When You need the Best Belt Sander for under $50

It is always wise to do a bit of investigating before buying power tools our favourite is Tool Inspector because they always have the most in-depth product guides.

Having decided to purchase a belt sander, task No. 1 is to determine the goals of using the tool: grinding large surfaces (for example, counter-tops) or processing small parts (for example, the top of the railing). Depending on this, the functional dimensions are selected. But do not get ahead of yourself, it is much more logical to start with the basics themselves.

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Belt sanders come in many forms and are each designed for a specific job. This article will help you buy the universal option that joiners and builders use. So, we select the belt sander, studying the device from “A” to “Z”.

What is a belt sander?

Those who have worked with wood at least once know how many prickly nicks are on its surface. Whatever the product is intended for this tree, the “thorns” must be removed, making the material perfectly smooth. In such cases, a belt sander is used.

The tool is suitable for processing not only wood, but also metal, plastic. The principle of operation is simple: after turning on the tool, the tape begins to move on rollers according to the type of conveyor. Touching the surface, it polishes it, removing all roughness. For this method of grinding, some users call the device “tank” or “caterpillar.”

No special skills are required here, even a beginner of carpentry can manage the tool.

Fields of application

The tape device is indispensable for peeling large surfaces where an impressive layer of material needs to be removed. In addition, the tool is used:

  • When processing roughness’s on wood, metal, polymers;
  • While working with the edges and edges of various work pieces;
  • To remove old paint, cleaning of corrosive areas;
  • In construction work when sanding putty on the walls, concrete;
  • For the formation of smooth slopes;
  • For sharpening garden tools, such as large scissors

Manufacturers care about safety and ease of use, and therefore equip the belt sanders with a special vice (to turn the tool into a stationary machine) and various stops for the accuracy of the tasks.

With the purpose of the device, everything is clear, it’s time to move on to the main thing – what kind of belt sander to choose?

Key Points to Consider When Buying

When choosing a tool for home use, in a professional carpentry workshop or at a construction site (by the way, craftsman 7a belt sander is ideal for the latter), the buyer needs to consider 4 important characteristics.

Power

It’s no secret that power and performance are interconnected. So, the higher the numbers that determine the power, the more “squeeze” out of the tool. As for the belt grinders, here the motor power varies from 0.5-1.2 kW:

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Small household devices have a power of 500-700 watts, this resource is enough to perform basic work;

Power over 700 watts is found in professional grinders, which are sharpened for long-term work in production.

Focusing on power, you need to understand that a machine with high performance works more efficiently and longer. This is especially felt if you compare 2 devices with different power when performing the same task. But there is a caveat: super-productive devices are heavy and expensive. So the best choice is the golden mean.