which belt sander 2 questions

[happyhero]

Hi My old belt sander was second hand and packed up so need a new one, and I really need some guidance which one to get. I am making wide frames about 8inches wide and I do other varied woodwork which can be much smaller. Its not my job but I do work with wood a fair bit and I like quality.

So what width belt sander should I go for? Any recomendations? any features I should look out for? Anything else I should know like one of the Mikitas comes with a big clip on base. Worth having or not?

My 2nd question is I used to have a good idea of the quality order of the makes but it seems difficult to tell now. Could someone put them in order now for me as I am not sure if some are even any good anyway and price is not always the guide as sometimes you are paying for the name.

I bought a cheap machine from Makro a long time ago, and it looked great but all I can say is never again. These are the makes I have looked at Dewalt, Bosch, Makita, Ryobi and anything you think worth adding. I think Dewalt are probably high up but I have no idea where Mikita are now but they seem cheaper than Dewalt if they are any good.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Scrit]

Makita probably do the most durable belt sanders. My 9400 is now about 25 years old and still going strong in trade use. And I can still get the bits for it (brushes, graphite pad, cork pad, drive belt, knob, rubber gaiter for flex, etc). A mate of mine bought the 4in PowerPro three years back and has used it for all his joinery work (he's a bench joiner) and it's still going strong, although he had a few problems getting replacement brushes and a graphite pad for it last year. Whatever you get make sure you'll be able to get belts for it. 4 x 24in (100 x 610mm) is a standard size and available from hire shops, tool shops, abrasives suppliers, etc. Other sizes may be more difficult to source

Oh, and 4in covers the ground faster than 3in - a lot faster. And the frame is useful to stop digging in on veneered stuff, but only if you don't have a good technique. Once you've learned to keep the machie moving sideways and forwards all the time a frame is no longer necessary - and the frame stops you getting close into edges and corners and can have a habit of falling off

Scrit