Hello, my husband and i put down 4 inch white oak unfinished floors and are now attempting to sand them. I decided to use a random orbital instead of the drum mainly because of a narrow long hallway that would have been impossible to go with the grain and because the floors were remarkably flat without much overwood at all. We sanded the floors at 36 grit, 60 grit and 100 grit and thought they looked and felt great. However now that i am looking at them with a flashlight, i can see small swirls or pigtails everywhere. I tried my finish in the closet and it seems that it highlights the swirls.
So i am not sure what to do now. I can hand sand them out at 80 and then 100 grit and get most of them, but that is going to take forever. I could go get another machine, but I am afraid i will end up with the same swirls. Any thoughts? Do i need to just hire someone? Will screening take these sort of swirls out? I am used to building furniture and have never hand this problem, but I usually go up to a higher grit. I would be grateful for any advice as my husband and i are living in one bedroom with a 5 year old and a one year old until we get this done!
So i am not sure what to do now. I can hand sand them out at 80 and then 100 grit and get most of them, but that is going to take forever. I could go get another machine, but I am afraid i will end up with the same swirls. Any thoughts? Do i need to just hire someone? Will screening take these sort of swirls out? I am used to building furniture and have never hand this problem, but I usually go up to a higher grit. I would be grateful for any advice as my husband and i are living in one bedroom with a 5 year old and a one year old until we get this done!