Belt Sanders

[Jim Budde]

My two very old belt sanders have finally died and so I need to buy a new one ... any favorites among the crowd? Having an ample supply of belts on hand I prefer to consider only those that accept 3" x 21" belts.

Thanks in advance

[switters]

I just used my new craftsman 21"(like the link above, with the small front roller) this past weekend and was pleased with it. My old one had a tendency for the belt to wander no matter the combination of tension and sanding pressure. The new one just stayed right on track. My only problem now is that I want to use it more often than the planes because they need sharpening.

[JimConlin]

I have a Makita B9900 which has been satisfactory. I don't know if they still make it.
If buying another 3x21 sander, I'd look for one from one of the respectable US power tool makers (Makita, Milwaukee, P-C, Bosch, DeWalt, Festool) and would look for one that could be easily gripped in a vise and clamped to the bench.

[Greno]

I started buying the $20 jobs from Harbor Freight. They tear up, I throw them out and go get a new one. I only reverted to this after someone decided they needed the $100 more than me. Almost no one will steal a tool from Harbor Freight.

[David G]

For 3X21, I've used nothing but Bosch for years. Even with a variety of employees using them hard, and sometimes abusing them they hold up well. Plus, I like the flat top, that allows you to flip it over and use it kinds like a small stationary sander. very handy at times. The only thing I don't like is the lightweight dustbag support.

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=1274DVS

http://mdm.boschwebservices.com/MDMCache/t06/0000002/r02451v5.jpg

[RodB]

Its hard to beat the Porter Cable 352VS, I got mine for $80 in a pawn shop and it really can take a beating. The other belt sanders I would consider would be the Dewalt... or Makitas or Bosch. I think the Porter Cable has the best handling characteristics...of all of them.

PORTER CABLE 352VS Variable Speed Belt Sander, 3" X 21"

http://www.mytoolstore.com/porcab/porc_bsand1.html#352vs

RodB

[coelacanth2]

I had a B&D 3x24 for years - motor mounted between the rollers, nice and low, good handling, flattened a lot of rough stock. Replaced with a DeWalt 3x21 due to lots of favorable reviews and a reasonable price and the two small front rollers allowing better scribing. Works well so far...

[Bruce Hooke]

I have a DeWalt 433 3x21 belt sander that I got after reasonably careful research. It is not a tool I use every day by a long shot, but it has worked well for me, even when I have used it for fairly heavy duty stuff like sanding bronze castings.

http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuilding/toolguide/product-finder/dewalt-433-belt-sander.aspx

[Larks]

Makita, whenever I have been talked into trying something else I have regretted it, other than some of the "throw away" GMC type stuff that I get from time to time. Makita seems to me to be the only brand with any real longevity (in Oz at least), and when I am working as a builder I work my tools very hard.

I do say Makita though not knowing what new tools may be out because all of my Makita stuff is lasting so well despite all sorts of abuse.

The "throw away" stuff that I buy is usually to fill in for other supposedly good (and expensive) brand tools such as any of my DeWalt tools when they fail and are going to be 2-4 weeks in the workshop waiting repair.

[The Bigfella]

I always liked this modification to a belt sander for fairing...

http://www.rutuonline.com/html/long_boards.html

the site hasn't been updated since 2004. Just found a note from Glenn - he's still working on Rutu.

[BBSebens]

If my old Craftsman died today I would not even look, I would
just buy another one, after thirty years.


Theoretically, you ought to be able to bring it back and get a new one... that is the Craftsman way right?

Maybe it doesn't work that way with the older tools.

[PeterSibley]

Yep ,I've got 95% Makita , but I reckon Hitachi might just be better .

[rufustr]

I've always stuck with Makita, as I like the balance and they have lasted forever.

But I've recently bought two new 180mm Power Saws and they are crap.

Major weak points in the castings, and two broken saws in two weeks.

I hasten to add I didn't break them, a couple of blokes working with me did, but the saws are just not up to construction site use.

[PeterSibley]

They must be rough boys Rufus , I've had one of those for 4 years ...the aluminium base one and it's fine .

