Best Benchtop Belt Sander – Guide and Reviews
When it comes to looking for the best benchtop belt sander that you can find, it might be difficult to remember all of the little things you need to keep in mind as well as remember what some of the best products are. However, the lucky thing for you is that you no longer have to remember all of these things because this information is going to summarize everything you need to know!
When you go to buy a sander like this, make sure you are following all of the tips and tricks outlined below so that you have the best chance at getting a sander that meets all of your needs. If you still don’t know what you want, I recommend looking for one of the products recommended below as they will surely be a great option as well!
5 Best Benchtop Belt Sander
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Picture |
Name |
Price |
|---|---|---|
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WEN 6502 | |
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Kalamazoo 1SM | |
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Grizzly H6070 Belt | |
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JET J-4002 | |
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Rockwell RK7866 Belt |
Top 5 Best Benchtop Belt Sander Reviews
1. WEN 6502 4 x 36-Inch Belt and 6-Inch Disc Sander
Editor Rating:
If you can’t decide which type of sander you want and you would like to have the option to choose between a couple different type of sanders, then this might be one of the better options for you on this list because it is a two-in-one sanding machine that has a 4 by 36 inch belt as well as a 6 x 6 inch disc so you can choose which type of sanding is best for the project you are working on.
Additionally, you’re going to find that the belt can tilt anywhere from zero to 90 degrees so you can easily get the best results depending on what you are doing.
Furthermore, you can count on this sander for strength and durability thanks to the sturdy cast iron base. Not only is it strong and durable, but it is going to help reduce some of the vibrations so that you don’t have to worry about your hand or other parts of your body feeling the exhaustion from the sander. The 4.3 amp motor helps to provide up to 3600 RPM so you have the best power at all times. Lastly, the tension release level helps to make it simple to change the sandpaper grit at all times.
PROS
- Two-in-one belt and disc
- Belt tilts 0 to 90 degrees
- Sturdy cast iron base
- 4.3 amp motor
- Tension release lever for easy sandpaper change
CONS
- Doesn’t have any variable speed options
2. Kalamazoo 1SM 1″ Belt Sander, 32 lbs, 1725 RPM, 1/3 HP Motor, 1″ x 42″ Belt
Editor Rating:
If you know what you want and you don’t mind spending a little bit more money in order to get what you want, then this might be one of the best options for you. It’s not going to have a ton of different options and things to choose from like the product that was mentioned above, but it is one of the better belt sanders you will find thanks to the one inch thick, 42 inch long belt that can handle just about anything. In terms of the use, this is going to be one of the best options when it comes to sharpening tools but it is also great to help sand or shape metal, wood, plastic or other materials.
This particular model can be moved wherever you need it to go or you can even bolt it down so that it becomes one of the sturdiest options that you will find.
As a whole, it weighs just 32 pounds and the spring tensioned rollers help to give you persistent tension and tracking. The process to change out belts is very simple and you can change in about 30 seconds. Lastly, you’re going to enjoy the powerful ⅓ HP 115 volt motor to power the unit as well as the 8 foot power cord for portability.
PROS
- 42 inch long belt
- Perfect for sanding tools or other materials
- Weighs 32 pounds
- 1/3 HP motor
- 115 Volt motor
- Easily change sandpaper grits
CONS
- No clear cons to speak of
3. Grizzly H6070 Belt and 5-Inch Disc Sander
Editor Rating:
If you were a fan of the first sander that was reviewed on this list because it gave you the option of using either a belt sander or a disc sander, then you’re going to like what this particular sander has to offer. The belt on this unit measures 1 inch by 30 inches and the disc is a five inch disc. The motor on the sander is second to none thanks to the incredibly 110v, single-phase motor that puts out ⅓ horsepower and has a max RPM of around 3450 which is more than enough to finish any project that you might have to finish.
Both the belt and the disc sander are able to tilt 45 degrees so that you have the ability to rotate and angle the sander the way you want to in order to get the best results depending on what you are doing. In terms of the dimensions, the belt sander table is 5 ⅛” x 5 ⅛” and the disc sander table is 4” x 7 5/16”. Last but not least, the belt platen is easily removable as is the idler roller guard.
PROS
- ⅓ HP
- 110V
- Single phases motor
- 3450 RPM
- Both tilt 45 degrees
- Removable belt platen
CONS
- Needs some adjustments
- Not great right out of the box
4. JET J-4002 1-Inch by 42-Inch Bench Belt and Disc Sander
Editor Rating:
Just because something is more expensive than another option doesn’t mean that it is going to be the best choice among them. Price doesn’t dictate value and that is especially true when it comes to this particular sander. Once again, you’re going to get the option of choosing to use the belt sander or the disc sander so that you can get the best results depending on the project you are working on.
