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Old Maple Floor Refinishing

My daughter purchased a small older condominium in Minneapolis
(600 sq. ft.). The building was built in 1895. The floors in the
condominium are original 3 inch hard maple tongue & groove boards. My
daughter wants to keep the old floors but would like me to refinish
them. The floors now have a varnish or polyurethane finish that is worn
off to bare wood in some places. There are a few larger cracks between
the boards due to the boards shrinking over the years.

I can rent a floor sander from Home Depot fairly reasonably
and with the belt & orbital sanders I have I think I can get the floor
fairly smooth, they do not have to be perfect. Can anyone direct me to a
book, magazine or where I might go for information on finishing old
floors? I specifically would like information on:

1. Is there a filler I should use for the cracks between some of the
boards or do I just leave them? I have been told to just flood
extra polyurethane in the cracks. I have also been told to
sweep sanding sawdust into the cracks before finishing but
that sounds messy and risky?

2. What would be the best varnish or polyurethane to use to
finish the floors, water base or solvent base?

Any help will be much appreciated.

Don Meyer
2138 Fairways Lane
Roseville, MN
55113
e-mail: [email protected]