[TheForge] Belt sander recommendations

[Ries Niemi]

On Feb 23, 2006, at 3:45 PM, Fred Zickrick wrote:

> Hi yall,
>         I need a good solid handheld belt sander with some 
> versatility.  One project will be to resurface a 4" wide anvil.  
> Others will probably involve wood  and or metal.
> Any recommendations?
>
> Thank you,
> Fred Zickrick, fredz72 at cableone.net
Depends on how much you want to spend, and how hard you are going to 
use it.
The best ones are rumored to be the no longer made 1960's rockwells 
that looked like spaceships.

I think one of the best available now is the 4x24 milwaukee no. 5936- 
about $280 to $300. But it will probably last you your lifetime- we 
have one in the shop that is going on 20 years old, dropped from 
ladders, used to grind stainless, aluminum, and steel, in a very tough 
environment, and it keeps on ticking.

I have also had very good luck with all Bosch tools- we use a Bosch 
3x21 model 1274 when the milwaukee is just too heavy- and it has lasted 
years and years of hard labor as well- probably around $150.

In my mind, the next down in quality is Makita, and I wouldnt go any 
lower than that.

All 3 of these brands, by the way, are, last I heard, made in the USA. 
As compared to some other "american" sounding names, like Ridgid, or 
Dewalt.

The other ones to look at might include the Porter Cable- not sure if 
they are still american made or not. Hitachi is usually good too. But 
you want to buy the biggest, baddest one you can afford.


Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist

http://www.RiesNiemi.com