The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

How To Finish Wood Floors

Using the correct grade of sandpaper in the sanding machine (see chart on Page 12), pass the drum sander slowly over the floor sanding lengthwise with the floor boards, starting at one wall and moving straight to the opposite wall. Then pass the sander back along the same path. This return pass enables the machine to pick up the dust created by the first pass. (Be sure to follow this procedure throughout the entire sanding schedule).

Each complete pass (from wall to wall and return) should overlap previous pass by 2 to 3 inches.

Although some finishers prefer diagonal sanding on the first sanding operation, remember that criss-cross or cross-grain sanding must always be followed by length-wise sanding with the same grit paper.

CHART OF SANDING OPERATIONS — NEW FLOORS
(Use Closed Coat Sandpaper Only)

FLOOR	OPERATION	CONDITION OF FLOOR	GRADE OF SANDPAPER
Hardwood Oak, Maple, Beech, Birch	First Cut	Uneven Floor	Medium-Coarse	2 (36)
		Ordinary Floor	Fine	1 (50)
	Final Sanding		Extra Fine	2/0 (100)
Softwood Pine, Fir	First Cut	Uneven Floor	Medium-Fine	11/2 (40)
		Ordinary Floor	Fine	1 (50)
	Final Sanding		Extra Fine	2/0 (100)

FINAL SANDING: Always use 2/0 (100 grit) paper for this operation. Pass the drum sander over the floor lengthwise with the floor boards. The rate of walking speed may be increased considerably during this operation. Each complete pass should overlap previous pass from 2 to 3 inches.

Equip the disc edge sander with the same grit paper as the drum sander and in the same sequence . . . that is, after using No. 1 paper in the drum sander, also use No. 1 paper for the disc edge sanding, before the second cut with the drum sander is made.