A belt sander is a power tool used to sand wood and other materials. It consists of a belt that runs in a circular way driven by a motor much like a running belt of a treadmill. Belt sanders are primarily used in the initial rough sanding process as they are able to remove considerable amount of materials quickly. For a smoother finish, you will be an orbital or palm grip sander. Some of the most trusted brands of power sander tool out there are Makita, Porter Cable, Grizzly, and Ryobi.
Makita has been a leader in the construction industry, and one popular model offered by this company is the 9404 8.8 AMP belt sander. The main quality of this sander tool as reviewed by many people is the quietness of its motor. It comes with an 8.8 amp motor along with an auto-tracking belt system that tracks the belt without adjustment. It comes with a unique design, and other interesting features include a variable belt speed and a dust bag that allows for a cleaner work environment.
Porter Cable Power Tools
One other name that is well known in the manufacturing of power tools is Porter Cable. The 352VS 8 amp belt sander is one the offering from this company. It comes with a 3-by-21-inch belt housed in an all-metal structure that gives the tool a solid feel. The major plus from this model is the ability to keep the belt centered during sanding jobs. This sander has a variable speed dial that allows you to match the speed of the belt according to the application. This model is also very quiet as it has been designed with a new gear system from Porter Cable. One other feature that you will not find on most sanders is the 360 adjustable top dust nozzle that allows you to pivot the dust bag in more hard to reach places.
Now, if you are looking for a professionally designed sander of great value, you might consider the Ryobi BE318-2. It has a 5.3 amp motor and comes with 3" x 18" belt. With its belt tension system, the belt is kept aligned during use, and the tension release lever makes the changes of belt easy and trouble free. This sander tool weights 5.4 lbs and other interesting features include a lock-on trigger and a dust port that allows for vacuum hook-up.