I need a mini belt sander, recommendations please

[ZRX61]

There are ten in a box.

RULE #1 WITH RESPECT TO 3M. They are high priced on everything they make but their **** works when others don't. #1 example is masking tape. I don't know what secret sauce is needed to make good masking tape but whatever it is 3M has it and just about nobody else does. Shurtape and American tape get close but there is a reason that 90% of the body shops in America use 3M tape and it sure as hell isn't the price.

I have some old rolls of abrasive, the boxes are marked "Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing". Not sure when they became 3M. They invented masking tape (in 1925) & wet/dry (1921)

 

[Retroman]

Looks like I am heading to HF this morning for the Mini Belt Sander.
Don't have a need for it now but would have been nice in the past and will be nice to have when I do need it.
$25.00 don't buy much these days so why not.

 

[whateg01]

...

If you're open to corded electric, HF currently has a coupon to get their corded 1/2" x 18" model on sale for half off.

I have that one. It has saved my bacon a couple times where I would normally have used an angle grinder but didn't have the space for one.

 

[WWheeler]

There are ten in a box.

RULE #1 WITH RESPECT TO 3M. They are high priced on everything they make but their **** works when others don't. #1 example is masking tape. I don't know what secret sauce is needed to make good masking tape but whatever it is 3M has it and just about nobody else does. Shurtape and American tape get close but there is a reason that 90% of the body shops in America use 3M tape and it sure as hell isn't the price.

Same goes for 3M electrical tape. Nothing else works anywhere near as well as Super 33+ and Super 88. Just opening the plastic case it comes in the smell always lets me know it's real deal.

 

[WWheeler]

Looks like I am heading to HF this morning for the Mini Belt Sander.
Don't have a need for it now but would have been nice in the past and will be nice to have when I do need it.
$25.00 don't buy much these days so why not.

I was planning on the same as I have to drive right by a HF later today but the product listing page now has it back to full price. I just visited the same page yesterday and could have sworn it said that sale price would last through today but it looks like not unless someone saved the coupon or code or whatever it had.

 

[WWheeler]

Looks like I am heading to HF this morning for the Mini Belt Sander.
Don't have a need for it now but would have been nice in the past and will be nice to have when I do need it.
$25.00 don't buy much these days so why not.

Scratch that last post. I don't know how or why but I just went to the same page using my phone and the discount is still there and says good though tomorrow. Here's a screenshot so anyone should be able to use this if the website decides to say different again.

 

[whateg01]

When I looked earlier, the main part of the page showed the full price but there was a banner at the bottom showing the discounted price.

 

[toplessHO]

I agree that you cant go wrong with 3M products.
The $30 purchase is softened with additional 9 belts.
Ad isnt clear on that

 

[ThePostman]

I have the Baxter as well. It works great for chewing away broken metal things in tight spaces. I got it with a coupon, and I don't use it everyday, but it has performed excellent every time I've reached for it.

 

[cruzer75]

We use dynabrade air and electric at work. I believe the air are better for all day use, lighter, easier to turn on and you can throttle them. Vs electric is on or off.

I picked up the HF one for 25bucks last weekend. I did buy a set of 4 diffrent grits with 4ea(16belts total) for 12bucks on Amazon just to see. If the 3m are 30 for 10 I may go that way next time I need belts!

 

[Jarhead0408]

Same goes for 3M electrical tape. Nothing else works anywhere near as well as Super 33+ and Super 88. Just opening the plastic case it comes in the smell always lets me know it's real deal.

Yep.

I love my Super 88’s. I order in bulk on Amazon and stash rolls wherever I need them.

 

[RTM]

I gambled and bought the HF sale item, and threw a couple of their belt assortments in the cart . I had previously bought some non woven belt and coarse belt assortments off eBay from econoway abrasives and proabrasives. Will see how they perform some time. (Worst case hoping the parts are interchangeable with a B&D model I bought with only the point arm.)

Just got around to opening the box from HF. Nothing spectacular, nothing awful either. It does run, and came with two spare red belts, and one installed. Think they are all 36 grit. Bought a couple of spares too.

I love that they repurposed an angle grinder to make it work, but didn't bother to call out the spindle lock button in the manual (don't press while running). The side holes for mounting an extra handle might come in handy, suspect I can re use any foreign made tool's handle as a donor.

I have not had much time to play with things, as noted, so no idea how well it will in a home hackers shop.

Parts will not be interchangeable with my B&D unit.