Deck sanding nightmare – orbital or belt sander?

Hey all, I'm building a new deck and need to sand the boards before staining. I've got about 200 sq ft of cedar. Should I go with a belt sander for speed or an orbital for smoothness? I don't want any swirl marks ruining my finish. Precision is key for me.

I'd say orbital all the way for a deck. I did mine last summer with a 5-inch random orbital and it came out great. Belt sanders are too aggressive – you'll dig grooves or take off too much material if you're not careful. Plus your arms will hate you after. Just get a good dust collection setup.

Depends on the wood condition. If it's rough-sawn cedar, a belt sander with 80 grit will save you hours. Then finish with an orbital at 120. I did a 300 sq ft shed floor that way. But yeah, orbital for final pass. Also, make sure your sander has variable speed – starting slow prevents tear-out.

Thanks guys! Wendy, what belt sander do you use? I was looking at the Bosch 1276DVS but it's pricey. And Chris, how do you manage the dust on the orbital? My shop vac attachment never seems to fit right.

I use a cheap Ryobi orbital from Home Depot – works fine for weekend jobs. The dust bag is crap, so I duct-taped a universal adapter to my shop vac hose. Ghetto but effective. For the belt sander, maybe rent one if u don't want to buy. Just my 2 cents.