have wiped it down good, but it looks like we're past that marker.

Great job. Lookin' good!