What's the nap on the Bona roller covers? I see a lot of people use the Purdy rollers, but for use with Traffic should I get the 3/8 or the 1/4 nap?

Unrelated to the rollers, I have a question about the square orbital sanders / buffer (not the u-sand type with round sandpaper. More specifically I'm looking at renting an Essex SL-1218R which uses 12x18 sand paper.

My question is how close to the wall will the SL-1218R get? I have the baseboards removed, so I'm wondering if I need to rent an edger? I have a cheap knockoff of the Fein oscillating Multitool that should be great for corners.

The closets involved are very small, and for the cost of the edger rental I could buy a very nice belt sander like the Bosch 1274DVS.

The nap on a Bona roller is hard to describe because the roller itself is nothing like a Purdy. Sherwin Williams had microfiber rollers at one time that more resemble the Bona roller. My best guess would be to try a 1/4" Purdy white dove and spread the traffic between 350-400 sq feet per gallon

The square buffer will get about 1/4" to the walls. But beware , they have very little cutting power and it will take one heck of a long time to knock down finish or unevenness with one of those. I only use mine for buffing urethane between coats.

If I were you I would rent a drum/belt sander, an edger and a buffer. You will be glad you did. As the other guy mentioned it will be a pain to do the entire job with a square buffer.

Occasionally you will see a home improvement actor on TV sanding a floor with a square buffer . He starts, the camera fades out and then back in and the floor looks good. They forget to tell you how painfully long it took them.

I'm really skittish about trying a drum sander. I know that they are the way to go for any pro. But I've also heard many times that the odds of a DIY getting it right, the very first time, with no on site pro guidance are close to zero.

I really want this DIY job to turn out well. I'm refurbishing my recently acquired 55 year old house. I installed 200 square feet of brand new Red Oak in the living room, 5/16 x 2 inch strips, not tongue and groove, face nailed.

I'm using the good wood I salvaged from the living room to patch pet damage in three bedrooms, and to replace a 30 square foot badly worn hallway.

I'm doing the living room and the main bedroom first. The remaining two bedrooms and the hall will be a separate project.

I don't care if I spend a couple of days sanding 320 SF, as long as it turns out well.

I do value the advice here. I've learned more about hardwood floors by reading this sites archives, than I learned on all the rest of the internet, combined.

if time isnt an issue just be sure to progress through the grits slowly not skipping more than one grit as you move up. This will lessen the likelihood of leaving any pigtails from the orbit pattern. Its slow but pretty easy work, heck I think an organ grindging monkey could run a squarebuffer.