belt sanders

[FrankW]

Job: sanding down 2 dining tables. One is two and a half feet square, the other 2 1/2 x 4 1/2 feet. I need to sand the tops and eight (3-inch) legs.

I have an old cheap orbital sander but wonder if it's worth buying a belt sander.

It would initially be a one-job tool (though I'd still have it, and other uses crop up.) Paying someone else to do it would cost more than a bottom-end sander. Would a belt sander save me enough time over the orbital to justify £20 - £30 expenditure? And is the difference between 3" and 4" and a shorter or longer belt significant?

A bit of a cluttered question, but I might as well ask all the questions that come to mind now.

 

[disinfo]

I bought a makita 9404 belt sander from eBay a few months back to do the stairs, its cost me £65 quid inc postage.

I sold it last week for £72 plus postage

So with eBay fees taken into account i've made a small profit.

Something you could consider

 

[big-all]

definatly worth getting a belt sander and at least 5 belts as they clog up
dont pay more than 50P per belt
http://www.toolstation.com/documents/search/index.html

they do free postage on £10 orders at the min

 

[xerxes]

A belt sander can do a lot of damage to a table top if not used carefully; it's better to use one with a frame attached to prevent it tipping and digging into the surface. Use an abrasive belt cleaner to make the belts last longer.

I would suggest, though, that you use a random orbit (circular) sander instead, as they are easier to control while providing a good rate of stock removal.

 

[Bilioustrumpstaine]

Something like this.

http://www.itslondon.co.uk/pd_MAK110BO5012X_BO5012X_MakitaRandomOrbitalSander.htm

 

[FrankW]

Thanks, all. Very helpful.