I am in the market for a new belt sander, likely a 3×21 machine. I have been looking at the Dewalt and Porter Cable VS sanders. Anyone have recent good or bad experience with them? other suggestions?
thanks
Jeff
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Replies
Check out this Bosch Sander
http://www.boschtools.com/tools/tools-detail.htm?H=175979&G=54923&I=55088
Sears used to sell this unit with the Craftsman name on it (I have one) I paid about $120 for it - great tool. Strange, I can't find it on the sears site anymore...
In a pinch, you can turn it upside down, clamp it to a bench and use it like a stationary belt sander. (flat top). It has a low profile, easy to change belt, variable speed, good dust collection with the built in bag etc...
Mark
Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.
I have both PC models but not with variable speed. The 3x21 changes belts by pushing in on the front roller to cock it. Kind of a weird set up but you get used to it. Since I started using the blue Norton belts, the sanders perform way better. The belts really last and there is never a stretching or tracking issue.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Jeff:
The Porter Cable 352VS is an excellent machine.
Stan
I have the PC 352VS and like it. Belts track well and are easy to adjust, the dust bag has good capacity and swings out of the way, and it's heavy which I think is an asset on horizontal surfaces- let the weight of the sander do the work; I find it easier to get more consistent results. For shop use I'd recommend replacing the bag with PC's hose (p/n 39332) and the appropriate adapter for your shop vac- it greatly improves dust collection. I'm planning to change over to a graphite platen- belts should run cooler, probrably a good idea for any belt sander. If you have a lot of overhead or vertical sanding to do, the weight and swinging bag quickly become liabilities; imho the Bosch 1274 is a better choice for vertical and overhead work but for shop work the 352 would still be my first choice. The DeWalt I don't know about.
You can't go wrong with either a Bosch or P/C. Personally, I prefer my Bosch 4 x 24. The larger the platen, the truer your surface will be.
Ditto on my Bosch 4x24 w/ EVS. It's especially good at leveling large panel glue-ups with the acc'y sanding frame. A sanding frame actually makes it a finesse tool. Tracking and DC with my Fein vac hooked up to it excellent. I was going to get a PC but they didn't offer a frame for it. Must be a Euro thing.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
John,
What does the frame actually do?
Doug
View Image
The sander snaps inside the frame which is probably more than 4 times the footprint of just the platten. It makes the B/S much more stable and it rides over low spots like a plane. There's no chance to catch a roller and leave a divit either and you can sand right to the edges without rounding them. The knob on the back adjusts the depth of cut. Think of it as an abrasive plane. The frame goes for $120 and the 1276DVS is $265.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
Thanks John.
Whatever you do, do NOT buy the Craftsman variable speed one at Sears. I can't ever get the belt to say aligned!!
Jeff,
look at Mikita, they have a wonderful reputation and they tend to be the quietest one of the bunch. (with belt sanders that's a really big deal!)
I found that the 4x24 a much more usefull tool much fewer gouges and bigger surface to work with. There is no way I would attempt to flatten a wide board with a three inch belt sander, I'm certain that skilled craftsmen can do it but for your average hack like me I want something only slightly less wide than the flight deck of an aircraft carrier..
In certain circumstances I clamp mine into the bench and use it like a sanding table..
Jeff
I have both, I have had my Porter Cable For quite a few years and it is reliable, but about 4 months ago I got drawn into that new Dewalt. ( I'm a tool guy and can't resist) So far I am still using my old Porter Cable. No offense to Dewalt, I am trying different types of belts, but tracking has been a real problem. More of a nuisance, I either got a bad sander or the belts I am using are crap. No matter how I adjust it the belts always track to the inside of the sander and nevertheless ruins the belt.
Not saying the Dewalt is a bad choice after all it is a clever design. I would be interested to hear if anyone else is having this problem or if it's just me.
John
I have the porter cable and like it, except for the dust collection bag is perfectly useless. It does a nice job with edge scribing, though not as good as the Bosch.
If you want really straight sanding, and don't do much curvy work, I'd recommend the Makita. It so much wants to stay straight you almost cannot make it do a concave curve.
I like the Bosch the best.
I'll add my vote for the PC 3X21. Mine is so old that it is branded "Rockwell." It gets used a lot, and its age says much about durability. I like it because this size is smallish, and manueverable.
I also have the Bosch 4 X 24 (with the accessory sanding frame). It is a great machine for leveling table tops and other large panels.
My main suggestion is to buy from a place that will take it back if you don't like it. I had a friend who bought a smaller Bosch that was way underpowered and ineffective.
The other option you might want to consider is a Random Orbital sander. The 6" models are very aggressive, and can replace a belt sander for many tasks.
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