Is the Belt Sander worth it?

[Ned]

This looks fantastic with a 7mm stroke (so big the photo is even fuzzy) at a sensible pricehttp://www.idealtools.com.au/prod3596.htm 

Here's what Tezzer's talking about, the WTS 150/7:
[attachimg=#]

I've never seen this model before.  Not available in North America.  Looks like my old model Rotex 150.  I gather it has a different (and non-switchable) gearbox.

My first reaction is that it overlaps functionally with the big Rotex and perhaps somewhat with the RAS 115.  Anyone have experience with the WTS 150/7?  What would you use it for?

Ned

 

[Dan Clark]

While trimming down some wall studs with a 36 grit belt (think small boulders), I accidentally touched the sander to my left middle finger while it was spinning down.   It shredded the finger tip from the first knuckle to the tip of the finger taking part of the finger nail and all of the side of the finger from the first knuckle forward.   

Now Dan that was a very silly thing to do wasnt it :

Trust me, it wasn't by intention.  It glanced off my finger for about 1/2 second.  That's all it took.  36 grit paper is nasty stuff.

Dan.

 

[Tezzer]

I just took possesion of the BS105 for a 2 week play/trial.... They are NOT getting it back ;D

I feel sooooooo sorry for you lot not having access to this amazing bit of monster machinery.

It is BIG and HEAVY and with the sanding frame and fresh 80# leaves a flawless silky smooth finish almost ready to polish.

Belt sanders are not supposed to be like this ???

More expensive than the Domi and just as special :-*

 

[ROb McGilp]

That's all well and good, but can it make breakfast to go with the coffee the domino can make? ;D ;D ;D

 

[Tezzer]

I have had it 2 hours and i cannot give it back. To say im blown away is an understatement. WOW. It makes me think (apart from Kapex) is this Festools best power tool? It would be very, very close. Im hangin to do a table top ;D

 

[Frans]

The Festool BS 75 is actually 99% the same machine as the Metabo BA E 1075. 

But I think that one is not available in the USA.

I don't know which of them actually designed the machine, and I haven't used either of them.

[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]

 

[Llap Goch]

Excellent result and welcome to the Bandschleifer Klub!

Best way if in doubt is to try before you buy!

The sanding frame is a superb design and you can adjust it to just take a lick off the surface. For getting rid of glue lines it is fast, accurate and can, with care, leave a surface that just needs finishing with the 150/3. I am very careful with it near edges though.

But do keep hold of the bugger. It can catch you unaware with its sheer power and its 0-60mph acceleration from standstill makes a Ferrari look pedestrian! It has caught me out when used in the inverted role and unless you have a very firm grip on your workpiece it will fly off at a frightening pace.... usually in the general direction of the Family Jewels!

If you do keep it and it looks as if it is welded to your shop already then the adjustable side fence is a worthwile addition and does work.

Frans is right, the Metabo is the same and I think that both originated from an AEG/Atlas-Copco design.

 

[Tezzer]

Interesting about the Metabo/AEG. Do they have the bigger version? I had a feel of the little BS75 and its tiny compared to the 105. After playing with it today for a few hours i can feel my muscles in my chest and shoulders are a bit sore. Its very heavy. But thats what i want as its mainly for table tops.

 

[Groggy]

The Festool BS 75 is actually 99% the same machine as the Metabo BA E 1075. 

But I think that one is not available in the USA.

I don't know which of them actually designed the machine, and I haven't used either of them.

The Metabo looks the same as my Bosch unit (1274DVS). I wonder if the frame fits?

 

[Tezzer]

The Metabo looks the same as my Bosch unit (1274DVS). I wonder if the frame fits?

The frame wouldnt fit the Metabo pictured.

The frame seems to be the key to the quality of finish. I havnt had a go with out it. I will and see how it goes and report back ;D

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Look familiar? Note the high tec vacuum adapter. Wish I had bought the sanding frame. No longer available in the USA.

 

[Mike_Chrest]

$1125.99US !!!!    

Why is it now ten times the price?

Oh, I guess this would be the smaller version (BS75). How does the sanding frame attach?

 

[Llap Goch]

Here you go Mike

The sanding frame is available seperately here in the UK for about $170. Expensive but it transforms the sander from a maniac surface modifier to a very controlled surface leveller!

Photo 1  The sanding frame showing the rows of nylon bristles.

Photo 2  Side view showing the front and rear diagonal slide slots which four circular black bushes mounted on the sanding frame slide into.

