Best sander for refinishing an old deck?

Hey everyone, I'm about to refinish my 500 sq ft deck. It has old paint and some rough spots. I need a sander that can handle the job without taking forever. Should I go with a belt sander or an orbital? Any recommendations under $200?

First off, wear a respirator and safety glasses! Old paint might have lead. For a deck that size, you might want to rent a drum sander, but if you're set on buying, a belt sander will remove material fast but can leave swirls if you're not careful. Orbital is safer for finish work.

I swear by my Makita 9903 belt sander. It's a beast and will eat that paint. But you'll need to follow up with a random orbital sander to smooth out the marks. Makita's 5" orbital is also great. Both will set you back around $250 combined, but worth it.

I've got a fleet of sanders lol. For decks, I'd actually recommend a random orbital with a dust collection hookup. You'll go through lots of discs, but it's easier to control and you won't gouge the wood. Check out the DeWalt 20V Max if you have batteries, or a corded Bosch for power.

Make sure you check for nails and screws before you start - don't want to ruin your discs or the sander. And if you're using a belt sander, keep it moving to avoid dips. I did my deck last summer with a cheap orbital and it took forever. Slow and steady wins the race.