aN

[email protected] (Nate Goulet)

03/07/2004 4:44 AM

What type of sander do I use to sand under baseboard heaters for my hardwood floors?

What type of sander do I use to sand under baseboard heaters for my
hardwood floors?

Home Depot didn't seem to know or offer anything forsale or rent for
this.

I'd prefer to rent or buy an inexpensive hand sander. Not looking
forward to moving any more great big sanders. It seems like there
must be some type of hand sander with an edge that sticks out.

I rented a heavy belt sander & edger. The edger didn't get too close
to the edge, and I need to remove the old dark varnish.

Thanks for any advice.


This topic has 13 replies

tT

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

03/07/2004 4:53 AM

>What type of sander do I use to sand under baseboard heaters for my
>hardwood floors?
>
>Home Depot didn't seem to know or offer anything forsale or rent for
>this.
>
>I'd prefer to rent or buy an inexpensive hand sander. Not looking
>forward to moving any more great big sanders. It seems like there
>must be some type of hand sander with an edge that sticks out.



Maybe remove
the baseboards? Tom
Work at your leisure!

Gg

"George"

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

03/07/2004 7:04 AM

Probably best to go with a right-angle type random orbit. Be especially
careful not to bend the vanes on the tubes if water heat, and remember, you
only have to sand a touch past what's covered when the skirting is
reapplied. No one will be able to see any farther.

That said, I'd take the old out chemically, first.

"Nate Goulet" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> What type of sander do I use to sand under baseboard heaters for my
> hardwood floors?
>
> Home Depot didn't seem to know or offer anything forsale or rent for
> this.
>
> I'd prefer to rent or buy an inexpensive hand sander. Not looking
> forward to moving any more great big sanders. It seems like there
> must be some type of hand sander with an edge that sticks out.
>
> I rented a heavy belt sander & edger. The edger didn't get too close
> to the edge, and I need to remove the old dark varnish.
>
> Thanks for any advice.

tT

[email protected] (ToolMiser)

in reply to "George" on 03/07/2004 7:04 AM

03/07/2004 1:13 PM

How about a hand scraper! I am all for power tools, but even I break down and
use a hand tool now and then. The price is cheap, and it's very effective!

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

04/07/2004 2:29 PM

Charlie and you seem to indicate that the height is probably pretty close to
the floor. Is there a shadow line under the base board heater? If so,
sanding and refinishing may not really make an appreciable difference as it
may always appear to be another shade in the shadow line. The scraper may
be the best alternative.


cC

[email protected] (Charlie Self)

in reply to "Leon" on 04/07/2004 2:29 PM

04/07/2004 3:54 PM

Leon asks:

>Charlie and you seem to indicate that the height is probably pretty close to
>the floor. Is there a shadow line under the base board heater? If so,
>sanding and refinishing may not really make an appreciable difference as it
>may always appear to be another shade in the shadow line. The scraper may
>be the best alternative

Most units, very close to the floor. There is a shadow line, but it depends
largely on how high the front cover starts. And you're right, a scraper is
probably the best bet. It is often the easiest and fastest, too.

Charlie Self
"It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from
man."
H. L. Mencken


Lr

"Leon"

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

04/07/2004 12:22 AM

How about this

http://www.boschtools.com/Tools+and+Accessories/Tools/prod_detail.htm?item_no=1278VSK

ML

"Mark L."

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

03/07/2004 3:49 PM

Found it here
http://www.hardwood-floor-sanders.com/details.asp?EquipID=supere

Nate Goulet wrote:
> What type of sander do I use to sand under baseboard heaters for my
> hardwood floors?
>
> Home Depot didn't seem to know or offer anything forsale or rent for
> this.
>
> I'd prefer to rent or buy an inexpensive hand sander. Not looking
> forward to moving any more great big sanders. It seems like there
> must be some type of hand sander with an edge that sticks out.
>
> I rented a heavy belt sander & edger. The edger didn't get too close
> to the edge, and I need to remove the old dark varnish.
>
> Thanks for any advice.

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

03/07/2004 1:12 AM

Tom wrote:

>>What type of sander do I use to sand under baseboard heaters for my
>>hardwood floors?
>>
>>Home Depot didn't seem to know or offer anything forsale or rent for
>>this.
>>
>>I'd prefer to rent or buy an inexpensive hand sander. Not looking
>>forward to moving any more great big sanders. It seems like there
>>must be some type of hand sander with an edge that sticks out.
>
>
>
> Maybe
> remove
> the baseboards? Tom
> Work at your leisure!

