A Belt Sander Buyer's Guide

Size

• The size of your project will ultimately determine the size of your sander. Think about not only the total area of your project but its parts as well. In some cases a smaller sander is more ideal, such as in furniture restoration, whereas other situations like entire walls that need to be sanded will call for a larger but less manageable-sized sander.

Speed Control

• If you are using a belt sander for the first time it is best to find one that has a variable speed setting. You can use it to speed down the belt sander if you find that it is difficult to use at higher settings. However, professionals may not need or desire this function as they are already accustomed to the feel of a belt sander.

Grit

• In addition to the actual belt sander itself, you will need to choose the grit of sandpaper necessary for your project. There is a wide range of grits from fine to coarse that accomplish different tasks. Light sanding jobs will require a finer grit while heavy duty jobs, such as cement work, may require a coarser grit.

Dust Bag

• Most belt sanders come with a dust bag that collects the dust that is a natural byproduct of sanding. Depending on the size, make and model of your sander, the dust bag may have certain qualities of which you should be aware. For example, how quickly the bag tends to fill up and whether it is easy to remove are things that need to be considered.