The day my kitchen floor turned into a jigsaw puzzle

Last month in my 1920s bungalow, I pulled up the old linoleum to find the original pine plank subfloor. It was in good shape, so I decided to sand and stain it. The orbital sander worked for about an hour before the motor gave out with a loud pop. I had to finish the whole 200 square foot room by hand with a block and 80-grit paper, which took three full days. Has anyone else had a tool fail at the worst possible moment and how did you salvage the project?

2 comments

2 Comments

val_wilson1mo agoTop Commenter

Just read this and my jaw actually dropped. You sanded 200 square feet by hand with a block? That's a whole new level of DIY pain. I had a drill die right as I was hanging the last cabinet door and I thought that was bad. Your story makes my hands hurt just thinking about it.

christopher4931mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, a dying drill is the worst timing.