Mini air belt sander

[engnerdan]

I picked up one of these lastnight

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_22264_22264

but I am under impressed with the belts, does anybody know where to get good 3/8" X 13" belts?


Thanks,
Dan

[Canadian Charlie]

A belt sander like that is on my wish list but I scared that the replacement belts cost alot

[engnerdan]

The belts northern sells are not cheap like $8 for 5, and if I cant find a better quality belt at a reasonable price the sander is going back. This one is not the greatest quality, the belt head is made from bent sheet metal but I can't justify the $300+ price tag and a dynabrade.

[MXtras]

www. mcmastercarr.com (page 2585, $3 each)
www.mscdirect.com

Scott

[Franz©]

Having owned one for 40 years, let me make a suggestion.
Send the sumbeach back!
In 40 years of ownership mine has been used less than 10 hours. Fortunately those hours paid for the tool and made me a profit.

[MXtras]

Wow. I guess it depends on what you do! I have three of them - one with a coarse belt and one medium belt (one as a spare) and I use them at least 20 minutes every day for de-burring the interior of rectangular tubing and such.

Mine are electric, though. I really do not care for air tools any more, but that's another topic altogether.

Scott

[ColdDuckTime]

...

Mine are electric, though. I really do not care for air tools any more, but that's another topic altogether.

Scott

That sounds like a great topic. Why don't you start it?


Aside from the obvious exceptions (sand blasting, applying finishes), I think it would be an interesting thing to thrash out...maybe with some manufacturer specs (I know, I know) to compare apples and apples.

[Franz©]

MX I can shove a broach thru square tube a lot faster than you can grind it, and eliminate the burr and weld line.

I agree with you on just about anything other than hammers electric is cheaper to operate, and possibly more convenient as well.

Good to see you're making a fortune on them bikeholders still.

[engnerdan]

Well the final word is the sander is going back, after looking at the cost of good belts and knowing you can burn through them quickly, and the fact the overall quality of the tool is not that good (it was cheap at $60 compared to $400 for a dynabrade). I just can't see keeping it, I need it to be dependable and affordable to use.

I am going to keep my eyes open for a used dynabrade or other name brand air belt sander.


-Dan

[MXtras]

Here are two electric options. I have one Milwaukee and 2 of the Harbor Freight versions.

A very brief comparison:

The Milwaukee is several ounces heavier and has the common paddle switch located at the back of the motor housing which makes it rediculously difficult to single-hand for more than a few seconds at a time - and I have an uncommonly strong grip from racing MX motorcycles for nearly 30 years, so I am not a poosay when it comes to grip, especially with my throttle hand. The bar position is retained by just about the cheapest thumbscrew arrangement one could imagine - I would expect to see this cheap crap on the HF model, not the Milwaukee. The pivot and arm support are not all that robust, so the tracking changes when you change from using the top of the arm to the bottom of the arm, and this sucks big time as I use both the top and the bottom of the arm. Belt change requires a screwdriver. It retails for over $235.00.

The HF model is noticably lighter, has equivalent power (the belt will break on either one before it is stalled). The HF model is switched by a rocker switch at the front. This allows you to adjust the balance and position of the tool easily without asking your fingers to contort into unnatural and uncomfortable positions. It can be gripped by the angle gear housing. The wear pads on the belt arm suck - replace them with HDPE as soon as you get one. Belt chages require a screwdriver. Retail on the HF model is $38.00.

Both models take the same belt - 1/2"X18" but I run a 3/4" wide belt. The belts actually last a long time (for use with aluminum anyway). If you buy in bulk, the cost per belt goes down considerably.

Franz - Let me know if you are ever near Virginia Beach - I would like to have you visit my shop and do some manufacturing consulting (for free, right?).

:beer:

Scott

[Franz©]

Scott, the likelyhood of me showin up in Virginia Beach or about anyplace more than 100 miles from Rochester gets slimmer every day. I'm even thinkin of shortening that 100 miles till I can find a new seat for my Exploder, damn suplier who had 3 on their online site only had NONE when I called. My azz is delicate you know, and the back above that rattles a lot too. Free advice is always available though over on Toolboxtalk where we don't let certain people in to slop the place up.

If ya ever get up around Lake Ontario feel free to stop by. Too many houses have sprouted around here to do any off road riding any more, but since I didn't invite any of em, I got no objection to rippin across their fancy lawns.

Now, if somebody came along with some serious cash in their hand they could walk away from hgere with some tools. I have a very nice Mitkohhi (the company Dynabrade copied poorly) 3/4" belt grinder that's been collecting dust for a long time. I'm to the point in life I no longer figure I need all the tools I have, and am lookin for good homes for them.

If I could find a few people looking for older quality garage items, like a Bean spin balancer, and a brake & clutch riviter I'd be real happy.