What To Look For in a Belt Sander
The best belt sander should have comfortable handles and big motors – it’s the ideal tool to remove a lot of material quickly. Belt sanders can come cordless or corded. Cordless belt sanders are safer and more portable but they are more expensive. You can maintain a constant source of power with a corded belt sander but make sure you get one with as long a lead as possible – Makita belt sanders are good in that respect.
The more powerful the belt sander the better – 1,000W for a corded version is ballpark. The better belt sanders feature variable speed control for belt speed too – on average 120-400 metres per minute.
Most belt sanders come with a 75mm wide belt although heavy duty versions can feature 100mm wide belts or more.
Size and weight are important features too – lighter machines can weigh just 1.5kg whilst heavy duty models can weigh over 4kg. You may also want to compare noise and vibration levels in the technical specification before choosing your belt sander.
Finally check the number of belts included. Some come with just one while others, particularly budget belt sanders, can come with 12!
I’ve heavily researched and tested out the best belt sanders currently on the market, so you don’t have to. Read on and see what I’ve found out…