Tools and Tool Buying

[seabeachwood]

I need a portable belt sander. No experience. Found a low price ($60) for a Makita 9910X.

Anyone with experience or advice?

[sweensdv]

I can't speak to the Makita but I've been pleased with this reconditioned Hitachi, http://www.reconditionedsales.com/Hitachi_SB75B_2-speed_Belt_Sander_%28Reconditioned%29___i334.aspx  The one I received was in pristine condition.  If you aren't advere to buying reconditioned, spec wise this sander has more to offer than the Makita.

[knotscott]

+1 on the Hitachi...mine was also from Recon Sales and it looked new. 

[Jon439]

I have the Makita 9900B belt sander, having bought it about 20 years ago. For a while it was tearing up belts until I discovered one of the screws holding on the platen was loose. I used a dab of Loc-Tite to keep it from backing out and haven't had a problem since.

A bit of advice, don't buy a huge number of belts all at once. The glue joining the belt together dried out and I ended up tossing a dozen belts that fell apart.

Also use a finer grit belt than you think you will need, unless you are sanding down old barn wood to re-use. The sander will tend to run away and grind down stock too fast unless you are very careful. I started with 60 grit belts, and gouged a bunch of otherwise useable wood. Once I started using 100 grit as my "rough" grit, the gouging stopped.

[RussBoyd]

Don't know what you would be using it for the most, but for me, I got that newer "small" porter cable and love it. It is easily used single handed if you need to hold the board with your other hand. That is important on the job site for me where it's not always convenient to clamp it down.

[LibertyWW]

I have the big 4x24 porter cable and the new little baby porter cable belt sander.  The little belt sander does everything I need it to do and it doesn't take 2 hands to operate.  If I had to give up one, I would give up the big one.

Fred

[Todd A.Clippinger~American Craftsman]

I had a 4x24 sander, two 3x21 sanders, and then I bought the small Porter Cable 371K "armadillo" sander.

I gave away the 4x24, I keep a 3x21 in my work truck and one in the shop. But the only one that I use consistently is the small Porter Cable sander. It is the easiest to handle and pure joy to use.

The most important thing to remember is to buy based on your needs for the way that you work.