Professional Sandpaper Guide

Floor Sanding

Guides for hardwood floor sanding — from the right grit sequence on oak vs maple to drum sander selection and edger technique. Written for contractors, not homeowners.

Sandpaper Grit Conversion Chart: CAMI, FEPA P, Micron

CAMI to FEPA P to micron conversion for coated abrasives, P36 through P600, plus the grits where the two scales stop matching and why it matters.

Silverline SL-8 Sandpaper: 8×20-1/8 Size Guide

Silverline SL-8 slotted drum takes 8×20-1/8 sheets; the hook-and-loop drum takes 8×17-5/8. Grit sequence, quantity per room, and rental tips.

Square Buff Sander Sandpaper: 12×18 Size Guide

The Square Buff (American Sanders OBS-18, Home Depot 07014A) takes 12×18 sheets. Sizes, the pad stack, PSA vs cling backing, and how many to buy.

80 Grit vs 100 Grit Sandpaper for Floors

80 vs 100 grit final pass: 100 for water-based or stain, 80 for oil-based clear. Plus the water-wipe test that catches scratches before you finish.

Best Drum Sander Sheets 8×19.5: VA vs Norton vs 3M

Best 8×19.5 drum sheets compared: Virginia Abrasives, Norton, 3M ranked by stage, coat type, sheet life, and honest cross-brand picks.

Best Sanding Sheets for Clarke DU-8 Drum Sander

Clarke DU-8 sandpaper: 8×19.5 inch sheets. Loading, troubleshooting, rental inspection checklist, and DU-8-specific failure modes.

Best Sandpaper for Hardwood Floor Refinishing

Best sandpaper for hardwood floor refinishing: Virginia Abrasives vs Norton vs 3M, segmented by DIY weekender, light pro, and stain work.

Best Sandpaper for Removing Paint from Wood Floors

Removing paint from wood floors: 24-36 grit start, open-coat sheets, lead testing for pre-1978 houses, RRP rule, fire risk, stripper safety.

Clarke EZ-8 Sandpaper Size Guide: Both Versions, Specs

Clarke EZ-8 sandpaper: older clamp-bar uses 8×19.5 sheets, newer expandable drum uses 8×19 belts. Identify your version, load, troubleshoot.

Clarke Super 7R Edger: Specs, Disc Sizes, Variable Speed

Clarke Super 7R edger guide: 7-inch discs, 7/8 vs 5/16 center hole, variable speed by grit, rental inspection, PSA vs hook-and-loop.

Floor Sanding Edger Discs 7-Inch: VA vs Norton vs 3M

Best 7-inch edger discs compared: VA, Norton, 3M by stage. PSA vs hook-and-loop. Mode-segmented picks for DIY and light pros.

How to Sand Hardwood Floors with a Rental Sander

Sanding hardwood floors with a rental drum sander: NWFA grit sequence, dust and lead safety, three pre-rental checks, finish reoccupancy timing.

Lagler Hummel Belt Sander: Belt Sizes, When It's Worth It

Lagler Hummel guide: 7-7/8 × 29-1/2 belts, rental inspection, honest when-it-justifies-the-cost rule, belt tracking, troubleshooting.

How Much Sandpaper Do I Need? (Sheet Calculator by Room)

Sandpaper sheet calculator for floor sanding — drum sheet and edger disc counts by room size, grit, and wood species. NWFA-aligned.

Bona FlexiSand DCS Buffer: Discs, Screens, Grit Sequence

Bona FlexiSand DCS buffer takes 16-inch screens, 5-inch multi-discs, and Power Drive plates. Grit sequence for screen-and-recoat and bare wood.

Drum Marks, Swirl Marks, Scratches: Floor Sanding Fixes

Fix common floor sanding problems including drum marks, swirl marks, and scratches under finish. Step-by-step causes and solutions.

Free Sandpaper Grit Chart PDF: Every Grit, Every Material

Printable sandpaper grit chart PDF — which grit for wood, drywall, metal, paint. NWFA-aligned 24 to 220 grit sequences, ready to download.