Looking for a 3-inch portable belt sander for general purpose use.
Currently leaning towards Bosch 1274DVS:
Opinions?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Skim-coating with joint compound covers texture, renews old drywall and plaster, and leaves smooth surfaces ready to paint.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Got this sander recently and have used it several times over the past month, including several times today.
It is a lightweight tool, which makes it easy to hold for extended periods. I have used it a lot for scribing edges (I hold the sander vertically) and it's easy to handle for this type of application.
I have used it a bit for sanding horizontal surfaces, door edges, etc., and it's OK for that but does not have much heft. This would not be the sander for cleaning up large red-oak table top glue-ups... nowhere near enough beef for that (get a heavy PC 504).
Balance is good and it doesn't kick on start up. Variable speed is nice. Holding position is fine for me. The exhaust is out the left side and so far I have not mounted the bag, so I don't know whether or not it will be in the way of anything. The belt tracks a little off under load, which someone suggested might be a weak nose roller spring... I may look into that.
the old sears models was good, the new sears model are underpower alot. I like my hitatchi the best out of what I own
Porter Cable. It weighs enough so you don't have to press down ... just keep it level and in place.
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
A vote for the Porter Cable 352VS - depending on what kind of work you'll be doing. It's the opposite of Bosch; it has a lot of heft (metal body) as it weighs, iirc, almost 4lbs more than the Bosch. Great on horizontal surfaces; no need to bear down-weight of the sander does the work and imho, easier to get more consistant results than with the Bosch. But if you have a lot of overhead or vertical work to do, you'll be crying for the Bosch.
I agree with Ed. It's my opinion (based on field experience) that specific manufacturers excel in certain product lines. For example, my Milwaukie drill motors and Sawzalls never fail me.
And Porter Cable's belt sanders are a proven design that is, while admittedly heavy and maybe not the best ergonomically, is a work horse.
I have a couple, including a 4 X 24 that is 13 years old with a lot of hard miles and abuse. All it's ever ask of me was a couple of brush replacements, a cord replacement, and replacement of the tracking adjustment knob that broke when the sander fell off a second story onto concrete.
(Porter Cable's air nailers, on the other hand, suck, with the exception of their floor nailer, which is a keeper).
So how many times did you sand over the power cord before it had to be replaced?
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 ground it off with my Milwaukie 4 1/2" grinder....:) (damned paddle switches, anyhow!)
So how many times did you sand over the power cord before it had to be replaced?>>>
I love my PC sander but as you said...I've run over the cord dozens of times.
Surprised they dont make it with removable/replaceable cords like my Millw recip saw.
I mean at thirty bucks a cord they'd make out like bandits.
Be well
andy
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I only ran over my PC belt sander cord once. But since the sander wasn't content to just damage the insulation on the cord a bit (it grabed the cord and pulled it up and around), once was enough.
As near as I can figure, the only way the cord is coming back out is to cut it up. One of these days I've got to get around to that.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another power tool cord.
Edited 8/28/2004 3:45 pm ET by Rich Beckman
Got Makita at work that didthe same thing. Cord is only about 16" long now with a new plug. PITA to use, but we bought a new cord for it yet.
I have a 28 yo crapsman that won't die. Maybe I'll let it eat the cord to have an excuse to get me a new PC. Had one at work, but someone liked it better than we did. It walked in less than a year.
Dave
I really like my 15 year-old Makita - had to replace the pad and a switch along the way. There's a 10M medium-duty extension cord in place of its original, at less than 1/2 the price of the OEM part..
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
10 meters? That's a long cord to roll up at the end of the day.
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
About the same as the original and the extension cord I always seemed to need. In retro, I should have put a short whip on the machine with a twist-lock plug and a matching extension cord and done the same for several other machines.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
My makita 7" grinder has fed on cords, but with the PC belt, I learned to throw the cord over my shoulder to keep it out of he way. I has eaten the skin off a couple knuckles though, LOL
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I was coping a shoe mould with a rotozip, and the bit snagged and jumped over the end of the stick, landed on my knuckle. Dang that hurt for a while.
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
You saved me a lot of typing.
My PC 4x24 is 12-13 YO and king of the job, but it would be hard to hold up if I was working horizontal all day. It gets regulart use and the platen is wearing thin is the only problem. Time to replace it.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin
Put a piece of graphite on the platen, it will keep the belts running cooler, less friction.
Aw, I was thinking of stepping up to the big water-cooled version...
;)
Seriously, thanks, I've seen the aftermarket platens available with the graphite
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Standard fixtures in all the cabinet and millwork shops I worked in coming up was that trusty old Makita 3 x 24.....some days it seemed like everyone had one growing out of their arm. My best friend gave me one as a wedding present. Great all around sander; just heavy/light enough, plenty of power. Shopping for some new ones, probably go Makita.
I also have a big Bosch here, which is great, but....big. And a small Hitachi, which seems like it should be good, but isn't.
cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, N.S
right on, I use the pads sold for stroke sanders paddles..works like a champ, if all else fails use an old sanding belt (backwards of course).
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
when I went looking for a belt sander, my #1 factor was how it felt when held in one hand from the front handle. When scribing, I have found it easiest to hold the stock with one hand and the sander with the other.
Using this logic, I chose the PC 352VS and have never been disappointed.
I suggest for you to do the same....choose what feels the best for the work you do.
An awkward sander will more than likely produce terrible or destructive results.
gk
I have an old skil 4" x 21.75" with auto tracking and I would not buy with out auto tracking!
Thanks to all for taking the time to leave advice. I'm going to take another look at the PC and Makita models.
Edited 8/30/2004 2:52 pm ET by csnow
IMHO you cant go wrong with the Bosch if you scribe as much as I do , countertops moldings etc. It is light,, Good dust control and the varible with speed lock is nice,
With that said if you aredoing horiz. sanding then the PC may be the way to go
Do yourslf a favor with the Bosch and get the upgrade dust bag with the 90 degree elbow and it will stay out of your way.
Good luck
You will definitely be happy if you follow your leaning. I realize that the PC units last for years but they just inflict more toirture on their owners that way ... if you switch and get one of them you will find yourself praying that it will die ... but they go on and on. They are dinosaurs ... get the Bosch and enjoy your work!
I've had my Bosch VS 4X24 for about 12 years now, and it's taken everything I've given it. Once, while sanding a deck in 96-degree weather, the sawdust bag got so hot that I had second-degree burns on my knuckles where they touch the bag, but the sander never complained. I've gone through a few plattens, but that's all. It's a beast.
Edited 9/1/2004 6:55 am ET by OVERKNIGHT
Don't get it!!! It's possibly the crummiest piece of equipment Bosch ever made.
The pressure plate is a composite that wears quickly.
The dust path is convoluted and clogs easily, and clearing it requires complete disassembly of the sander.
The tension roller uses a friction bushing that wears out quickly.