Orbital sander hire in west midlands?

Discussion in 'Tool Chat' started by seneca, Feb 27, 2020.

  1. seneca

    seneca Member

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    Hello,
    I'm new to this forum, but in need of some help. I have almost finished fitting my own parquet floor (first time DIY - please don't judge me too harshly!) and am coming up to the sanding process. The blocks are new, unfinished oak, that I got a great deal on. I've done a reasonable job, few minor disasters along the way, but hey, I never expected it to be perfect like you pros out there. Anyway, from the outset I knew I would need an orbital sander (lagler trio, or bona flexisand, an edger and probably a dust control unit) and it would be the key to getting a decent job done. I know it's a bit of an art, and parquets are particularly difficult, but I've got this far, so may as well continue. The big problem I have is getting hold of either a trio or flexisand. No one anywhere in Birmingham has even heard of them. I've called most of the local and big chain hire firms and they only do drum sanders. When I mention orbital they always point me to hand helds! I'm willing to look around the midlands, but am surprised Birmingham hasn't any. I've called a few firms just outside and no luck there either. From searching online, the nearest I can find is London or Cambridge. Surely there must be somewhere close. I would really appreciate it if someone could mention a few places to try. There must be a hire store that hasn't a big online presence, but does hire orbital floor sanders to the public.
     
  2. Spacey

    Spacey Super Moderator Staff Member

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    So what your saying is you want to hire a buffer with a sanding disc :rolleyes:
     
  3. Paul webb

    Paul webb Well-Known Member

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    If you contact bona directly, they may be able to tell you who hires out their equipment
     
  4. Rugmunching

    Rugmunching Well-Known Member

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    Try floormart in Leicester
     
  5. seneca

    seneca Member

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    Sorry Spacey, you're obviously more knowledgeable on the correct terms. Buffer with sanding disc sounds right, but never come across that term. Sometimes I see finishing sander used, but most references to it just call it sander.
     
  6. seneca

    seneca Member

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    Hire station do one, but can't post the link. Is £170 per day, excluding vat, the going rate? Just need to know, so I can compare it to anything else should it turn up. I thought that was a bit on the steep side, and if it were the norm, then maybe hiring someone may be more economical. Especially as I would also need an edger, dust control unit of some sort and various sanding disks of different grits. Anyone know of a decent and not expensive floor sander!;)
     
  7. Paul webb

    Paul webb Well-Known Member

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    There was a company on eBay advertising sander hire at 160,so possibly the going rate, i imagine you would pay around £30sqm for someone to do it, but they would have everything needed to do it right, you could hire a trio or flexisand only to find they are not aggressive enough to flatten your floor properly, then you might have to hire a belt sander aswell, plus you have his experience
     
  8. seneca

    seneca Member

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    It looks likely I may have to get a few quotes. When I planned to do my own parquet as a DIY project I never considered hiring an orbital was going to be the major stumbling block to doing it myself. I just assumed there would be some available in Birmingham (second city after all!) and thought it wouldn't be that much more than the regular drum and belt types everyone stocks and do combined deals on.
     
  9. Paul webb

    Paul webb Well-Known Member

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    Trouble is, they are more expensive machines and more easily damaged if misused
     
  10. seneca

    seneca Member

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    Oh well... a harsh lesson learnt. Thought my extensive research paid off after fitting it reasonably well and knowing enough to get through sanding, filling and finish coat. Obviously should have looked into actually seeing if orbitals were easy to get hold of near me and how much they would be to hire. Maybe why parquet is not advisable as a DIY project, unless you are willing to pay over the odds in order to get hold of the right equipment. Rather takes the shine off my unfinished floor!
     
  11. Rugmunching

    Rugmunching Well-Known Member

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    Just look at it this way...
    You have managed to come this far and save yourself a good chunk of cash so the icing on the cake is letting the pro do the most challenging part. If you got this far for you to not getting it looking it's very best after your own attempt then you would be disappointed in yourself for not just letting a professional company do it for you.

    Fitting it is one thing, making it look top notch is another
     
  12. Rugmunching

    Rugmunching Well-Known Member

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    I've seen stacks of DIY attempts that look awful but to the customer looks great, you want to get the very best out of your floor then let someone who knows what they are doing finish the important part off for you.
     
  13. seneca

    seneca Member

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    Reluctantly, I have to agree with you Rugmuncher.

    I've seen stacks of DIY attempts that look awful but to the customer looks great

    I'm sure there's a lot of truth in that, but hey, I'm my own worst critic, so never am too impressed with my own attempts. With me, it's about having a go. Maybe research a lot more thoroughly, to the extent of finding out about anything that needs hiring. Everyone does drum and some do belt, but orbitals are a bit specialist and expensive to buy and repair after customers wreck them. Who'd have thought it.
     
  14. mjfl

    mjfl Well-Known Member

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    I have a trio, it costs around £5k brand new, My drum sander costs £3.5k a few years back. Edger, one cost £850 the other £1200.
    Papers cost, and has to bought either in 50 or 100 for the edger and 10's for the drum sander, the trio takes different papers and yet again sold in 50's.
    You will only need one drum sander paper, probably a 50 grit then 80 grit then 100grit. Edger would be one disc at probably 60 grit and one at 80 grit. Trio will take 3 discs per grit, probably need 80grit and 100 grit.
    Dust extraction one costs £1200 the other £450.
    All prices are subject to VAT.
    So you may think at £170 or so, is a lot but that's not when you have compared the cost of everything.
    Or get someone to finish it for you.
    How many m2 and what areas?
    DIY machines are absolutely a waste of time for a professional, so even worse for the DIY in my opinion.
     
  15. seneca

    seneca Member

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    yes, I realised shortly after posting that I would have to get someone to do it. Partly, it's really difficult to find the tools, but the cost and inconvenience in getting hold of them is the same, if not more than paying someone to do it. Currently looking around at flooring contractors in Birmingham who are able to do it and reasonably soon. Plenty to choose from, but difficult to sort through to find some reliable and fairly priced (same with everything.) Any suggestions for where to look?
     
  16. Elspeth

    Elspeth Member

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    Hi buddy, I'm new too - I wanted to tell you that if you are an amateur to do it yourself and your hands grow from where you need it, then I would advise you to buy an orbital machine, I bought it and do not jelly, you can choose an orbital machine for a cheaper price if you think you you will not use it often. I worked on the railing from the stairs, they pricked my hands hard and often picked up a splinter, I bought myself an orbital machine from Bob Smith Tools, model DEWALT Random Orbit Sander, 5-Inch (DWE6423K), it costs up to $ 60. It did its job very well
     

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