Bought one about 3 months ago. At first it worked great and I loved it. Maybe a few hours of use at most. Then… it started suddenly munching the inboard side of the belt, without warning, turning it into one of those flap-sander deals. Try to keep sanding and suddenly the belt jams and breaks. The rubber drive wheel melts when that happens. Nothing like trashing 3 or 4 belts in 10 minutes to jack your blood pressure.
Sure wish it had worked out, but I took it back to Blowe’s and ordered a similar looking Bosch 3×21 from Amazon. Hopefully that’ll pan out.
Replies
You do know that thre's a belt tracking screw on the side of the sander ... and you can adjust the position of the belt? Sometimes the belt will ride over one way or the other when it's under load, so, you pre-adjust a little .
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I didn't realize that... I hit my head when I fell off the turnip truck and simple stuff sometimes escapes me.
Seriously, I've been using belt sanders more than 20 years and I most definitely adjusted the belt tracking on the Dewalt. Thing of it is, it would run perfectly for a few minutes and then suddenly run wildly off and tear the belt. Kind of like when the aileron cable snaps and the yoke jerks to one side.
Agree with Jeff about the Porter Cable sanders, and wish I could justify owning a 504. The 3x21 I checked out felt out of balance to me. Everyone's different.
for what it's worth ...
the crappy little makita I picked up last minute when my lasy real beltsander went missing is still sanding strong after 3 .. maybe 4 years?
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
I wonder if you maybe got a bad batch of belts ?On a hill by the harbour
All the belts I have are 3M, bought at two different times in different places. If there are problems with another sander then I'll know something...
Smart a$$. But the way you described the problem, it sounded like the belt went to one side and you couldn't get it back. Kinda like when the car won't start ... is there gas in the tank?
Novy might be right. If the belt splice is not square, it will track to one side uncontrollably.
I have the PC 3x21 and it like it. It does fell a little heavy to one side, and it's just plain heavy, but the weight is a help in normal flat sanding.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I've used several belt sanders in a cab shop and the one that feels best in my hands is a Makita 3x21. The balance and weight seems just right.
I generally dislike porter cable tools ...
except for my porter cable speed block palm sander ...
but I think the porter cable line of belt sanders is among the best out there.
old stand bys ... like milwaukee and the sawzaw ...
some companies just do certain tools right.
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
You'll like that Bosch...
I gave out several at Xmas.. They all loved 'em... Still do...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....
WOW!!! What a Ride!
XMAS huh?
where the hell is mine?
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
That was the 3x24...
D has it ... Let me know in WAY advance when yur going to collect it...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming.... WOW!!! What a Ride!
Maybe you asked before and I missed it, but my favorite beltsander is the Makita 9924db. A 3x24 sander with a wide pad that will take a 4x24 belt. Two belt options if you are stuck in the boonies, (but I prefer the 4"), sanding to the edge, power up the yingyang, better balance and handling than a true 4x24 with a larger plate than a 3x21, flat top for upside down bench-mode.
Probably many more reasons I like it, but the best one is I have used mine Hard for longer than any tool deserves to last.
A tool has to work before I wonder what the price is, and this one should have 5 stars, but the price is for real.
Maybe Ed was thinking you don't know what DOA means. If you've had that thing thing for 3 months, and now you're bitching(even if you do know how to track a belt), sounds a bit sketchy to me. I think you're lucky Lowe's took it back.
That said, I think I have the Bosch sander you're getting. Flat top, grippy pad when it's upside down, great for sharpening stuff or tweaking 1/4" templating. And it sands panels flatter and quicker than an orbital. Still, belts do matter, I've cut into the housing, old timer's reactions, can't blame it on the manufacturer<G>
Don't worry, we can fix that later!
A few hours use on a tool that was new three months ago... and you'd accept a complete failure?
a little follow-up....
Got the Bosch 1274 (?) lightweight 3x21 and have used it several hours (a lot of it scribing solid surface backsplash flanges into place... ugh). Pretty nice machine and I think it's worth the <$200 it cost. It hardly weighs a thing, which is nice in use but probably means it's all plastic inside. Belt tends to travel a little off the platen under load and return when freewheeling. Totally square housing and you can clamp it sideways or upside down on the bench. Somewhat whiny sound to the motor. Lack of the protruding front wheel of the Dewalt is definitely a drawback... the Dewalt was well-designed for making inside cuts with the front wheel.
Ok, let's anaylze what you said ...
it's all plastic inside.
Belt tends to travel a little off the platen
whiny sound to the motor
Lack of the protruding front wheel
$200
the Dewalt was well-designed
So tell me again why you bought that model? :)
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Ed, you and me are getting to be best buddies. If at all possible, come up to JLC Portland (Oregon) and I'll buy you a couple of beers.
To recap, the Dewalt was nicely designed from a user standpoint but didn't actually work. Kind of like a car that shuts down as you're accelerating onto the freeway. Jamming and breaking a belt that's 5 minutes old just doesn't cut it, does it? So, let's take the Dewalt out of consideration, unless you buy one and it works... which mine didn't.
Being far from the tool stores, I ordered the Bosch because (a) I want a small, light tool and (b) I have a bunch of other Bosch stuff and it's really good equipment. Sight unseen... never handled one of these... just going with a guess and an instinct. So, as I posted earlier, it works reasonably well but definitely isn't on par with the heavier built tools like my other Bosch or a PC 504. The belt travel is annoying and maybe I'll try to adjust that out, if there's a way. The motor is definitely a whiner, which is annoying and nothing more. The front wheel design is unique to Dewalt and hopefully others will catch on.
Anyway, I just posted the info (my impressions...) for anyone interested.
The belt tracking out under load sound like the spring for the nose roller is too light .......
On a hill by the harbour
I was just amused that you listed 5-6 things wrong with the sander, but you were still happy with it. If I get a tool with that many problems, I lend it to somebody.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
"It's a poor craftsman that blames his tools." (?)
It's a poor craftsman that blames his tools for the poor work he did. Good craftsman can blame their tools and still turn out exceptional work.
Jon Blakemore
I guess I'm brainwashed into a perfect American consumer.... happy with the mediocre.
Seriously, I don't think any of the 3x21 sanders are very heavy duty. I was just happy to get something that didn't go thru $20 worth of belts in a day. If I ever have a job that justifies it I'll get the $500 PC beast.
If I ever have a job that justifies it I'll get the $500 PC beast.
Better start lifting weights now!
I have the PC 3x21, and it's stout. But that's an advantage, if you keep it level on the board, cuz you don't need to push down on the tool, which is a no-no.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
I got a PC 3x24 (?) about 5 months ago. On sale cheap at blows as they were discontinueling PC power tools. Don't really have a whole lot of use for a belt sander, but with about probably 2 hrs on it, the switch went bad. Sometimes it sticks on. Sometimes it won't go on. If you "flick" it you can get it to cooperate though. A real joy was when my helper couldn't get it to go off so he just unplugs it. Guess what happens when I plug it in later... Ate up the cord, etc. Least it didn't eat up my flesh...
Guess I need to take it to get fixed...