Bench belt sander

[TigerPawTreasures]

Hi everyone.
I have been thinking about getting a bench belt sander, but do not know much about them, so I am looking for suggestions on features and what size to look at. I am thinking about trying my hand at Intarsia so I would definitely want it to work well for that type of sanding. Thanks in advance for any and all advise.

[Bill P]

Howdy, Tiger,

I have a little Delta 1" belt sander w/ a 6" disc.  This works great for me because the narrow belt can get into small areas.

I also have Ryobi 6" belt w/ an 8" disc, which I use for some of the larger projects.

Both of these are great for me, but I wouldn't know what to recomend to you.

Are there budgetary concerns, or any size constraints?

Bill

[TigerPawTreasures]

I would like to stay under 200.00 and I have a very small work area so smaller is better.

[mrsn]

I have a 4" belt and 8" disc combo. I like it a lot. Do you have any other sanders, like a spindle sander?
I probabaly use my spindle sander more then the others.

[TheMelster]

I use this unit from Harbor Freight, and my dremel tool, plus my dewalt palm sander.

[TigerPawTreasures]

No I do not have a spindle sander. I do have a dremel and a hand orbital sander.

[xuryl]

I have the 4" belt w/6" disk, a 1x 30 belt sander, and a spindle sander. I use the 4" belt sander and spindle sander the most. If I had to choose just one it would be the 4" belt sander.

[Paw Paw Ray]

I have the one from HF and it is the most disappointing tool in my shop.

[Kepy]

Other than my hand sanders, I use my 6" most.  I found when I switched from a 4 to 6" that the sanding belts lasted longer so it was more economical.

[jeff44]

I have  the Home Depot Rigid combination bench top belt and oscilating sander.  It is in your price range and you get two tools for the price of one.  Like most I use the oscillationg sander the most.

[Jim Finn]

My bench belt sander is the most used tool in my shop.  I use it to sand the edges of 11" x 8" x 2" cedar boxes I make with images inlayed into the lids.  I also do intarsia.  I had a Royobi 4"x24" belt sander and it worked well for me for many years.  I now have a Harbor freight 6" x 48" belt sander and like it better still. This saw is priced at about $200.  I do not use  the disk sander part of these saws at all.

[troy_curtis]

Harbor Freight has a belt/disc sander for about $70. It is inexpensive and looks like it would work well enough. I am going to be getting one in September (my birthday). The 4" by 36" is the one I am wanting. But there is a smaller one that looks good too. http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/sanders.html

[Crabbyboater]

Ive been using the HF 4X36 for about a year now, and it works great.  I'd buy another in a heart beat if I had the need.  I also have their oscillating spindle sander and am quite happy with that as well. 

[GrayBeard]

Another vote for the HF 4 x 36 belt sander.
 I took the disk off and put it in a drawer and bought some really good 4 x 36 belts from Peachtree and that is my 'go to' for most heavy duty sanding. I also have a 3 x 21 belt sander, 5" ROS, 1/4 sheet Makita orbital, and a MegaMouse that I found at a yard sale for $3.00.
The next time I have a cash windfall I plan to get the Rigid Combo!

~~~GB~~~

[cdrover(Clyde)]

I have a Mastercraft 4X36 belt and 8 in disk sander combo. I use it all the time but I still depend on the rubber drum sander that I use with my drill press. There are various sizes ranging from 1/2 in to 2 in. Works great at rounding off corners. Works the same as a spindle sander, just doesn't go up and down. Like a good many things around here.