Need some help here.

Floors are white oak.

The goal was to refinish, dark stain and 2 coats of poly.

I rented a drum sander 60, 80, 120 grit.

The guy at the rental store told me, before i stain to use a sand/sealer.

Purchased it and put in on the floor. (did not realize it should not be used for staining)

Found out when I put the stain on and it would not absorb.

I then used a hand sander 80 grit and took off the all the sheen of the sand/sealer.

I then used 120 grit. The room is pretty large 400sq.

I then applied the stain OUCH, it looks terrible blotchy.

My plan please comment.

I was going to rent a square sander instead of the drum. Realize it is not as aggressive but just want to remove the coat of stain.

Intent on using 80, 100 and then 180.

Then forget about the staining just use the poly.

Any thoughts sorry for the long post.

Madness

that may work...but if the stain was dark and did absorb in areas..you may not get it all out.. but
it would never work for a stain..

I would try a rougher sequence...finishing to 180 is way too fine..and will probably make you work much harder..

guess 60 80 100? How long do I have to wait before I can sand off the stain? Don't want to gum up paper.

Thanks Madness

Give the stain 2 or 2 days .After that it should be easier to get out. As for the square buffer, i own one and it doesn't have much sanding power so probably stick with something like you mentioned (60,80,100) On a natural floor, the 100 grit papers should leave a reasonable scratch pattern.

If you are brave, rent a disc buffer that connects to a vacuum .It will go a lot faster than a square buffer.If you do use a disc buffer, it leaves a more aggressive scratch pattern so try to finish off with a 100 grit screen instead of paper.Screens leave finer scratch patterns than papers do

Well this is how I progressed. Waiting for a reply to proceed.

I rented a square sander (orb).

probably overkilled but sanded in this sequence 36-60-80-120 the 120 was a screen.

Since I had blotchy problems before figured to sand slightly finer.

I am up in the air whether to try staining again with the oil based dark walnut or just poly. Wife wanted a darker stain in the living room. But my sanity is a stake here and I'm gun shy

I do not have a sample board and don't think it would be much help because the room is over 400sq. Think any area in the room could be an issue.

Is there a way to determine how the stain will penetrate by observing the floor after I clean it with mineral spirits.

Realize Red Oak normally does not require a pre-conditioner but if I was to use one would that level out the stain absorption.

I really just want to be done with this room. I have tiled the entry way, painted the ceiling and a few walls and hung wallpaper.

I am definitely much better at tiling and papering than this floor stuff. Alot of things can go wrong with flooring and the issues don't arise until the end. You think you did a great sanding job then OUCH

Any thoughts
Madness

i wouldnt try to stain it..i doubt it is sanded properly and you will be creating a new problem..