[rufustr]

I think the design has changed recently, as all my Makita tools previously have lasted extremely long periods with no problems whatever.

The word seems to be they are no longer what they used to be.

[rufustr]

Peter,

A boat builder mate of mine has an antique belt sander he is restoring that is 10 to 12 feet between the wheels.

Not going yet, but I'll take the camera the next time I go to his shed.

[Benchdog]

I had a Dewalt for years and hated it! I always had tracking problems. I eventually ripped every belt I put on it do to the poor tracking. Finally, I loaned it to a neighbor who managed to destroy it on a nail or something. He payed me for the tool and I went out and got a Makita.

The Makita is a great belt sander. I've leveled many tabletops with it. I never touched furniture with the Dewalt. My vote is for the Makita!

I'm sure the Porter Cable is really good also. The rest of my sanders are PCs. The only reason I don't like the PC belt sander is the bag is in a really bad place for lefties (which I am).

[Bruce Hooke]

I'd be real careful about ruling in or out any of the major brands based on individual people's experience with certain models made by those brands, especially if you don't know if they are talking about a current model or a tool made 15 years ago and don't know they are talking about the top of the line model or the lower end consumer grade model made by a given company.

I don't doubt Benchdog's story about tracking problems on his DeWalt sander, but I doubt Fine Homebuilding would have given the DeWalt 433 an "Editors Choice" rating if it had lots of tracking problems. All of the well-known power tool companies have made good tools and bad tools, and most have a range of tools from "consumer grade" to "professional grade" (Makita appears to have three 3x21 sanders currently in production and who knows how many more models they have gone through in the last 15 years or so.)

I have power tools made by DeWalt, Bosch, Makita, Milwaukee and Porter-Cable and I'd be hard pressed to identify one make as being generally better than another.

So, without model numbers of tools that are currently available, I'm not sure how much use a recommendation of a particular brand really is...

[vikar]

Hi All

Got to join in with this, had to get this off my chest! after favouring Bosch power tools for years my love affair has come to an end with my doomed PBS 7A an awful contraption, never had a problem in the past with the likes of my Bosch GST 2000 jigger three or four Bosch power drills (odd set of brushes), Bosch power plane; but this sander is the pits seized bearings stripped belts tracking problems;that was almost from new, it spends more time in bits getting repaired, at my age my time is precious, I made the mistake of picking it up again tonight, bearing seized again! sorry but this model gets the thumbs down from me

[Mrleft8]

I've used the DeWalt 3x21, and liked it. I have a Hitachi 3x21, and I hate it. I've never been a fan of belt sanders, probably because I never learned to use them properly or something...

[RodB]

I have seen more than one reviews/tests in years past, and Porter Cable seems to have been the top runner. Makita and Dewalt are right up there too. Across the board, Makita tools in my estimation are hard to beat, and I own plenty of them... but in belt sanders, I would think it a mistake to not seriously consider the Porter Cable. They handle really well and take lots of abuse. ... ie... one feature that should be considered is how a belt sander handles... handling characteristics and balance and feel are quite important in my estimation. Try to get a good feel of the tool you end up buying.

Good luck,

RodB

[JimD]

I'm happy with Makita. The one I use is 3x24 but I'd imagine the 3x21 would be similar.

[2MeterTroll]

Learn how to properly use a 8 inch sander/polisher with varying stiffnesses of softpads and youll never go back to a belt sander again.


tall claim dude.

belt sander is nice for fairing planks. longer sander the better. I like makita or dewalt both need to be the higher end. dont tend to like PC but then o ifigure if i am gonna pay that much for a tool support should be included.

[David G]

D-dude,

It sounds like you've gotten to the point where you're really deft with an 8" spinner. That's admirable. I've never gotten that good with one. To suggest, however, that one can replace a belt sander with a spinner (or visa-versa) is simply misleading. Stubbornly ignorant. It may be true for you, and what you do... but there are a wide variety of woodworking tasks where it's not true.

