Is a belt sander worth the money? This is a common question for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts.

Although belt sanders aren’t typically considered an essential part of your home toolkit, they’re extremely useful pieces of equipment.

However, because they can be a bit pricey, DIY enthusiasts will often hesitate to pull the trigger on purchasing one.

Here, we’ll take a close look at belt sanders, what they’re used for, and whether or not it’s worth the money to add one to your arsenal of tools.

Is A Belt Sander Worth The Money?

Yes, a belt sander is worth the money. For one, belt sanders can be used for multiple purposes, such as sanding rough surfaces, reviving reclaimed wood, smoothing corners, and even removing stains from wood. They’re also easy to use and can save you quite a bit of time when working on a wide variety of large DIY projects.

If you find yourself regularly working with flooring, wood furniture, or even soft metals, then a belt sander would be a worthwhile investment.

Although these tools aren’t cheap, they also aren’t prohibitively expensive. And ultimately, the time that having a belt sander will save you will greatly outweigh the monetary cost.

After all, time is money!

What Is A Belt Sander?

A belt sander is a multi-purpose electric tool equipped with a sandpaper belt.

The sandpaper is used to smooth the surface of materials such as wood, metal, and plastic.

There are different types of belt sanders available, and they can be either portable or stationary. However, all of them feature a motor as well as two drums, which are used to roll the sandpaper belt across whatever surface is being worked on.

Belt sanders are also referred to as strip sanders, and when a stationary one is mounted on a workbench, it’s typically called a benchtop sander.

Because they’re frequently used for woodworking purposes, belt sanders are often equipped with a cloth filter bag, a vacuum system, or some other type of mechanism for collecting sawdust.

What Are Belt Sanders Used For?

One of the things that makes belt sanders worth the money is that they can be used for many different tasks.

When working with wood furniture, a belt sander can be used to smooth the corners and create rounded edges. Belt sanders can also be used to remove stains and blemishes from wood or trim it down to a scribed line.

The tools are frequently used to renovate old furniture and put the final touches on a variety of woodworking projects.

Belt sanders get used for flooring projects regularly as well. It’s important for new flooring to have a very smooth surface, and a belt sander is the perfect tool to achieve that.

If you need to remove a layer of paint from a surface, a belt sander will provide a means to do so without taking anything off the surface itself.

Many people also use belt sanders when working with metals. Depending on the specifics of the work you’re doing, you can adjust the power level of your belt sander or switch the type of sandpaper to accommodate the material you’re sanding.

If DIY projects are a significant part of your life, there’s little doubt that you’ll regularly have opportunities to use a belt sander. There are quite a few types of projects that these handy tools can make quicker and easier.

Advantages Of A Belt Sander

Belt sanders offer several significant advantages to people who enjoy tackling DIY projects.

If you’re thinking about investing in one of these tools, it’s worth considering the benefits that it will provide.

• Diverse – As mentioned above, belt sanders are very diverse tools that can be used for many different things. Whether you typically work on flooring, furniture, household renovations, or other projects, a belt sander will be helpful quite often. Some tools might sit idle for years after you purchase them, but that’s very unlikely to be the case with a belt sander.
• Easy To Use – When you use a belt sander for the first time, it will require a bit of effort to use it correctly. However, once you get accustomed to holding it straight and applying the right amount of pressure, it will quickly become easy. When compared to manually smoothing down surfaces, using a belt sander is much easier on the body and less tiring.
• Time-Saving – Having a belt sander can save you multiple hours when working on large DIY projects. Manually sanding surfaces is not only physically difficult, but it’s also relatively slow. A belt sander will do the job much more quickly, and it will do it well. Because some belt sanders feature systems for collecting sawdust, they can also save you some cleanup time when you’re working with wood.

Disadvantages Of Belt Sanders

Although belt sanders are excellent pieces of equipment, no tool is perfect. Before you invest in a belt sander, you should also be aware of the disadvantages.

• Loud – One disadvantage of using a belt sander is that it can get pretty loud. The noise level will depend on the size of the belt sander, but it’s generally advised that you use ear protection when working with one.
• Potential For Damage – Belt sanders are powerful tools, and in certain cases, they can potentially cause damage to the object being worked on. Typically, this will only happen when working with items that are relatively weak or frail. You’ll be much more likely to damage a workpiece when you’re new to using a belt sander. If you’re inexperienced, you may accidentally apply too much pressure while sanding.
• Sanding Marks – It is not particularly uncommon for belt sanders to leave unattractive sanding marks on wood surfaces. This risk can be minimized by using very fine sandpaper, but ending up with faint marks is still a possibility.

Are Belt Sanders Worth The Money?

Depending on the specific belt sander you choose, they can cost anywhere from $50 to several hundred. So, it’s always wise to select a model that fits your personal needs.

