Preparing walls for skim plastering

casper_g

I hope you're wearing a dust mask, too!

t45

Thanks so much Freebear and Casper - yes wore dust mask - was very dusty - I was covered! I will treasure my moments sanding!
Is it best to attach using velcro pad or manually using the spring bits?
Should sanding take a certain shape for optimal effect or be carried out in lines, linear?

FreeBear

It is personal preference as to which type of sheets you use - I use the plain clip-on ones because they are cheaper.

As for sanding technique - For large areas, sweeping motions probably work best. Smaller areas, I tend to use a mix of circular and linear moves and avoid keeping the sander in one spot for too long.

t45

Thank you this is really useful!
I have found the Energer sander very good for sanding walls but I tried it on my skirting boards and was not as effective – seemed a bit and not so good - so I used a combination of things for my skirting and happy with results:
I used some paint stripper which I left on for about an hour – paint peeled off really well with scraper.
I combined this with a coarse sandpaper, physically sanding with hands – it worked really well.
BUT!....i still have the curved bits on my skirting to do and was wondering what you thought about using steel wool to get around the curves?
I am trying to get the skirting back to bare wood. Has anyone any experience of using steel wool on skirting?
I also looked in homebase and B&Q and saw different types of this wool – someone said that it is best to use as a finish to prepare the wood?
Also, has anyone any experience of using the green sandpaper – think there is one called Liberty and it comes of a roll...and also you can get these coarse sand blocks?....anyone any experience of these?
This has been a big learning curve for me.
Once all paint off skirting – i will sand with 120 or fine grit, is this correct?
NEXT...i start on my window cill and around my window (frame)– I think i shall just sand this using a medium grit paper – would this be correct? And then finish with a fine grit? Or is there such a thing as a finishing pad?
Any ideas or experience with any of the above – the steel wool and green grit paper?
I’m becoming quite excited about my own home improvement projects!
Appreciate all of these ideas – really great thread this is!

GDB2222

Doesn't a lot of Artex contain asbestos? If so, I wouldn't want to sand it. When was the Artexing done?

t45

my walls and ceilings have no artext - it's paint - no artex

FreeBear

t45 wrote: »

Or is there such a thing as a finishing pad?

Sanding sponges - They come in a variety of grits and shapes...
http://www.screwfix.com/p/flexovit-sanding-sponges-fine-medium-pack-of-6/69248
http://www.screwfix.com/p/flexovit-sanding-sponges-medium-coarse-pack-of-6/70902
http://www.screwfix.com/p/norton-expert-dual-grit-angled-sanding-sponge-fine-medium/7241d

When I did my skirting boards, I just whizzed over the flat areas with the sander and then used a medium/fine block on the profiled sections. For the picture rail, it will be coarse wire wool (old profile, loads of vintage paint). Between primer/base coats and the finish coat, they will get a light sanding with the fine sponge.