Most definitely it can work. Generally I choose which type of sander I use by how much material needs to be removed. If I have a painted floor with several layers of paint and lots of dents and damage, a drum sander is the way to go. If it is just sanding through one coat of finish on a fairly smooth floor, an orbital sander is the way to go. Also, drum sanders work better in large open rooms where as if the space is tight and small, an orbital sander is just easier to maneuver since you don't have to follow the grain of the flooring.