The hinged idle wheel cover is a great feature and the motor provides ⅓ horsepower for all of your power needs.
The removable platen also helps to make it easy for you to sand some of the curves or other oddly shaped objects. Additionally, The abrasive belt works similar to a jig-saw and it removes the material and finishing all at the same time. The gauge helps to turn and lock at all common angle up to 45 degrees so that you can work it to the angle that you need.
PROS
- Hinged idler wheel cover
- 45 degrees left and right
- Removable platen
- Removing material and finishing at the same time
CONS
- Components could be more durable
5. Rockwell RK7866 Belt Disc Sander
Editor Rating:
Last but not least on this list of options when it comes to a benchtop belt sander, this particular unit is going to be one of the more affordable options and it is going to double as both a belt sander and a disc sander like most of the other ones that you have seen mentioned so far. The belt platform is able to adjust from 0 to 90 degrees so you can sand both horizontally or vertically and the sanding table ranges from 0 to 45 degrees to help sand beveled edges.
The motor is second to none thanks to the 4.3 amps of power and the heavy duty build as well. This motor not only helps to give you a strong and durable performance, but it also gives you a performance you can count on every time. Last but not least, changing belts will be no problem at all thanks to the quick-release belt tension lever that makes it a breeze to switch out different belts.
PROS
- Belt and disc sander
- Belt sander adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees
- Disc sander adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees
- 4.3 amp motor
- Quick release belt tension lever
CONS
- No dust bag or anything
- Somewhat cheap construction
As you can see, there is a lot of information to keep in mind when it comes to the best bench top belt sander and if you have never purchased a product like this before, you’re going to find that everything outlined below can be a huge benefit when you go to make that purchase. If you still don’t feel comfortable to go out and buy one on your own, you can follow the product recommendations to pick out the best one to meet your needs. No matter how you plan on picking out the sander for you, you’ll have no problem getting one of the best on the market.
How To Choose The Best Benchtop Belt Sander
Ease of Changing Pads
With just about every single project you are going to work on, you’re going to find that you will need a couple different sand paper grits in order to finish the job. With this in mind, you should really look to find a sander that makes changing the pads a piece of cake so that you don’t have to stop for a long time in the middle of the project you are working on. If a sander has this feature, you will see it mentioned somewhere in the features so be sure to keep an eye out for that. If worse comes to worse, you should still be able to change the pads, but it might not be as easy.
Dust Collection System
As you probably already know, when you sand just about anything, it is incredibly messy and the saw dust goes everywhere, which can be incredibly annoying if you try to keep a tidy work space or you are working somewhere indoors. Luckily, you can keep an eye out for a great dust collection system so that you will be able to keep your workspace clean. If you can’t find a great dust collection system, don’t worry! You can still purchase an exterior vacuum or device to help make sure everything stays clean.
Power Cord
This is something that a lot of people don’t think about but it can be really important, especially when it comes to this type of sander. As you may already assume, the longer the power cord, the more you’re going to be able to do with the sander and the more room you’ll be able to cover in the room. While it might not be an issue for some people, there are other people that want to be able to sand all over without unplugging the unit all the time. Once you buy the unit, understand that the power cord you have is the power cord you will be stuck with since it is not a good idea to use an extension cord.
Overall Performance
This really should go without saying, but you need to make sure that the overall performance of the unit is going to be as strong as you want it to be because without a strong performing sander, you’re just going to be wasting your money. I know it might be tempting to sacrifice some of the features for a lower costing sander, but I really don’t recommend that. Don’t go overboard when it comes to spending money, but make sure you spend enough so that you will get a decent overall performance.
Max Power
Obviously you need to find a sander with power because it’s going to determine how much your sander is capable of removing and what it is able to do on a regular basis. The more powerful the sander, the better off you are going to be but it is important to understand that you won’t always need the highest power setting (more on the in the next point). The higher the power, the easier and quicker you’re able to remove the surface you are working on. However, since the highest power will rarely be used, the variable speed will be the most important thing to keep in mind.
Variable Speed
As I briefly mentioned above, the variable speed of the sander is going to be one of the most important considerations to keep in mind and it is a more important feature than anything that was discussed above for the most part. In this particular instance, having a variable speed gives you the flexibility to do just about anything you want to do and it gives you the flexibility to get the results you want out of the sander. Variable speed motors are great when it comes to choosing how much of the surface you want to take off as well as how fast the sander is going to work.
About the Author Darrell Webster
I believe there is a handyman in all of us as long as you have the right tools. I started this blog to help anyone who is interested in fixing things to learn their way around the different tools and to know how to perform different DIY tasks. I have been doing this for years and believe I am a master of this art.