Power tools.

[Wisconsin Beth]

I need a belt sander to finish up a project I started eons ago.  Currently, I have an electric drill that I inherited from my Dad's stash of tools. But at 45, I'm finally adult enough to go buy my own.

What brand of sanders, drills, etc. do you use and how do you like them? 

Is it worth it to stick with the same brand so you have multiple power packs or is that really not a big deal? 

[hoops902]

I like sticking with the same brand so that I have multiple power packs. For a belt sander, I wouldn't get a cordless (I'm not sure I've ever even seen a cordless belt sander for home-use DIY type stuff, just expensive ones for more commercial jobs), so the brand doesn't need to match.  I would guess to supply the kind of power you need for a belt sander you're either going to pay out the nose for cordless, or have to replace and charge the battery a LOT.  It's one of those tools you just get a corded tool unless you have a big need for a lot of cordless belt sanding...which most people don't.

Any name brand will probably do you just fine, Ridgid, Makita, Black & Decker, Dewalt, etc.

[Wisconsin Beth]

I need to sand odd bits of wallpaper off the bathroom wall.  I've done stripping fluids, scoring, steaming, etc. and these stupid bits and pieces will NOT come off.  Some are near the light fixture above the sink and others are in hard to reach spots. 

[MJ2.0]

Aug 5, 2015 9:18:25 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

  I've done stripping

hey, we've all done things we aren't proud of.

[hoops902]

Aug 5, 2015 9:18:25 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

I need to sand odd bits of wallpaper off the bathroom wall.  I've done stripping fluids, scoring, steaming, etc. and these stupid bits and pieces will NOT come off.  Some are near the light fixture above the sink and others are in hard to reach spots. 

For this small of a job, just buy a cheap corded belt sander at a big box store. Unless you think you're going to have a lot more belt sanding jobs in the future, the money spent on anything decent won't be worth it in order to sand paper off a wall (which any sander will be able to do).

You could probably do this just as easily with a sanding block and a piece of sandpaper and save yourself $80. Or a sanding block designed for use on drywall, used by people who are mudding joints (I LOVE my drywall sanding block, I use it on all kinds of things including wood, pretty sure it would work for this job and you wouldn't have to worry about tearing up your walls with a power belt sander). You can find them in the drywall tools section of big box stores, it's a little black rectangle with differing grits on different sides.

[tskeeter]

WB, I don't think I'd use a belt sander for the project that you're talking about.  Especially since it doesn't appear that you have extensive experience with belt sanders.  They are heavy and hard to handle, and they cut really fast, so there is a significant risk that you'll create uneven spots in the wall and have some challenging repairs to make.  (Small dings and holes are easy to repair, but trying to skim coat a wavey wall to make it flat again takes more skill than most of us have.)

My suggestion is to try the sanding screens used by drywall tapers, along with an appropriate holder.  If you sand your stray bits of wallpaper, you may be able to break the surface enough that you can shift to trying to soak and scrape the bits off.  As a last resort, but before using a belt sander, if your bits are small enough, I'd simply use a utility knife to gouge out the drywall with wallpaper and mud the small gouge that I'd created.    

[Robert not Bobby]

Dewalt or Bosch...always worked for me.

Buy the same brand.

[sesfw]

I second the comment about how heavy belt sanders are. For the bathroom walls I would do the sanding block idea. it's a lot easier to handle.  Many years ago, been there done that.

A utility knife is good also ....... and small nicks in the walls are easily repaired.

[swamp]

I also second the dewalt or bosch. Or Milwaukee.

[Lizard Queen]

We had wallpaper on the walls in both of our bathrooms.  I think we used a scraper for the really stubborn stuff. I'm not even sure a belt sander would work. In the full bath, we'd just take a hot steamy shower first, and that made it come off pretty easy.  The 1/2 bath was a bitch.

Okay, I realize that I didn't answer your question at all. Please ignore if my rambling annoys.  

[Wisconsin Beth]

The wallpaper would bubble up during hot baths so I thought it would be easy to get it off.  Nope. 

Hmmm, I hadn't thought about weight of a sander and control.  Good points people.  Keep 'em coming. 

[Lizard Queen]

I double checked with my DH. We used Downy and water in a spray bottle. I've also heard dishsoap and water in a spray bottle works better than any of the solutions you can buy. And a scraper. DH says using a sander would be a lot of work.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Aug 6, 2015 17:44:29 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I double checked with my DH. We used Downy and water in a spray bottle. I've also heard dishsoap and water in a spray bottle works better than any of the solutions you can buy. And a scraper. DH says using a sander would be a lot of work.

I didn't try dishsoap and water.  I'll keep that in mind for any future wallpaper removals.  There were only 2 places with wallpaper in this house and the first one came down beautifully.  Hell if I'm putting more up.  No way, no how, not on my watch. 

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Add me to the list of folks with wallpaper in a heavily used full bath.

Worst decorating choice, EVER.

Just stupid.

As part of the rebuild, the contractors worked in the bathroom.  We kept all of the fixtures, they were just supposed to paint.  I *thought* that meant they would take the wallpaper off, first.  But, I'm not sure that they did.  We now have paint bubbles everywhere and when I went to replace the toilet paper holder to match the new color scheme, there was wallpaper underneath it.   

