portable belt sander WTH?

[look 171]

We have a few in the shop. A couple of old portable cable that are coming 25 years old. They are all worn from use or dropped over the years. We have Makitas now and they are very good. They too are worn. I started shopping hoping to get another 4x24 heavier sander to keep around for the tough jobs and the 3x24" for general use. Seems everyone is making crappy little 3x21 sanders that I feel are toys and none standard like a 3x24". Maybe I have not grown with the sign of the times? Makita is the only company that makes both a 4x24 and 3x24 sander just like the ones we have in the shop. Bosch, Milwaukee, nor Porta Cable make one. The one from Porta CAble is junk. We broke two of them within a period of two to three years. What the hell happened? I ordered 5 so a couple can be taken to the job and the rest will stay in the shop where they get the most use.

[masraum]

A couple of yeas ago I wanted to buy a big, powerful belt sander so I was looking for 4x24. I think at the time all that I was able to find was a Makita 11A, single speed and a Makita 8.8A, variable speed. It seems most these days are 3x21 and battery powered. I was surprised. I thought years ago, there were plenty of options.

[herr_oberst]

I feel for people like Jeff who depend on good tools to make money. Buying expensive tools by the pallet isn't cost effective for anyone but the greedheads at Milwaukee or DeWalt. Good luck in your search.

(I have my dad's old 3/24 Sears Craftsman from the 70's. It's fine for me, but it weighs a ton and belt changes are a beyoutch. jyl used it on his house and I think his shoulder is still hurting.

In the meantime enjoy this belt sander race.

[908/930]

I was looking for a HD belt sander for a project years ago and picked up a Bosch GET 75-6N 6" dual mode random orbit instead. I have been really impressed with it so far, have you tried any of these?

[look 171]

[QUOTE=masraum;12222408]A couple of yeas ago I wanted to buy a big, powerful belt sander so I was looking for 4x24. I think at the time all that I was able to find was a Makita 11A, single speed and a Makita 8.8A, variable speed. It seems most these days are 3x21 and battery powered. I was surprised. I thought years ago, there


The 4x24 Makita is only one that's running. The Makita I bought is the same one they had for the past 30 years. They just work. Now everyone has speed control and all that BS out of those little 3x21" sanders. Sometime we need a bit more heft so the sander can do the work without having us standing on it. The other thing is torque. Newer and cheaper sanders bogs down. I wonder why the big tool companies stop making a simple tool like a standard belt sander? It can't be that no one is buying them. That's an important tool for smaller as well as large shops.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by 908/930

I was looking for a HD belt sander for a project years ago and picked up a Bosch GET 75-6N 6" dual mode random orbit instead. I have been really impressed with it so far, have you tried any of these?

Yep, we have three of them for finish work. A belt sander allows up to sand flat stock completely flat, removing the waves on the lumber. We can stick the board throw a drum sander or planer but sometimes the only good and fast tool is the belt sander due to its 3x6" of sanding area.

[Reg]

We use the Makita 3x24 often with 4x24 belts. We have the 4x24 unit as well but it’s not nearly as nice to use.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Reg

We use the Makita 3x24 often with 4x24 belts. We have the 4x24 unit as well but it’s not nearly as nice to use.

Yep, bulky but for some application its perfect. I started this as a kid using those Porta Cable Locomotive ones. Heavy suckers but they never stop

[dad911]

Keep an eye on FB marketplace. Corded tools sell cheap, everyone wants battery/cordless these days. I couldn't get $30 for an almost unused corded Milwalkee sawzall.

I see Harbor freight sells a 4x24 10amp bauer.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by look 171

Yep, bulky but for some application its perfect. I started this as a kid using those Porta Cable Locomotive ones. Heavy suckers but they never stop

Try and find one of those now for cheap.

I have a 10 dollar CM 3 x 23 and a Porter Cable 3 x 23 from 40 years ago. Still going and the difference is apparent. But, even though the CM is one speed, it works fine. It's older too but still all plastic.

But I think I would by looking if I didn't already have a PC. The rest I'm not interested in.

[908/930]

I did a quick look up here and it is the same, the only large belt sanders are Makita, I think the Dual mode random orbits have cut into that part of the market, cheaper abrasive and very fast material removal rate.

[Zeke]

Dual mode is the greatest sander for flat paper. Belt sanders will never go away. And there are way more widths and lengths of belts than there are discs. In metal work nothing is faster.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I have my dad's old 3/24 Sears Craftsman from the 70's.

Nice! Tools that are passed on from a father to his son are special!

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

In the meantime enjoy this belt sander race.

Never knew such a thing existed......that's cool as heck!

[Baz]

Had to go back in my "scores" folder to find the one that was in that big haul of tools the lady down the street was getting rid of that belonged to her late husband....man that was a banner day.......

I think I used it one time since that day........

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Baz

(Belt sander races)


Never knew such a thing existed......that's cool as heck!

I've been doing that all my life. Just alone, not side by side. No alterations, just lock on and plug it in when you're ready to go. Put it on rubber and it will do a wheelie and then tip over due to the unbalanced body. Knda jacks up the sander, so you do this with junkers. They really scoot.

But wait there's more: somehow when I was about 10 I figured out how to wire my transformer for my Lionel train engine to 2wice the voltage. I laid out all my track down the hall and into my bedroom where I stacked pillows at the end of the line. If I hit the switch with the rheostat all the way up the thing would really peel out.

Yes, I was a devious child.