Thread: Belt sander - what to choose

Originally Posted by occam

I have 'used up' my GMC belt sander - the inside is clogged with dust! so it is time to buy a new BS. This time I want to buy one that has better dust protection - or else I will go for a cheapie again.
Is (green) Bosch better protected? What about Makita 9910SP?
Any advice would be appreciated.

I have never heard of this before - whatever you buy it sounds like you need to empty the bag more often and use a compressor.

...use a compressor to blow the dust out the belt sander. makes cleaning the beltsander a whole lot easier!!!

I'd get a makita.

Originally Posted by occam

I have 'used up' my GMC belt sander - the inside is clogged with dust! so it is time to buy a new BS. This time I want to buy one that has better dust protection - or else I will go for a cheapie again.
Is (green) Bosch better protected? What about Makita 9910SP?
Any advice would be appreciated.

as others have said, empty the dust bag more frequently

or hook it up to a shop vac, preferably one with a very fine filter

as to Bosch vs Makita
based on the tools I own, I think Bosch green is not a patch on the blue Makita, while the Bosch Blue is slightly better.
I don't own any Metabo sanders (only cordless drills), and I'm guessing that Festo sanders are beyond our budget



ian

I have a Bosch green belt sander - the small, variable speed one that seems to have been discontinued. It does not seem to matter how often you empty the dust bag/box - the interior still fills up with dust - for some deity forsaken reason they have placed one of the screws that hold the casing together in the dust duct which greatly constricts it and what can't fit thru' seems to get into the casing. I've tried blowing it out but the trigger still needs King Kong to turn on - maybe next comes the sacrificial disemboweling/opening where I get all those little bits left over

The other problem I have noticed with relatively cheap sanders is that they howl at a particularly annoying pitch & with plenty of volume - I picked the Bosch as it was the quietest sander in the shop, not that there was a lot of difference.

spend the money, buy a makita, they just keep going, very hard to kill them.

G

Ok, took the advice - bought a Makita for $189, even though GMC belt sanders were on special ($33.95).
"Compressor" - I do not have that in my workshop - is it a worthwhile addition?
Thanks for the replies.
PS I DO empty the dustbag often. Cannot always use the vacuum since it rather stationary compared toi the belt sander.

Originally Posted by occam

"Compressor" - I do not have that in my workshop - is it a worthwhile addition?

Yep - one of the most used machines in my shed.
1) Cleaning out power tools.
2) Cleaning sanding belts, threads, nuts, files, rasps, taps and dies etc
3) Blowing dust off hard to get at surfaces like tool racks
4) Removing dust from turned/sanded wooden surfaces
5) Cleaning chainsaws and chains
6) Pumping up tyres and toys
7) Small spray painting jobs
And
8) Scaring the dog out of the shed.

scaring the dog out of the shed

I'd have a compressor for the housework, if I could get away with it. Floors swept in less than a minute, dusting done in two minutes. Oh yeah, I'd use the compressor for housework if I could

Hard to beat, mine has been going for 30+ years, a dozen boats and
only God knows how many other projects. Replace the drive drum once,
epoxy is a load on them with 40gt.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003b

Originally Posted by BobL

Yep - one of the most used machines in my shed.
1) Cleaning out power tools.
2) Cleaning sanding belts, threads, nuts, files, rasps, taps and dies etc
3) Blowing dust off hard to get at surfaces like tool racks
4) Removing dust from turned/sanded wooden surfaces
5) Cleaning chainsaws and chains
6) Pumping up tyres and toys
7) Small spray painting jobs
And
8) Scaring the dog out of the shed.

hang on hang on . whats going on here Bob !.......thought you were the dust nazi. not sposed to blow dust around with those things..

I have owned the Millers Falls, Hitachi, and a 4" Makita and its a great machine and i now have the 4" Bosch. Not that long ago had a shot at the 4" wide FESTO with base plate and that is by far the best machine i have ever had the chance to use. But man does it cost!

Originally Posted by BobL

Yep - one of the most used machines in my shed.
1) Cleaning out power tools.
2) Cleaning sanding belts, threads, nuts, files, rasps, taps and dies etc
3) Blowing dust off hard to get at surfaces like tool racks
4) Removing dust from turned/sanded wooden surfaces
5) Cleaning chainsaws and chains
6) Pumping up tyres and toys
7) Small spray painting jobs
And
8) Scaring the dog out of the shed.

On yer Bob, all that and more, seems my compressor runs more than any other piece of equipment in the shed, am just about to fire it up to spray a table with shellac.
Cheers,
Jon.