If you don’t require a heavy-duty sander, there’s not much reason to buy a large, stationary unit when a handheld belt sander will do. That said, even the more high-end belt sanders are worth the money if you need one for the types of DIY projects you tackle.

When determining if a tool is worth the money, a few factors need to be considered.

One of the most important questions to ask is whether or not you’ll get enough use out of the equipment to justify the price. If you actively work on household DIY projects, it’s very unlikely that your belt sander will be sitting around collecting dust (no pun intended).

Another factor to consider is whether or not the tool is necessary.

If you can easily complete your projects without using it, then it may not be worth the money. That certainly isn’t the case with belt sanders.

Technically, you could do all of your sanding manually, but it would be much more physically demanding and time-consuming.

Finally, it’s important to determine if the price of the tool is fair. While some belt sanders may be overpriced, the vast majority of them are fairly priced for what you’re getting. So, ultimately, the answer is yes; belt sanders are worth the money.

Belt Sanders: Our Top Picks

One thing you’ll find when shopping for a belt sander is that there are numerous options available. To help make your decision a bit easier, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite options on the market. You can’t go wrong with any of these high-quality belt sanders.

Makita 4 x 24: Best Corded Handheld Belt Sander

If you’re looking for a corded handheld belt sander, the Makita 4 x 24 model is an excellent choice. This sander is a great option for woodworking, carpentry, floor and deck installation, and many other projects.

Equipped with a powerful 11-amp motor, this tool can move its 4-inch belt at a speed of 1,640 feet per minute. And despite its significant power, its operation is relatively quiet at just 84 dB.

The Makita 4 x 24 belt sander has several features that make it a quality choice.

For one, it offers complete dust collection, which will save you the time and effort of cleaning piles of sawdust. It also boasts an extra-long cord for maneuverability and a large front grip that makes it comfortable to operate.

Plus, its heavy-duty construction protects its motor and bearings from debris and dust, helping to keep it in superb condition for the long haul.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3 x 18: Best Cordless Handheld Belt Sander

For certain types of projects, you really need a cordless belt sander for extra portability. In that case, you won’t do much better than the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3 x 18 model.

This belt sander provides a handy combination of significant power and complete portability. The tool weighs only 7.5 pounds, so it’s very easy to move around your work area as needed. It features an 8-amp motor and is capable of moving its belt as fast as 1,350 feet per minute.

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel 3 x 18 belt sander is packed with useful features. Its dust collection system will catch up to 80 percent of the sawdust that’s produced, so your post-project cleanup will be minimal.

The sander is also designed to prevent issues like overload, overheating, and over-discharge. With its variable-speed adjustment dial, you can fine-tune the tool based on the needs of the specific materials you’re working with.

This belt sander is perfect for carpentry, remodeling, and any projects that require you to move around often.

Bauer 4 x 24 Variable Speed Belt Sander: Best Under $100

Let’s face it; not everyone can afford to spend $200 or $300 on a single tool.

If you’re operating on a budget, you’ll need an affordable belt sander, and the Bauer 4 x 24 Variable Speed Belt Sander is a fantastic option.

This corded handheld sander is equipped with six variable speed settings, making it easy to find the right speed for whatever you’re working on. With its 10-amp motor, this model can reach speeds up to 1,600 feet per minute, allowing for quick finishing work and stock removal.

Despite its low price, the Bauer 4 x 24 Variable Speed Belt Sander has no shortage of useful features. These include a large front handle for a secure, comfortable grip, a dust collection bag, and a quick-release lever for more convenient belt changes.

Bauer 4 x 36 Belt And Disc Sander: Best Benchtop Belt Sander

If you’re looking for a benchtop belt sander rather than a handheld one, you can’t go wrong with the Bauer 4 x 36 Belt And Disc Sander.

This heavy-duty sander is designed with a durable steel body and base, and it also features a stop bar to ensure you can operate it safely and with complete control.

The 4.3-amp motor can achieve speeds of up to 1,800 feet per minute, allowing for smooth finishes in practically no time. In addition to the 4-inch belt, this benchtop sander is equipped with a 6-inch disc for fast and easy stock removal.

The Bauer 4 x 36 Belt And Disc Sander is designed to be as maneuverable as possible.

The unit allows for 0° to 90° belt tilt so that you can achieve both vertical and horizontal sanding, depending on the nature of your project.

It also features adjustable belt tracking for maximum accuracy, and the tension release lever makes belt changes quick and easy.

Our Final Verdict: You Need A Belt Sander

Many DIY enthusiasts are under the impression that they don’t need a belt sander.

In reality, that simply isn’t the case.

While you may be able to get by without one, you’d be doing yourself a disservice.

Belt sanders are versatile, easy to use, and capable of saving you tons of time. Whether you typically work on flooring, furniture, decks, home renovations, or other DIY projects, you’ll quickly discover that a belt sander is worth the money.