How do you refinish hardwood stairs?

I'm about to take on a hardwood floor sanding / refinishing project. I've done floors before, renting a floor sander to do it, but I don't know how to do the stairs. Anyone here ever sanded down stairs before?

I can get most of the flat area with a 5" random orbit sander, but I have no clue as to how to get into the corners. A 1/4 sheet sander would probably take forever and a day.

Any help or advice would be great.

Thanks.
David

That's why they cost so much. A wood working scraper helps a lot, but you have to learn how to make the burr. One of the small orbital triangle sanders helps too, but patience helps most.

The corners are probably not worn so it may require only minimal preparation work if you are not changing the finish. The orbital sander should allow you to taper the old finish near the corner.

Chemical remover will make it easier to remove finish and will minimize required sanding.

You can buy paint scrapers with 4-edge blades and can buy replacements for the blades, but you really should have a grinder to keep them sharp. A DIYer really needs a grinder anyway.

I'm not talking about a paint scraper, but a wood workers scraper. It doesn't gouge like a paint scraper, It will take doen glue and finish and leave it smooth as 180 grit paper or better, but putting the burr on it is the key. The DIY network has a show called wood works search it and you will find what I'm talking about.

I hate to use chemical strippers inside a house with people living there. I know the floor finish is bad enough. Take your time and use the elbow grease, you will be sucessful.

From the sounds of things this is a job not a DIY project. If you finished floors before you know what you're in for. It is very rewarding when the job is done correctly and the finish is near perfect.

good luck

A Multimaster will make very short work of the corners, most detail sanders are a joke. Used to scrape corners until I got the Multimaster. Now I don't know how I got along without it

Thanks for the help folks

I'll check out the woodworkers scraper first -- I know how much the multimaster costs. I'm sure it's a great tool, but I just don't know what else I'd use it for.

Thanks again,
David

Rehabber said:

A Multimaster will make very short work of the corners, most detail sanders are a joke. Used to scrape corners until I got the Multimaster. Now I don't know how I got along without it

Click to expand...

I've seen this tool. It is expensive but it has to be so incredibly useful.

Tom