To sand wood floors by hand, you need to use sandpaper with progressively finer grits, starting with a coarser grit and moving to finer grits for a smooth finish, always sanding in the direction of the wood grain with even pressure.
Sanding Wood Floors by Hand
Sanding floors is a crucial step in refinishing, preparing the surface for staining or sealing. While large areas are often tackled with power sanders, the provided reference describes the process for sanding wood floors by hand. This method is particularly effective for smaller areas, edges, corners, or touch-ups.
Here's how to sand your floors by hand, based on the provided information:
- Start with a Coarser Grit: Begin the sanding process using sandpaper with a relatively coarse grit. This first pass is designed to remove old finishes, surface imperfections, and level the wood slightly.
- Progress Through Finer Grits: After the initial sanding with a coarse grit, switch to sandpaper with progressively finer grits. Each subsequent grit removes the scratches left by the previous, coarser paper.
- Example Grit Progression: You might start with 80-grit, then move to 120-grit, and finish with 220-grit or finer, depending on the desired smoothness.
- Sand in the Direction of the Wood Grain: Always sand along the natural direction of the wood grain. Sanding against or across the grain can create visible scratches that are difficult to remove and will show through the finish.
- Ensure Even Pressure: Apply consistent and even pressure as you sand. Uneven pressure can lead to dips or uneven spots on the floor surface.
While labor-intensive, this hand sanding method is effective for small areas or touch-ups, allowing for precise control over the sanding process.
Summary of Hand Sanding Steps:
- Use progressively finer grits.
- Begin with a coarser grit for initial work.
- Transition to finer grits for a smooth finish.
- Sand only in the direction of the wood grain.
- Apply even pressure.
- Best for small areas or touch-ups.
This approach ensures you effectively remove the surface layer and achieve a smooth, prepared base for finishing.
