Sanding Screens vs Sandpaper for Cedar Deck sanding

deckrefinishingscreens

I am sanding my cedar deck.

The deck has been stained and in places it is worn away leaving bare cedar that has weathered and turned silver.

I have the sander for the weekend, ( 12×18 ) inches and the only sheets I can find that size are sanding screens – 80 grit.

Will it work like 80 grit sandpaper and sand through the stain like sandpaper ?

Best Answer

80 grit is 80 grit and will work to some level but I would be worried about the life of the abrasive. 80 should rip the old stain up well but is really rough and screens on a deck sounds like the wrong tool to me.

Related Solutions

Do I need to sand the entire deck before staining

I wouldn't belt sand any outdoor deck, especially with a commercial belt sander that your talking about. More damage will ensue. Take the $60.00 you'll spend on the rental and buy a Makita Palm Sander. It takes a 1/4 sheet of sandpaper to load onto the pad to sand. Buy some 80 grit sheets and some 120 grit sheets. Grab a beer and get down on your knees and feel for rough spots, sand lightly with the 80 grit on all the rough spots on the deck. The electric sander will make light work of sanding the deck without going to far. Then swap out for the 120 grit and hit all the spots again and your ready to stain/seal once you do your clean-up.. that size deck may take you 2 -3 hours total, good luck.

DIY Deck Stripper Formula

I found my answer - pasted below for completeness.

Short answer is 2+ oz to 1 gal.

Homespun Paint Stripper Mixing your own.

By The OHJ Technical Staff Old House Journal

Well before today's sea of commercial chemical- and solvent-based paint removers flooded the market, folks set on stripping mixed up their own. This caustic-type stripper is concocted to taste from common ingredients that cost next-to-nothing.

1lb household lye (caustic soda)
2 or more boxes grocery corn starch

In a non-metallic container, such as a joint-compound bucket, gradually dissolve lye in 2 gallons of warm water. Start with a medium-strength solution Ñ say 2oz. lye per gallon of water. Test for effectiveness, then increase concentration if desired. Make a pasty stripper by mixing corn starch and water in another bucket. When the water is milky, slowly blend it into the lye solution.

Apply with a tampico-bristle (whitewash) brush; the stripper is particularly practical for removing paint on masonry. However, like all caustic strippers, this mix is highly basic and will darken some hardwoods. Test first in an inconspicuous area and rinse the surface thoroughly before repainting. Most important, work carefully while mixing and applying the stripper. Wear eye protection and rubber gloves, making sure to rinse skin immediately if it comes in contact with stripper.

Edit: I attempted mixing this as strong as 1 lb Lye: 1 gal water and letting it sit for more than 3 hours (while reapplying frequently) Still no luck on my deck. Back to finding a commercial solution

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Do I need to sand the entire deck before staining

DIY Deck Stripper Formula

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