|
Once you set it, it stays. This belt sander seems to have plenty of power and the belt tracks well.
One of the negatives is that the dust collection system sucks. The balance was great. I tried cleaning it, it just don't work. If it is, the belt release will not work properly.
She took the porter cable, and i got stuck with the craftsman. For some reason, the front of the sander blows up at your face when you hold it at the wrong angle. I used this to remove paint from maple floors. I have to say, this sander is the best thing out there. initially the belts were wearing unevenly, but that was my fault. Whenever using it, make sure the tracking knob is not too tight.
That's why its a four star. the tracking is pretty good. Once you adjust it, and place the sander on the wood, it won't move. That's what makes the Porter Cable the best out there. I purchased a new foot pad, and it was even again. I have found that some sanders are not like that. I purchased a Craftsman 3X21 sander so that my wife could work with me.
place the belt on, hold the sander in the air, turn it on, and then adjust. It is made out of metal, and is very sturdy. the difference between the two was remarkable.The porter cable felt like a luxury sander. The belt release lever is great.
I have used others andnone compare to Porter-Cable for ease of use and durability. This was purchased to replace a stolen sander.
The variable speed is handy and is a separate wheel control as it should be. Plenty of power- doesn't bog down. You could pay more and get a lot less sander. At this price and the full warranty it's a no brainer. Long lived. in shops I've worked in PC was the sander of choice.Belt tracks very well.
That was the main problem with other belt sanders I have used.The sander also has some heft to it. When I plugged it back in, it pulled itself across the bench and onto the floor before I realized what was happening. No matter how much pressure is put on the platen or how long it runs, the motor never bogs. I was sanding a faceframe one day when my partner accidentally unplugged the machine. After trying several belt sanders on the market, I was extremely happy to come across this one.
Also, the dust bag forms a rub hole, right at the top where the aluminum tube ends inside the bag. It can be swung around, though, to the left or right out of the way. I set the machine down (this part is embarrassing) forgetting to turn the trigger off. It gets in the way sometimes when working on other than horizontal surfaces. If weight is a concern for you, you need to look elsewhere. There has been other times when it has been dropped or stepped on and has never had any problems.The only drawback, and the reason I gave it only 4 stars, is the dust bag. This is good because it doesn't need a lot of extra force to remove a lot of stock, and the weight helps to keep it on track. It purrs like a lion to this day.
For starters, it never bogs down. It bounced a couple of times and continued across the floor before pulling the plug from the outlet. I've sealed it with clear silicone which works fine. It is not a light weight machine. Although the "elsewhere" sanders won't work as well.This sander is tough.
|
