Description
This article is from the Woodworking FAQ
Collection 5, by multiple authors.
35 Summery: Belt Sanders (RE: Opinions Sought...)
From: article@tc.fluke.COM (John F. Berkey)
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 1992 19:19:51 GMT
First of all I would like to thank all of you who respond to my
request. At this point in time I bought a Sears (and I use this
word loosely) Craftsman, at a pawn shop for $20.00, If I get 1
or 2 uses out of it, it's was worth what I paid for it.
However, I'm still debating over which one of the MUCH BETTER
quality sanders I will purchase.
After communicating with quit a few of you over the network on my needs
and what I plan on doing, I have decided to rent a floor sander.
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The following are responses to my request. I have removed all names, in order
not to promote a FLAME war over Which one's best. The objective here is to
relay options on belt sanders, so that the interested parties my make there own
decisions.
Again Thank You.
John.
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I've owned a AEG 3x21 belt sander for the last 2.5 yrs; I like it
very much. It is made in Europe (Germany?). Features:
o variable speed. This really improves control.
o easy belt change and adjustment.
o legs which convert it to a bench top sander.
o dust collection bag.
o very well made.
o optional sanding frame makes it easier to sand large flat
surfaces without gouging.
o I think I paid ~$160 plus $65 for the sanding frame. The price
has gone up somewhat, I think.
Its main disadvantage is the noise it generates. Ear protection
is a must.
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I have the Bosch 1270DEVS, 4x24 belt sander. I think it may
be made in South Carolina, but it may also be made in Germany.
It's a great machine. Belt tracking is straightforward and
accurate, balance is good (but it's a heavy machine), the
variable speed is occasionally handy.
I also have the sanding frame for use on large flat
surfaces. I find it hard to adjust properly, but when I get it
right it works fine. I seem to mostly use my sander upside down
for sanding small things. Brush access is really easy (although
I haven't had to replace them yet, I do inspect them regularly).
If I were to get another belt sander, I'd get this one
again. FWW did a review of 3" belt sanders a couple of years
ago. You might want to check it out.
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I have a Makita 4X24 belt sander. It has a dust collection bag
that works well. I have no problems with this unit. I typically
use it on its side, as a stationary sander. I bought it used for
$150 (a bargain). What can I say, I've never had a problem with
it, and it works great!
I have just purchased a Porter-Cable from an advertiser in FINE
WOODWORKING and have found it to be a fantastic machine. It is a
3X24 belt sander that has all of the quality one would expect
from a well built machine.
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Last fall, I went out during my local True Value's Hardware Sale
and bought the Porter Cable 4 x 24 with dust collector. I love
the little beast.
The pro's are:
It's strong! I'm not real large, but I'm not that small
either and I could probably sit on this thing and race around the
room. :-)
Belt adjustment is simple and fast. Mine holds its tracking
very well also. I never even have to look at it during a run.
The dust collector works reasonably well.
The con's are:
It's heavy, real heavy! I've needed to work nearly overhead
a couple a times, and it's a real bear to that with this thing.
It's either trying to take off or land on your head. :-)
Even with the dust collector, it still throws dust all over
the place.
Overall, count me as a satisfied customer. I liked it well enough
that I bought their 1/4 pad sander just because they made it.
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I bought the PC 3x21 belt sander with bag (sorry I cannot
remember the number). I bought the PC mostly because I have been
pleased with the feel and reliability of other PC equipment I own
(690/693 router and 330 palm sander).
The belt sander works fine. At the time I was looking there
was quite a controversy over getting variable speed versus fixed.
I just couldn't see how the VS would really benefit me. I use a
belt to sand down large or course surfaces. If the wood is soft
I use a lighter grade of sandpaper. I didn't bother going with
anything bigger than the 3x21 because it seemed big enough (and
has been) for the jobs I do. I wouldn't want to sand a floor
with it but I wouldn't use the 4x24's either.
The bag really works.
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I am *very* pleased with my Ryobi Variable Speed Sander. It's a
3", and maybe not as heavy duty as the big 4"ers, but it costs a
*lot* less, and IMHO it's more important for a hand-held belt
sander to ride flatly and not dig in by rolling side to side; the
Ryobi VS is box-shaped and rides flat effortlessly; it's also
flat on top and you can flip it over and lay it down in order to
use it as a stationary sander for the sanding of small or
irregularly-shaped parts held in the fingers. This last attribute
has been handier than I can say. :-)
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I have the 3x21'' Ryobi variable-speed model. May be too small
to fit your definition of heavy-duty, but it's been great. I
find variable-speed a big plus, and the pricing on the Ryobi was
better than the equivalent Bosch and PC, at least when I was
shopping... Also, the Ryobi easily adapts to stationary sanding:
it has a flat top so I can just flip it over onto the workbench.
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I have a Ryobi 3"x21" VS too, and agree wholeheartedly.
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I've also used a Sears 3x21 belt sander. I would avoid them;
the belts are hard to adjust and awkward to install. I found it
more difficult to control.
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I've had magnificent results using the Craftsman belt sanders. I
*would* recommend that you get one with a beefy motor though.
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