It's a hand-held sander. Do you really want to sand your floors on your hands and knees?

It can be done - however, I would recommend an 1/3 sheet oscillating sander (square pads) instead because you can guide them better along the grain and they don't leave the round swirly marks.

Yes, it takes 2 hands, one on the handle and the other on the nose, but you can balance on knees and shins ... I've done it.

"I just need something to smooth out my 100yr old fir floors prior to putting on a new finish - does not require a drum sander."

Rent a large rotary sander like the type used for screening between finish coats.

It looks like a huge floor polisher, often around 24 inches in diameter with a 240 V motor.
Use the right grade of sandpaper (or even non-woven abrasive pad).

U-Sand. You can rent one. Zero learning curve(the big buffer type has a learning/control curve).

Has excellent dust collection as well. Well, maybe never mind. I used two different machines several years ago with the included bags with zero problems. Now I see they recommend using a separate collection system. The rental place should have solutions.

Here is a link that might be useful: U-sand

Thanks for the input- no I dont REALLY want to be on my hands and knees but the reward is I get a nifty new sander to use on other projects. On the other hand - there's something to be said for just getting the job DONE.

Lazy, Im not sure what you are referring to re: square oscillating sander, could you suggest a specific model? I thought oscillating same as random orbital?

If you are going to kneel, get knee pads.

You are going to need them.

Kaska - The sander you showed had a round pad. The ones with square pads are easier to use, and the paper is cheaper.

http://toolsandmore.us/blackanddecker7558sheetsander.aspx?gclid=CNnGq-L0kLYCFYKDQgodMgoAlg

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http://www.u-sand.com/u-sand/orbital-sander.aspx

This is fairly easy to use. Often can be rented from Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

Well we found some areas where the previous sander had gone thru the tongue and groove and while most of it looks ok its still down about 3/16-1/4 inch in a lot of places (they'd left the quarter round on so we could tell.) So that pretty much seals the deal - do a light sanding for now with the hand sander and be on the lookout for vintage maple to replace it with somewhere down the line For some reason while the upstairs is fir, downstairs is beautiful birdseye maple in good shape - & a much larger space so we'll get the u-sand for that.

Yep knee pads it is - been meaning to get some for gardening anyway. I keep telling myself that 400 sq ft. would be like 20 tabletops - it doesn't sound so bad that way!

" For some reason while the upstairs is fir, downstairs is beautiful birdseye maple in good shape"

They put the expensive wood where the visitors would see it :)

Home Despot rents a sander similar to the U-Sand model. Used one for my floors and it was easy-breezy...

"Well we found some areas where the previous sander had gone thru the tongue and groove..."

Time for a new floor.