Woodworking Belt Sander advice

[jbmorrey]

So I have an old Makita belt sander with a Bag and it's a beast.... Heavy not easy to handle but it certainly does the job!! I am a Home woodworker and I am starting to work with woods like Mesquite and such so I am considering investing in a new "Belt Sander", I have a couple of smaller Bosch orbital sanders with variable speed and I considering the 6" Bosch 1250DEVS. Only problem is it's not exactly cheap! I am also thinking about the 1/2 Sheet Bosch 1293D, because it's more in my price range, but wondering if it's powerful enough to be a belt sander replacement. Does anyone have any suggestions? I defiantly need good dust collection because I work out of my garage, and I've been happy with the Bosch Dust collection so far on my other 2 models(a 5" disc and a 1/4 sheet) sander. Thanks so much!!

James MJbmorrey

Posts: 210
Joined: Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:34 pm
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[ez-duzit]

...I am considering investing in a new "Belt Sander"...

If you want a great belt sander get the 3x21" Bosch.

 

[7th Kahuna]

While I can't give you any direct advise, I doubt you could go wrong with the Bosch. I'm curious what you are using the belt sander for though. I rarely use a belt sander in connection with projects which I would term 'woodworking'. Refinishing and carpentry, yes, woodworking no. (Of course I have never worked with Mesquite either. ) If I am trying to remove a lot of wood I am much more likely to use a plane, be it hand or power. You ask if the 1/2 sheet would have the same power as the belt sander and the simple answer I think would be no. I picked up an older used 1/2 sheet Craftsman a couple years ago for $15. It seems to do the same job as the 1/4 sheet, just with the greater surface area, handy if you are working a material that clogs the paper quickly. The Craftsman also has the advantage of working in either a linear or orbital fashion. That said, I don't think I've used the 1/2 sheet sander more than once or twice. The smaller hand sanders do the job and are just so much more convenient.

Do you have a buddy you could borrow a 1/2 sheet from and give it a try? If you find yourself using a belt sander frequently and it is in fact the best tool for the job, then I don't see you replacing it with the 1/2 sheet. The Bosch is a top notch tool but I'm sure there are others on the market that might be a less expensive option while still providing the weight benefit. Still I have to ask; Would a power hand plane be an option?

As a final note, you may get a better response if you repost your question in the "General Tool Discussion' Forum.

 

[jbmorrey]

I am using the belt sander to take down mesquite wood that has been milled and dried for about 2 years. They are cut into 1 1/2 thick pieces and I use them for narrow table tops, Outdoor benches or join them together at times to make larger table tops. the 6" Bosch 1250DEVS has reviews from people stating that it tears down wood just as well as their belt sanders and that is what drew me to it. What you said about the 1/2 vs the 1/4 makes sense, just a bigger surface area. My biggest concern is dust and the older belt sanders, even with bags do not do that great of a job. Attaching my vac up to my 1/4 sheet sander worked great and I hope to have simular results with the larger 6" is a 6.5 amp machine and I believe that is twice as many amps as the 1/2 sander. hich leads me to think it may do the job... I would just have to save up for a while to get it!!

 

[Cyberbear]

I have used the Porter-Cable 3 x 21 for many years w/o any problems. Also have a Craftsman 4 x 24 sander for my rough work. My favorite is an old WWII vintage cast iron 6 x 48 Rockwell horizontal/vertical floor model belt sander. A few years back I tried the Harbor Freight 20" disc sander and it turned out to be a really sweet machine, as good as any of the big name stuff, at about $600.00 then. I only use pad sanders for my finish work.

 

[Norcal]

I have used the Porter-Cable 3 x 21 for many years w/o any problems. Also have a Craftsman 4 x 24 sander for my rough work. My favorite is an old WWII vintage cast iron 6 x 48 Rockwell horizontal/vertical floor model belt sander. A few years back I tried the Harbor Freight 20" disc sander and it turned out to be a really sweet machine, as good as any of the big name stuff, at about $600.00 then. I only use pad sanders for my finish work.

Have Porter-Cable & Makita belt sanders, both great machines, & a Delta "Frankensander" made from 1940's & 1960's machines the Rockwell/Delta 1" X 42" is another favorite of mine, amazing how quick they (the 1X42) can take off hide from the fingers when not paying attention.


I avoid ChiCom tools whenever I can, vintage tools work better.

 

[gungatim]

I am using the belt sander to take down mesquite wood that has been milled and dried for about 2 years....

You would be better off learning to use a hand plane to do that, or get a jointer. older used craftsman 4" jointers pop up all the time dirt cheap. IMO, only thing a belt sander is good for is those power tool races at the fair...or clamp it upside down in a vice and use to sharpen stuff.

 

[rlitman]

No orbital sander can compare in stock removal rate to a belt sander. Through the pad dust extraction helps, but isn't enough to make up the difference.
Yeah, a belt sander puts out a lot of dust, because it MAKES a lot of dust.
Orbitals put out less dust, because they just sand slower.

Anyway, the RO will surely get you closer to the stock removal rate you want than a 1/2 sheet.

 

[ez-duzit]

...only thing a belt sander is good for is those power tool races at the fair...or clamp it upside down in a vice and use to sharpen stuff.

You should have someone teach you how to use one. A very useful tool in competent hands.

 

[trainer]

You may want to consider a power hand planer.

 

[shoot summ]

I would buy a small portable planer, I have a Dewalt DW735 that works great.

I also have an old Makita belt sander, I don't think you can do much better as far as belt sanders go...

 

[Regnar]

I would make a Router Sled and save the money. This would be much quicker and more accurate than any sander would be for your purpose.

 

[turbowoodworker]

If you get a jointer and planer, you will never use your belt sander again except to get off old paint.