entry level belt sander

Sawce

Sawce

Joined
Jan 10, 2009
Messages
147
Can anyone recommend an entry level 1 x 30 belt sander? I sound plenty while searching the web. Prices ranging from 30-180 bucks, do I need a certain amount of Horsepower? or will anything do to start? Also, what belt grits would I need?
 
I really like the Delta 1 inch by 42 inch sander. It has more power than the smaller 1x30 which I have recently burned out. You can pick them up used for under $100 dollars.

Lee Valley also sells a sander although you have to provide the motor for it.
 
I started out with a 1x30 delta i picked up at the pawn shop for $20.00.It's still working 3 yrs. later with an occasional switch issue.
 
DO NOT bother with the Harbor Freight 1x30 to fully grind a blade. I have one and use it to sand kydex and it can put an edge on a blade but that is about it. Very minimal power. Look into the Craftsman 2x42 for a starter.
 
If you have the 1x30, it only has 1/3 hp motor, so you can't press too hard on the belt. If you go slow enough, it should work just fine.

But, are you willing to go slow instead of spending twice to three times as much money?
 
I have a 1x42 Delta and also a large 6x48 belt sander. I find the Delta gets used most often and actually is better for grinding out blades. Make sure to get some Zirconia belts for steel though. The 1x42 has good speed at 3000 SFPM which is good for grinding with. At only 2000 SFPM the 6x48 seems to make the belts dull really quickly rather than grind. I had a 1x30 sander and I can say that I really did not like it too much because it had too low of amps and had a crappy dust collection system, so it just made a huge mess if you tried working with wood. Even with the shop-vac hooked up, the dust spewed out of every part of the machine. The 1x42 is a great little machine, very clean (excellent dust collection system) and has very good power. Even though it is only a 1/3 hp motor, the 1x42 Delta draws 6 amps of power which is really good. The 1x30 is 1/3 hp and only has around 3.4 amps. From what I've been told, the more amps the better.
 
Just wanted to let you know that I just got that sander for $32 with a coupon. The table only tilts one direction 45 degrees, and it is to have the front edge of the table down farther. It can not go the other way, because the motor gets in the way. I am currently trying to make a way to have a new table on it.
 
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