Belt Sander & Sanding Frame

[Mahogany Man]

I am looking for a Belt Sander with a sanding frame.
I know...
You can't buy the Festool here in the states, of course....
I can't seem to find a Bosch frame anywhere!!
Anyone have any ideas as to where I can buy a quality sander with a frame accessory??
Thanks,
John

 

[pelican]

I too am searching for a replacement for my old Porter Cable. Look forward to hearing some advice.

 

[Bob D.]

Don't know if you are considering used, but stay away from the discontinued DeWalt DW433, nothing but trouble. Eats belts like candy.

The sander did have an optional sanding frame and a stand which converted the sander with the frame into a small benchtop tool. Unfortunately the problem with tracking on the sander makes the whole thing useless.

 

[ggc]

If you don't need it right now and 2nd hand is good enough, the same belt sander "casing" has been sold under a few different manufacturers brands. 
There's a thread somewhere on the internet that discusses the history of the Festool belt sander, but I'm fairly sure the original Holz-her design was also sold by AEG, Atlas Copco, Metabo and maybe Bosch. 
I believe the 110V AEG version was sold in the USA, pick one up 2nd and import the Festool sanding frame from Europe, and you've got a pretty robust setup that will be superior to anything you can buy brand new.

 

[Michael Kellough]

If you don't need it right now and 2nd hand is good enough, the same belt sander "casing" has been sold under a few different manufacturers brands. 
There's a thread somewhere on the internet that discusses the history of the Festool belt sander, but I'm fairly sure the original Holz-her design was also sold by AEG, Atlas Copco, Metabo and maybe Bosch. 
I believe the 110V AEG version was sold in the USA, pick one up 2nd and import the Festool sanding frame from Europe, and you've got a pretty robust setup that will be superior to anything you can buy brand new....

...in 110 volts.

If voltage wasn't a factor then the current Festool stuff would be the way to go.

 

[sancho57]

Dont know what you need it for, but have you considered a RO150 with the hard pad. I use mine ILO belt sander

 

[TinyShop]

My belt sander setup utilizes the combination of the 120V Swiss-made (by Scintilla) Bosch 1274DVS:

...the German-made Bosch 2608005026 sanding frame (with brushes and smooth plastic insert):

...the German-made Bosch 1608030024 bench stand (a.k.a. "subframe"):

... the Bosch 2607001079 sanding fence:

Sadly, the right angle hose adapter that was once available for this machine (Bosch 2600499045) was discontinued, apparently owing to its tendency to tear and fail within the first couple of uses.

There is a 3-D printed right-angle part that might work, though I haven't held one in my hand so can't confirm its compatibility:

www.thingiverse.com/thing:2493449 

The accessories available for the Scintilla-made 230V and 240V versions of my same machine (known mainly under two main model codes: Bosch GBS 75 A or AE and the Bosch PBS 75 A or AE) - which share the same model/part numbers as those listed above - are exact matches for the accessories that were available for my machine. Be careful, however. The homeowner-level Bosch belt sander that is currently being produced, which happens to share the PBS 75 AE model identification and a similar green body color, is NOT a Scintilla tool - it's of a completely different design and is an inferior Chinese-produced tool. Stick with the above accessory part numbers and you'll find the accessories that are compatible with the various Scintilla produced sanders. This is true even if "1274DVS" doesn't appear as a compatible model on the box. Also, most spare parts (including armatures if you're a savvy researcher) are still available for the 1274DVS. Used and occasionally NOS 1274DVS machines occasionally appear on that well known online auction site as do the accessories. Plus, the accessories are available on Amazon UK and from other E. U. retailers.

The following video (featuring the OLDER Scintilla-made version of the 240V PBS 75 AE) indirectly showcases the capabilities of the Scintilla-made 110V 1274DVS. [Remember, aside from voltage differences, these two machines, like the GBS 75 AE, are - because they share the same body and mechanical parts - and for the purposes of accessories like the sanding frame, etc., identical.] :

 

[kodiak375]

I too am looking for a belt sander with a frame. I have a Bosch 4x24 belt sander with the frame pictured below in the comments but the sander is over 30 years old and has many miles on it and not worth rebuilding. The sanding frame worked great on table tops and floors. With little practice, I was able to achieve very smooth and flat surfaces.  If anyone knows of a source for a sanding frame please let me know.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Sanding frame for which sander? At this time in North America there doesn’t seem to be a fresh belt sander that is designed for a sanding frame.

The best and only? BS and frame is/are the Festool sanders and since Festool took over the factory they stopped making the 110v motors.

This is my biggest disappointment with Festool. My old AEG 110v belt sander and frame was my most important tool back in 2002 when I first bought an ATF55 plunge saw. I was visited by Festool’s regional sales director who saw my AEG and and told me that Festool had bought the factory and would resume making belt sanders. Hearing that made me very happy. My AEG was already around 15 years old. But it didn’t pan out for 110v shops.

 

[Michael Kellough]

There is an AEG belt sander available on eBay now for $200.