Bill Houghton
11-17-2008, 10:55 AM
I'm a hybrid hand/power tool user with a very small shop (11 feet square). Lots of carpentry on our 115-year-old house, hopes for some furniture making soon. I have a little Bosch belt sander (the one with the inline motor) that is dying (the quick release handle is plastic, and snapped off), and am thinking about whether to buy a replacement. So, some questions:
1. Do I need one at all? I use hand planes a lot for flattening and smoothing, and I own a random orbit sander that works pretty well for smoothing duties where a plane's not workable and a power planer for rough stock reduction when I need speed. Am I missing some capacity that a hand held belt sander could provide?
2. If I do buy, I'm considering the DeWalt 432 belt sander that Woodworker.com on which Woodworker's Supply is currently offering a free sanding frame that also serves as a support to use the sander as a benchtop sander. This belt sander has had some good reviews. Does anyone have experience, positive or negative, with it?
1. Do I need one at all? I use hand planes a lot for flattening and smoothing, and I own a random orbit sander that works pretty well for smoothing duties where a plane's not workable and a power planer for rough stock reduction when I need speed. Am I missing some capacity that a hand held belt sander could provide?
2. If I do buy, I'm considering the DeWalt 432 belt sander that Woodworker.com on which Woodworker's Supply is currently offering a free sanding frame that also serves as a support to use the sander as a benchtop sander. This belt sander has had some good reviews. Does anyone have experience, positive or negative, with it?