Sanding a Deck: Orbital vs Belt - Which One Should I Get?

Hey all, I'm about to sand my 30-foot wooden deck before staining it. I've got a lot of surface area to cover and some stubborn old paint. Should I go with a random orbital sander or a belt sander? I'm leaning towards a belt sander for the heavy material removal, but I'm worried about gouging. Any advice?

For a big deck, I'd say go with a belt sander for the tough spots, but definitely use an orbital for the final pass. That combo is gold. I once sanded my entire shed with just an orbital and it took forever. Belt sander will save you hours. Just practice on a scrap piece first to get the feel - you don't want to dig in and create a divot.

I've got both, and honestly, for a deck I'd rent a drum sander. Those things are beasts. But if you're set on handheld, a belt sander with 80 grit will eat that old paint, then switch to 120 with an orbital. Also, get a good dust extractor, else you'll be breathing sawdust for days. Trust me, I learned the hard way!

Don't forget to check for nails and screws sticking up before you start. My neighbor ruined a belt sander belt on a hidden staple. And use a respirator, not just a dust mask. The fine dust from treated wood is nasty. Otherwise, go with a belt sander for the main event, and yeah, orbital for finish. Good luck!

I'm a bit of a newbie to power tools, but I just sanded my deck with a cheap orbital and it took me 3 weekends. If I had to do it again, I'd definitely get a belt sander. But y'all are scaring me with the gouging talk. Is it really that easy to mess up? Maybe I'll stick to the orbital and just be patient. Haha.