Best Hand Held Belt Sander??

[Brandon Weiss]

I'm looking at 3" x 21" models mainly b/c that seems to be the most widely available belts. What are your choice models? I'm open to any brand and price range of up to $200.

[Lance Norris]

Ive been very happy with my Bosch.

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-1274DVS-3-Inch-21-Inch-Variable/dp/B0000223HB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1284493312&sr=8-1

[Ben Hatcher]

I have the Rigid Model # R2720. It works pretty well. The electronics are very good and keep the motor from bogging down with aggressive removal rates.

[Quinn McCarthy]

I have the Bosch 4x24" 1276 variable speed. It is a great sander. Well balanced. It can hog off a ton of material if you let it.

Quinn

[Mark Ashmeade]

Bosch Scintilla PBS 75. Sold in the US as model 1274.

I inherited my grandfather's, some 21 years ago. Other than the housing being green rather than blue, it's identical to the one on the Bosch website:

http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=1274DVSK

Made in Switzerland, and been in my family for getting on for 30 years. I used it just the other day, and it's a fine tool. If it ever dies, it will be replaced with another.

[Gary Herrmann]

I really like my Dewalt 433 with the sanding kit frame. You can mount it on edge on your bench for additional flexibility.

[Van Huskey]

The Dewalt 433 is one of the better belt sanders.

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

Fifteen years ago I ran by Bosch 4 X 24 underwater for a while. It's still running today with no rebuilding.

[johnny means]

It doesn't have much snob appeal, but I love my Ryobi BE321. It's solidly built, has variable speed is plenty durable. But that's not all! As a bonus it is perfectly flat on top, so I can lay it on it's back and use it as a stationary sander (very handy on a job site).

[David Christopher]

Brandon, if you want bragging rights, and a sander that will last a lifetime, the PC 504 is the ticket

[Leo Graywacz]

I have the PC 2 1/2 x 14 belt sander. It's a one hander. I use it mostly for scribing work when I do installs.

Porter-Cable 371K Compact Belt Sander

http://www.toolsnob.com/pictures/371k_1.jpg

[Karl Brogger]

Brandon, if you want bragging rights, and a sander that will last a lifetime, the PC 504 is the ticket



What he said.

[David Weaver]

I have the PC 4x24 variable speed (262vsk?). I don't know what the deals are now, but when I got it at coastal tool, it barely more than $200 with a case.

I don't know what you plan on doing with it, and whether or not clearance at the front, etc, is an issue, but I like the big PC. I rarely use it, but I did use it with a coarse belt to strip a bedroom floor - which was a lot harder on me than it was on the sander.

[Mike Cutler]

I have the PC 3x21. It's been a great sander.

I really like Dave's 504. Very Retro, it look like an old Southern Pacific locomotive. I want one.:cool:

[Tony Bilello]

I have the PC 4 X 24 and it is a great belt sander. It is the only belt sander that will use on a new table top to 'flatten' it.

[Ben Franz]

Fifteen years ago I ran by Bosch 4 X 24 underwater for a while. It's still running today with no rebuilding.

Underwater :eek::eek::eek: ???? Say it ain't so. Must be a good story here.

[Frank Drew]

A sanding frame can turn a hand belt sander into a precision machine, IMO. I last had an AEG with a frame and liked it a lot. The frame takes the worry out of belt sanding without compromising performance.

[Cary Falk]

I have a Makita 9404(4x24) and a 9911(3x18) and am happy with both of them. They are well balanced and have flat tops in case I have to turn them upside down and do some free handed sanding.

[Neil Brooks]

Brandon, if you want bragging rights, and a sander that will last a lifetime, the PC 504 is the ticket

I'll add that to my list of "if somebody would buy [this tool] for me, I'd surely use it !" tools*


:D



*The list currently includes most Festool products, and the 5HP SawStop cabinet saw

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

Underwater :eek::eek::eek: ???? Say it ain't so. Must be a good story here.
Carpal Tunnel, bad outlet strip, and working by an irrigation ditch.

I also have a 3 X 21 Ryobi that has been a very good sander. It has a flat top so it can be mounted upside down and used as a stationary sander.

The problem with the PC504 is you end up with Popeye arms if you use in anything other than with the motor on top position.

[Chris Tsutsui]

I have the PC 4"x24" variable speed.

I was walking around Lowes several months ago and they had them on clearance for $150, then I had a coupon so it turned out to be a decent deal. I like how it has some weight to it because it makes it feels solid and stable.

The one thing I don't like that much about my PC 333 orbital is the vibrations.

[Thomas Delpizzo]

Brandon, if you want bragging rights, and a sander that will last a lifetime, the PC 504 is the ticket

Where can you get a 504??!!! I thought PC stopped making the old locomotor model!

[Mike Harrison]

I also have a 4 X 24" sander, a Delta 362, but I'd trade in a second for your fine looking 504. I love the looks of those old sanders.
http://www.deltaportercable.com//ProductImages/PC_Graphics/PHOTOS/PORTER-CABLE/TOOLS/LARGE/3/363_1.jpg (http://www.deltaportercable.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=11067)