[Wisconsin Beth]

A coworker recently informs me that in his family, they getting the slimmest wallboard stuff possible for bathrooms and put that up over the wallpaper in bathrooms.  I think they also vent out the bathroom first, to try to get rid of any dampness in the wall paper first.  But he also said they have older houses and they end up pulling out lath and plaster and it's a huge mess and PITA. 

[hoops902]

Aug 11, 2015 9:26:26 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Add me to the list of folks with wallpaper in a heavily used full bath.

Worst decorating choice, EVER.

Just stupid.

As part of the rebuild, the contractors worked in the bathroom.  We kept all of the fixtures, they were just supposed to paint.  I *thought* that meant they would take the wallpaper off, first.  But, I'm not sure that they did.  We now have paint bubbles everywhere and when I went to replace the toilet paper holder to match the new color scheme, there was wallpaper underneath it.   

You actually don't have to remove the wallpaper in order to paint.  It's typically recommended, but as long as the paper is firmly attached you can technically go right over the top of it.  I wouldn't, but that's probably why they did (because you technically can and it was cheaper for them).

[Blonde Granny]

Don't consider Black & Decker, they are nothing more than junk and you will quickly be buying something better. I 3rd or 4th DeWalt, Makita etc.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Aug 11, 2015 10:47:03 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

Aug 11, 2015 9:26:26 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Add me to the list of folks with wallpaper in a heavily used full bath.

Worst decorating choice, EVER.

Just stupid.

As part of the rebuild, the contractors worked in the bathroom.  We kept all of the fixtures, they were just supposed to paint.  I *thought* that meant they would take the wallpaper off, first.  But, I'm not sure that they did.  We now have paint bubbles everywhere and when I went to replace the toilet paper holder to match the new color scheme, there was wallpaper underneath it.   

You actually don't have to remove the wallpaper in order to paint.  It's typically recommended, but as long as the paper is firmly attached you can technically go right over the top of it.  I wouldn't, but that's probably why they did (because you technically can and it was cheaper for them).

Because it is the main family bathroom and because I have teenage boys who take 30 minute showers once or twice a day, the wallpaper was actually starting to obviously mold.  So, whether I did it, or whether it was done during the rebuild, it absolutely had to come off.  

But, I don't think it did.  And, so the paint is bubbling (mostly where the mold was).  

Either way, I am disappointed with how the bathroom paint job turned out.  

[hoops902]

Aug 11, 2015 10:49:24 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

Don't consider Black & Decker, they are nothing more than junk and you will quickly be buying something better. I 3rd or 4th DeWalt, Makita etc.

Honestly, I love my Black and Deckers.  They aren't super heavy duty, but I've never had a problem with them and I put them through a lot more use than an average person.  If I could spend anything, I'd get Milwaukee. They have some pricey stuff but it's all ridiculously well-made and lots of power. I have DeWalt, Makita, and other random brands and frankly haven't noticed any differences between them and B&.

[Lizard Queen]

Aug 11, 2015 8:56:59 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Aug 6, 2015 17:44:29 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I double checked with my DH. We used Downy and water in a spray bottle. I've also heard dishsoap and water in a spray bottle works better than any of the solutions you can buy. And a scraper. DH says using a sander would be a lot of work.

I didn't try dishsoap and water.  I'll keep that in mind for any future wallpaper removals.  There were only 2 places with wallpaper in this house and the first one came down beautifully.  Hell if I'm putting more up.  No way, no how, not on my watch. 

I've still got a kitchen and dining room with wallpaper. I dread the thought of tackling those 2 rooms. Actually, i started trying to remove it in the kitchen, and gave up. Dark green with flowers--blech! DH did get it off the small hallway, and it was a huge improvement.
I don't even know how to wallpaper, and don't intend to ever learn.

[Wisconsin Beth]

For my kitchen, the scoring tool was great.  I only had 1 wall though.  So I scored, sprayed with the downey/water mixture, waited 10-20 minutes and it came down almost in intact sheets.  I was stunned, I spent more time prepping and cleaning up than I did actually removing the wallpaper.  Then I scrubbed the wall and primed it.    Painted it a boring peachy color that works well with the existing backsplash and formica. 

So when I started the bathroom, that was my baseline for wallpaper removal.  Needless to say, I don't think it's possible to have more opposite experiences with removing wallpaper. 

[tskeeter]

Aug 11, 2015 15:21:55 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

For my kitchen, the scoring tool was great.  I only had 1 wall though.  So I scored, sprayed with the downey/water mixture, waited 10-20 minutes and it came down almost in intact sheets.  I was stunned, I spent more time prepping and cleaning up than I did actually removing the wallpaper.  Then I scrubbed the wall and primed it.    Painted it a boring peachy color that works well with the existing backsplash and formica. 

So when I started the bathroom, that was my baseline for wallpaper removal.  Needless to say, I don't think it's possible to have more opposite experiences with removing wallpaper. 

Hmm, sounds like whoever did the wallpaper in the bathroom may not have sized the walls brfore they put up the paper.  Poor you.