belt sander recommendations
 

I am looking to buy a belt sander for metalwork in my garage, and would appreciate recommendations if anyone has any. I'll be using it for light metal fabrication, mostly in aluminum, on a hobby level, not on a production level.

Seems you can get really cheap ones, like a WEN or really fancy ones, like a Bailiegh,, but there's not much in, say, the $400-500 range.

I'd be interested to know what other have or recommend.

Head north, road trip to Grizzly tools.

I have the prior version of this one: https://www.grizzly.com/products/Combination-Sander-6-x-48-Belt-9-Disc-Z-Series/G1014Z

20ish years old. Still works fine. 6x48 is a common size.

The WEN, is that a toy? I am sure the one you posted is much larger, but I am sure you have seen this but just in case you missed this
https://www.baileigh.com/index.php/edge-sander-es-6100?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-uH_vpKd2wIVl-NkCh1oQwwqEAQYBSABEgLhsPD_BwE

I look into a Grizzly for under 1000 bucks 6" x 80" Floor Model Edge Sander | Grizzly Industrial

I have a couple of their light duty machines in my shop. They held up pretty well for more then occasion use.

I would buy this Ritter sander any day of the week over everything posted. They make serious equip. If shipping make sense or drive down to Vegas, you might come back with the machine free and some extra cash in your pocket. Always bet on red, but I am not a gambling man

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ritter-Edge-Sander-With-End-Station-Dual-Sided-/323256483565

Metalwork? There are many kinds.

A fabric belt sander with silicone media is usually an expensive slow way to trim down metal pieces.
(although it is a bit more precise)
HarborFright junk isn't much better. I have not been impressed with exclusive 3M sandpaper either.
Be prepared to run out of belts constantly and inconveniently in the middle of a project.
Paint covers a lot of mistakes.

Use the lower number (80/60/40) rough grit whenever you need to grind through material fast.

Those are mainly for woodworking I am sure the metal ones are a little different. Hey, edge sander is an edge sander. I have sanded many metal stuff on my old edge sander

Noted!

Check craigslist. These types of machines are available used pretty much all the time...

I have a Dayton 6x9 belt/disc sander in my shop with a 9" disc, and a 6" wide belt. 1 HP motor. Love it, but it takes some amperage to get it moving, but with the bigger disc, and wider belt, the sandpaper lasts longer. I have this unit on a dedicated 4 leg stand for stability.

If you buy a floor/ table mount belt sander from a cheapie place like HF, make sure it has real bearings in the wheels that the sandpaper belts wrap around. If they are just brass bushings, they wear out and then the belts never tracks right. The harbor freight sander I bought with bearings has held up well to a lot of abuse. The HF without bearings not so much.

The Bosch belt sander I have allows the belt to move sideways once in a while.

And the plastic tension lever is going to snap off one day, I just know it.

Please provide a review of what you end up purchasing and how you like it or do not like it.

I think a slow start feature with good variable speed control would be a must for metal work so that burs can be knocked off.