I've been reading your posts. As a relative newcomer here myself, and one who sometimes suffers from the same malady, I want to offer you a friendly (truly, it is!) bit of advice. You might want to dial back a bit on the bombast. There are a lot of people here. There's a wide range of experience and various areas of expertise. Some are Really Good at what they do. It would behoove you to listen more, question more, and qualify/describe your own experience carefully.

So far, you've come across as a bit of a loud-mouthed jerk. Are you one? Somehow I doubt it. But I also know how easy it is to mis-represent oneself on a forum such as this. I'd suggest, in the future, you phrase your posts a bit more carefully: softer; less stubbornly sure; more respectful. I'm sure that each of us here has something to teach. I'm even more sure that each of us has even more to learn.


"Age is no guarantee of maturity" -- Lawana Blackwell

[peter radclyffe]

I always liked this modification to a belt sander for fairing...

http://www.rutuonline.com/html/long_boards.html

the site hasn't been updated since 2004. Just found a note from Glenn - he's still working on Rutu.
this is great, thanks

[2MeterTroll]

for faring work you need a long board with some ass behind it.

You got any thing to do in two weeks? ;)

sorry a touch of humor.

[stevedwyer]

Like Vikar, I used to like Bosch tools, but when my new, about one year old, Bosch router dimmed one day... with no warning...
My friend at the repair shop said their new design permanently mounted the fan on the armature. The fan couldn't be replaced without the armature, trash it!

Within a few months my bosch planer, sander and jigsaw all died.
To bad, my old Bosch jigsaw (stolen) seemed to last forever. Well, for me Bosch (and other manufacturers ) shot themselves in the foot by designing the "new tools" with an estimated shorter lifespan.

For me, I now go to the high end, like Hitachi, Festool, Milwaukee ( best thing they did was to merge with AEG ) or...
to an estimated "burn-out tool" like Ryobi. The thing is, I have had great success with the Ryobi Belt Sander. Although far from production quality (ie continuous use ) the sander has held up beyond my expectations, as has the "portable" 11" bench planer.
I like paying low dollars and being pleasantly surprised far better than paying top dollar and becoming disappointed!

[pcford]

D-dude,

It sounds like you've gotten to the point where you're really deft with an 8" spinner. That's admirable. I've never gotten that good with one. To suggest, however, that one can replace a belt sander with a spinner (or visa-versa) is simply misleading. Stubbornly ignorant. It may be true for you, and what you do... but there are a wide variety of woodworking tasks where it's not true.


But not a lot of them have much to do with boats. My belt sander broke down about twenty years ago; I haven't replaced it. I suppose I should but there are relatively few cases where jobs can't be handled quicker and with better results with either a disk sander (I gather known to some as a spinner) or a bench disk sander.

Let's address speed first:
The work of any sander is accomplished by a particle of abrasive passing over wood. Thus, the faster the abrasive particle passes over the work, the faster the work will be accomplished.
A particle moves at:
4 mph on a vibrator sander.
12 mph on a belt sander
around 200 mph on a disk sander
These speeds are directly related to how quickly the job will be done.

Let's address effectiveness:
A belt sander has a small area which is support by backing...I think this is called the platen. This area is perhaps 50% larger than a playing card. This is comparable to the area of a random orbital sander. There is simply no way that one can fair with this small an area. Perhaps we can compare it to using a block plane to true up the edge of a plank where a jointer plane should be used. You just ain't gonna get there.

A disk sander can be a very effective tool. Improper use can be disastrous. You may have seen sides of boats turned into washboards with clumsy use. Typically one uses a hard disk first and then move to soft pads. If possible, progress from harder to softer soft pads.

It is true that there is no way of fairing a hull mechanically. At least none with which I am acquainted. Ya gotta use the longboard...AKA the "misery whip."

Before blasting someone for being "ignorant" one should try to evaluate the person's claims. Unfortunately this seems to be happening more and more here.

[David G]

But not a lot of them have much to do with boats. My belt sander broke down about twenty years ago; I haven't replaced it. I suppose I should but there are relatively few cases where jobs can't be handled quicker and with better results with either a disk sander (I gather known to some as a spinner) or a bench disk sander.


