I have a hallway (17 X 3) that was covered with carpeting for over 20 years. I removed the carpeting and found paint spatter all over the floor. I need to remove the paint spatters and old varnish.

I believe that the area is to small to use a drum sander. It is a lot of work to do my hand.

What is the best way to sand the area to prepare to finish? Options are to rent a drum sander, vibrating sander, or hand sand using a pole and sanding pad. What grit sandpaper should I start with? I have read where it should be 40 or 60 grit.

Your best bet is to rent an edge sander. Home Depot rents the Clarke super 7 edgers. Start with a 40 grit go over the entire surface, then go back over the entire surface with a 60 grit paper, then 100 grit. Make sure you get out the swirl marks from the previous grit. If they do not have 40 or 60 grit, do 36, 50, 100 grits.

I would look into a ezsand or something of the like. Someone who has never edged before a 17' hallway which probally has 7-8 doorways is going to be a disaster.