I have just install a new unfinished red oak hardwood floor. I am in the process of sanding this floor, but I need a good advice on what to do. I am not sure if I should rent the drum sander or the orbital sander. I know the drum sand is 10 times faster than the orbital sander but my main concern is that I have some tight/short area in my house. I could reach it by going against the grain but I heard it is not advisable. I would love to rent both the drum sander and the orbital sander but I'm short of cash for renting both equipment. Some, help me with me misery. Thanks

You can always hand scrape it the old fashioned way.

Yeah. I love hand scraping

But if you aren't into hand scraping and you have no real experience sanding a floor and want good results, first consider watching some videos on how to control a drum sander. After that, realize that most drum sanders are not good machines and leave chatter all over your floor. And rental centers do not maintain rental equipment usually.That should sway you to try a different machine

One of the only rental machines that is easy to use and wont easily destroy your floor is the U-Sand which is a 4 disc sander. it's very slow compared to a Belt sander like a Hummel but eventually will sand your floor

You should have installed prefinished if you were short of cash. You should really hire a professional for this.

If not, then get Charles Peterson's book on hardwood floors.

Are you staining or just clear coating? If you are staining, you are going to have 3 machines: Drum, edger and polisher.

You start with the big machine 40-60 grit, then work your way up to 80 grit, then edger 100 grit, then final pass big machine 100 grit. The use the polisher with 100 grit screens.

Take your time and don't go against the grain. You're going to spend alot on sand paper and finish. Good luck. If you are near Toronto send me a message I'll do it for $3.00 a foot