While that's an option, it's a lot of plumbing and I don't know about his
house but in mine some of them are wedged in tight enough that I'd have to
chip out some plaster to get them loose. Also I'd have to shut down the
boiler for the duration and that means no hot water for anything.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

03/07/2004 11:12 PM

Leon wrote:

> How about this
>
>
http://www.boschtools.com/Tools+and+Accessories/Tools/prod_detail.htm?item_no=1278VSK

I'm curious--please note that I'm not trying to argue with you--have you
tried it for sanding under baseboard heaters? The photos and manual don't
give enough information to be able to tell for sure if it will just fit
under the fins or not quite fit under the fins--it looks like it would be
close either way. If it _does_ fit then it looks like it would be a nice
solution. If anybody locally had one I'd take a look and report back, but
they don't.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

04/07/2004 8:45 AM

Leon wrote:

> No, I have not tried it under base board heaters. I have not tried it at
> all. I live in SE Texas and really am not all checked out on the
> clearance of base board heaters as they basically do not exist in this
> neck of the
> woods.

Seem to be a damnyankee thing. I never saw them until I moved north of the
Mason-Dixon Line.

> Given that, I would assume and perhaps incorrectly that base
> board heaters may be mounted at different height from the floor.

Pretty much a commodity item. For anybody who's interested,
<http://www.slantfin.com/pdf/fl30rr.pdf> shows a typical unit with
dimensions.

> For all I
> know, this tool, if it would fit under a base board heater may not have
> the reach
> either.

I didn't phrase it well, but that was my concern as well--looks like it will
reach under for some distance but can't tell if it will reach all the way
back to the wall without hitting the fins.

> Furthermore, if the boards run parallel to the floor, this sander
> may introduce scratches that would not look too good going against the
> grain. But, it was a suggestion of which the original poster can look at
> and determine if the tool would fill the bill to his satisfaction.

Like I said, I wasn't trying to start an argument--the things are hard to
find to look at and I was hoping that you might actually have one that you
could take dimensions off of. Didn't _expect_ that but was _hoping_.
Should have made that clear.

> My
> first thought would have been a right angle ROS but that had been
> previously
> mentioned. This was my second choice.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

ML

"Mark L."

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

03/07/2004 3:38 PM

IIRC, TOH had a flooring contractor using a type of specialty sander
that looked like an extended belt sander. It was designed just for
sanding under radiators. I hate to just say DAGS, but I don't know
where you can get one. Wish I could help more.....
Mark L.


Nate Goulet wrote:
> What type of sander do I use to sand under baseboard heaters for my
> hardwood floors?
>
> Home Depot didn't seem to know or offer anything forsale or rent for
> this.
>
> I'd prefer to rent or buy an inexpensive hand sander. Not looking
> forward to moving any more great big sanders. It seems like there
> must be some type of hand sander with an edge that sticks out.
>
> I rented a heavy belt sander & edger. The edger didn't get too close
> to the edge, and I need to remove the old dark varnish.
>
> Thanks for any advice.

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to [email protected] (Nate Goulet) on 03/07/2004 4:44 AM

04/07/2004 4:31 AM

No, I have not tried it under base board heaters. I have not tried it at
all. I live in SE Texas and really am not all checked out on the clearance
of base board heaters as they basically do not exist in this neck of the
woods. Given that, I would assume and perhaps incorrectly that base board
heaters may be mounted at different height from the floor. For all I know,
this tool, if it would fit under a base board heater may not have the reach
either. Furthermore, if the boards run parallel to the floor, this sander
may introduce scratches that would not look too good going against the
grain. But, it was a suggestion of which the original poster can look at
and determine if the tool would fill the bill to his satisfaction. My first
thought would have been a right angle ROS but that had been previously
mentioned. This was my second choice.


cC

[email protected] (Charlie Self)

in reply to "Leon" on 04/07/2004 4:31 AM

04/07/2004 9:34 AM

Leon responds:

>No, I have not tried it under base board heaters. I have not tried it at
>all. I live in SE Texas and really am not all checked out on the clearance
>of base board heaters as they basically do not exist in this neck of the
>woods. Given that, I would assume and perhaps incorrectly that base board
>heaters may be mounted at different height from the floor.

Same height in all I've seen. There's enough edge on most rotary edging sanders
to get under once the face plate is popped off. If that doesn't work, I'd
suggest some kind of scraper. More work, but for the most part, baseboard
heaters don't edge an entire room. Usually a couple 6' or 8' units are enough
for the entire room, place under windows because that's where heat loss is
greatest. Now, that doesn't take into account the heaters that are basically
radiators and that are liquid filled. Those may take up a larger portion of the
wall space.

Charlie Self
"It is even harder for the average ape to believe that he has descended from
man."
H. L. Mencken



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