Before blasting someone for being "ignorant" one should try to evaluate the person's claims. Unfortunately this seems to be happening more and more here.

Pat,

Sounds like you take issue with my comment to D-dude on two counts.

First - you believe I was incorrect to say, "To suggest, however, that one can replace a belt sander with a spinner (or visa-versa) is simply misleading." You, yourself, have done so in your work. I stand corrected. It is possible. The point I was trying to make is that they are two different tools - each with their own strengths and weaknesses. One should take advantage of those strengths in the appropriate circumstances. I was not suggesting that the spinner is a bad tool, simply noting that the belt sander should not be dismissed. The fact that you, personally, have developed a working style that excludes a belt sander doesn't mean that there are not tasks that a belt sander is just plain more appropriate for. I've been in a number of boat shops thru the years, and I've never been in one where belt sanders and spinners weren't both in daily use - though, obviously, I've never been in your shop.

Second - you object to the curtness with which I made my point... my saying that D-dude was "stubbornly ignorant" for continuing to insist that a spinner should be used on boats to the exclusion of a belt sander. Well, perhaps I was a bit rude. I should probably moderate my tone, and phrase my posts more carefully - esp. when I'm irked. No particular need for name-calling. The OP was inquiring about belt sanders. I don't know for sure that D-dude is ignorant, I'm just making an inference. I'll stand by stubborn, though. When mildly challenged by someone else, D-dude simply reiterated his claim more forcefully. No acknowledgment that the other person might have a point. No expansion on his claim. No discussion... period. Just a bald assertion. That, to me, indicates stubbornness... and suggests ignorance (of belt sanders).

So, I'll grant that it's possible to replace a spinner with a belt sander, or to replace a belt sander with a spinner (though, I'd argue, suboptimal). I'll also accept, and try to take to heart, your advice about being more courteous. I was reacting not just to D-dude's posts on this thread, but to several over the last week or so.

For the most part, however, I'll stand by my posts, including the advice to the D-dude to dial back the bombast - even if it might be a case of the pot calling the kettle black :p


"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance" -- Will Durant

[StevenBauer]

It looks like D-Dude didn't take your excellent advice, David. Seems he is now banned and all of his posts are gone.


Back to belt sanders, though, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the little Porter-Cable 2 1/2 " X 14" 371k

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/5/Porter-Cable-371K-rw-76903-21227.jpg

It's a handy little bugger.


Steven

[oznabrag]

It looks like D-Dude didn't take your excellent advice, David. Seems he is now banned and all of his posts are gone.


Back to belt sanders, though, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the little Porter-Cable 2 1/2 " X 14" 371k

http://www.plumbersurplus.com/images/prod/5/Porter-Cable-371K-rw-76903-21227.jpg

It's a handy little bugger.


Steven

For years I kept a Black and Decker 'Sand Cat' (2 1/2 X 16(?)) and it just kept on going. My Dad sanded a 500 SF Oak floor with it, and he doesn't ever change belts!

The best part about it was that it didn't weigh anything, so you could one-hand the sander and control an odd workpiece at the same time.

[Ron Paro]

I bought a 'factory reconditioned' Ryobi 3x21 belt sander over ten years ago, and it is still going strong. I have used it continuously for hours at a time to strip paint off thousands of linear feet of fence pickets. I have also found several boat building uses for it, and I do like the flat top. It is easy to clamp it upside-down to my bench for sanding small parts.

[peter radclyffe]

My two very old belt sanders have finally died and so I need to buy a new one ... any favorites among the crowd? Having an ample supply of belts on hand I prefer to consider only those that accept 3" x 21" belts.

Thanks in advance
i dont know if they make sanders, but fein make good gear, & elu

[stevedwyer]

My Elu biscuit joiner is the best. Originally made in Switzerland. Do they still make them? I heard Black and Decker bought them out...not a good sign.
They also made a combo miter saw/ table saw that flipped. Think they called it an Elsa and Otto.