Can anyone tell me -- what piece of machinary do I need to sand the side of my house down, it's hardwood weatherboards.

I did it about 8 years ago with a 4" angle grinder and sanding disc and what a a mess, but covered it up the best I could.

I need to take the whole side back to bare timber to start again , burning is out of the question (I live the place too much) and the legit sanding crowds want to charge me $700 a day.

I don't understand why you need to take this right back to bare timber?

Sanding back to a smooth finish with a 1/3 sander and then soothing out any irregularities with some builders bog followed by another good sand and then primerd should be more than sufficent.

However, if you do really need to take it back then you can always hire a sandblaster or alternatively try one of the poultces as offered here
www.letsclean.com.au/

or one of the many other companies that offer similar solutions

cheers
AJ

The machine of choice for painters is still the 4 inch grinder.
I have a couple of painters doing my mums house at the moment.
I would be more concerned about the safety equipment.
like a breathing protection & face protection.

Most painters will strongly recomend that you take it right back.

Wet sand blasting is suposed to be the go, but it isnt economical.

It is illegal to strip paint from a house in Queensland using a burner. Far too risky.

An orbital sander simply will not be agressive enough.

Glad burning is out of the question! I honestly didn't realise that it is now illegal in Qld., but can understand why.

The poor old place has 50yrs of paint build up and has broken up in many places back to bare timber so the reason for going all the way back is to get rid of possible nasty coats (lead) and start again with acrylic paint.

Guess the old way is the only way, I'm a bit older now and will take a bit more care with the finish.

Thanks Sandman for the reminder of the safety precautions (I lost my father to mesotheliosis) so understand what needs to be done. Its these things that happen in life that make you realise just how vulnerable you are and that safety advise is not to be taken lightly.

sanding of lead paint is also strictly controlled in queensland

the main concerns are the dust getting into the enviroment, building up in the soil close to the house where childre play and getting into people during & after the sanding process.

I strongly sugest doing your homework.

May be best to pay a contractor with the correct gear & attitude.

Thanks for the advice.

The good think about this forum is finding out the little things that you're not aware of.

I'm glad I asked here before I started attacking the job.

breathing protection??? breathin protection??? In ma day breathin protection was what ya paid the waterside worker's union.

I don't know ... cough.., what you, cough... cough.. , are talking about. Bit of ,...cough .., dust put hairs on ya chest, cough ... cough, or is that in your chest, cough .. cough . never could get that saying right.

when i waz a laaaaad ya wouldn't go to school without first painting 50 sq. yards of lead based paint onto ya cubbyhouse, just after spraying Mortein onto breakie to keep the flys off.

Seriously, I dunna know what you young blokes carry on about. Cough.. cough... cough...

where's ma inhaler possum....



..

.........and don't forget the shelltox pest strip grated on top of the lemon meringue pie, looks like lemon peel and the flies hate it!

__________________
Stupidity kills. Absolute stupidity kills absolutely.

lemon meringue pie? lemon meringue pie???

The shear luuxxxsherry of it. Obvouisly from a well to do family, ya be Guv.

The moooost we could look forwardz to waz a bit ov Marmite on bitumised weatherproofing.

lemon meringue pie??? The shear luuxxxsherry of it.

Oh Gourd, I bet you don't aggle either.
Another bloody MOnty Python fan

__________________
Stupidity kills. Absolute stupidity kills absolutely.

Sorry to dig up this post again gents, just wanted to know how you got on with your sanding jamesy?

Im looking to start sanding my house using the same method, wanting know what grit sanding discs you (or anyone else that has sanded their house using a 4" grinder) used? Dont want to sand thru to the studs.

Cheers.

Matt

This may be a dumb suggestion but:

Could a belt sander with a heavy grit belt be used in this situation instead of the angle grinder?

It's only a suggestion so please keep your barbed comments

Markw

If you had flat boards i reckon it would work a treat. Ive got chamfer boards (small ones at that) so it wouldnt really get into the joint that well.

Those belt sanders have a tendancy to get away from you too, I can just see myself sprawled out in the back yard after flying 15 feet off the scaffold, clutching a belt sander like a parachute.

Its worth a shot though...

The easiest tool to sand a house with is an 8" panel beaters disc sander, it really leaves a 4" angle grinder for dead. Also less likely to gouge than a small disc.

__________________
Regards
Bob Thomas

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remember that you gota hold up whatever machine you choose.

thats why 4" machines are popular.

I think you'd have to be a cross between the incredible hulk & spiderman to use a belt sander on the side of a house while perched on a plank.