- Joined
- Feb 22, 2013
- Messages
- 159
So I'm looking to pick up a belt sander. I've been surviving with my little handheld held upside down in a vice. Time to upgrade. I've been checking Craigslist for the past month to no avail of one in my price point. Anyway I've narrowed it down to two possibilities. This one from hf http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-x-48-inch-belt-and-9-inch-disc-combination-sander-6852.html. And this one from porter cable http://www.lowes.com/pd_91036-46069...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo= Now with the 20% discount they both come to about the same price. I'm going to be using it for wood , softer metals. Maybe the occasional has bit. Sanding resin castings. It is home shop use and will probably see weekly use totaling a couple hours a week. I would normally grap the porter cable one but seems these both are made in china and i heard porter cable got bought by black and decker which i never likes. The porter cable one is direct drive with a belt drivin dust fan. Both disc and belt have dedicated tables. I played with it in store and the rotation of everything seems really smooth. Cons are the tables are a bit rough and there are some plastic guards and I don't like the screws holding the table and its not as big as the hf one. The hf one is bigger and is heavier. It doesn't feel as smooth as the pc one and it is belt driven and I think a little slower. There is only one table and it feels rougher than the pc one and it has ridges instead pf being flat that must be moved from the belt to disc and vice versa and the stand looks pretty useless. Anyone have any experience with either of these? The reviews I've found are pretty much even on each unit. Any help is appreciated.
P S. I know black and decker owns dewalt too. I don't like those either I prefer Milwaukee
P S. I know black and decker owns dewalt too. I don't like those either I prefer Milwaukee
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