On Fri, 8 Aug 2008 11:18:15 -0700 (PDT), Chris
wrote:

I have really old hardwood flooring that has seen better days.. They
were just stained and waxed.. many years ago.. There is no way in
hell I can afford to professionally have them re-done, so I am going
to try it myself.. If I fail, I'll just carpet it..

I am afraid of using a drum sander.. can a belt sander be used, albeit
with more wear and tear on your knees?

I am going to attempt the small hallway first. A drum sander won't fit
in there.

What would be best? a drum sander or orbital sander?

what grits of sandpaper do I use?

for staining and sealing, a few coats of each, right?

I am starting small (the hall way).. what the hell to do it myself..
It can't look any worse than it does now, I say..


Solid hardwood or laminate? That makes a big difference when sanding.
Orbital sander might be your best choice. 100, 150, 220 grit papers.
Wall-off using plastic sheets to control the dust. A shop vac
connected to the sander and respirator are smart choices.