Have some Home Depot gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket - looking at belt sanders. Fine Woodworking (June 2004 issue) just did a shootout and Makita and Dewalt seemed to come out on top.
Dewalt looks a little funky - anyone have any experience or recommendations on either?
I recently purchased the Dewalt DW433 variable speed sander and although I haven't used it that much, I'm really pleased so far. It seems to track very well and I like the variable speed - using a slower speed with finer belts allows a finer finish than other sanders I've used, making for less finishing work. I also like being able to shut off the dust collector (once burned up a bag while sanding steel).
On 19 May 2004 07:36:57 -0700, snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com (MN Guy) posted:
I've got two Makita 9924DBs
One is as purchased, and the other I've hacked out the platten so that it can sand curves and edges more roundly and easily. I use both of them quite a bit. The one with the flat platten can be upended in the Workmate portable bench and used as a linisher, or I've just sanded the kitchen floor (jarrah with black shit from the linoleum underlay) with 38 grit belts. Worked a treat 'cept for my arthritis :)
They are tough as, and have taken everything I've thrown at them. Just remembered, I actually rounded over the edges of a limesone wall with the plattenless beast. The belts didn't last long :)
I have a 4" x 24" Makita belt sander that I bought close to 10 years ago. It's a real work horse that has never given me any difficulty. I also have DeWalt tools but given the choice I'd buy Makita over DeWalt any time I could.
Nice article - but you need to check out the dw433. It sports an 8 amp motor and has vertical wheels in the front for a longer platten. The front handle is adjustable from the top to front of the sander. I'm a southpaw and the sander feels very comfortable to me. The belt lock is a metal lever that works nicely and feels solid.
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