Photo 3  This shows the diagonal slide at the front of the sander

Photo 4  The sanding frame is attached to the sander at all four diagonal points. The wire loop at the front holds the adjusting shaft which consists of a screw thread and a bar which fits into a recess on the sander body. Turning the knurled green knob moves the sanding frame up or down the diagonal slots. The black handle to the left of the green knob locks the frame in the chosen position and when pulled back (as shown) acts as a parking device to lift the sanding belt off the surface.

Where can I buy one of them high tech vacuum adapters? ;D

 

[Dave Ronyak]

The original interest in the belt sander was due to need to sand to level the joints of glued up table tops.  Are the boards of these glued up panels coming out even on the "good" side so that very little material need be removed to prepare them for the stain/finish, or are they somewhat mismatched in elevation so that considerable material needs to be removed to make them flat and level?  I have found that if care is taken during glue up, the edges of the boards on the "good side" are nearly perfectly flush with one another, and thus very little material need be removed to clean up the "good side" surface after glue up.  The key to my success is careful placement of the boards in the clamps, making certain that the "good side" is placed down and in contact with the bars of the clamps [which are clean and free of any bumps from old glue].  But on the other hand, I am an amateur and down have multiple table tops that need to be quickly completed.  When I have had a need to flush sand large glued up panels, I have taken them to a commercial shop and paid them to run them through their wide belt/drum sanders to save myself a lot of time.  I have a Bosch 4x24 which works well if I am very careful, but I find myself using it less and less because it is tiring to use - that "Ferrari" is alway pulling hard to run fast away.

The Festool unit with sanding frame sounds great provided you can justify its cost.

Good luck to you!

Dave R.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

I have had it 2 hours and i cannot give it back. To say im blown away is an understatement. WOW. It makes me think (apart from Kapex) is this Festools best power tool? It would be very, very close. Im hangin to do a table top ;D

Tezzer,
Thanks again for sparking jealousy in the minds and hearts of US customers!
Matthew

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Thanks Pat,
  It might fit :. I don't see any tooth marks on the handle? Trade you an adapter for the sanding frame? ;D
Mike

 

[Joe Jensen]

Question for those who have used the Belt Sander

Having a small business making furniture with tables featuring promently, im not in a possition financially to get a drum or wide belt sander. I have tried the big 8" Fein (to powerful for the crapy quality of the pad/disc) and it didnt suit.

My question.

Is the Belt sander good/great for table tops?

I have the opportunity to get one 20% cheaper (still a lot of money) but i dont want to get it if it dosnt do what i want. In the past i have never used a belt sander that gives smooth blemish free results.

Hope some one can advise ;D

Tezzer, can you explain more about what you need to accomplish?  Before I became very particular on stock prep, I used a belt sander a ton to flatten glue-ups and tops.  Over time I learned to prepare my individual boards so that they are perfectly flat and the thickness was very consistent board to board.  I now go straight from clamps to 120 grit orbital.  If by chance I have some tearout I might go as low as 80 grit orbital.  I haven't used my Bosch belt sander in maybe 10 years.  I did however buy an RS2-E for 180 grit and up, and I can say that the surface using that sander is as flat as plate glass.  Much improved over just a 6" Orbital.

Can you share more about what you need to accomplish?...joe

 

[Llap Goch]

Trade you an adapter for the sanding frame?  ;D

Mike

That sounds a great deal. Just send the adaptor and a contribution to the post costs (estimate $170) and it will be on its way!

No tooth marks on the handle. After his baptism of fire eating a 150 sanding pad, Simou has politely declined to further his Festool dining experience.

Pat

 

[Michael Kellough]

I've been out of town and missed most of this belt sander thread.

The lack of a Festool BS in NA is very frustrating to me since I too have an old AEG 75 with sanding frame and know what everyone here is missing. Since the AEG sold here 15 years ago with UL approval the usual reason for withholding the tool from NA isn't valid. The problem is the prejudice of those here who've never used a belt sander with a frame and just don't have a clue how much difference it make. Something on the order of adding rubber tires the the steel wheels of a car in my estimation. Hopefully the positive comments of craftsmen who have the Festool BS will change some minds.

Mike, I have a homemade dust hose adaptor on my AEG too but recently learned that the Festool BS uses an adaptor (rather than a built-in Festool hose port) which looks like it will interface with the original ears on the AEG. Something to investigate.

Victor, check Klingspor for the Bosch sanding frame, they are one a only a few places that stock them. They Bosch system is not as adjustable or reliable as the AEG/Atlas-Copco, now Festool design.

 

[womackdesign]

If you go to the Festool UK web site. You can see how the two piece dust collector part attaches to the side of the  belt sander. Look under BS105E Beltsander part# 39. It rotates and fits over two tabs. It is not a great fitting because it tends to come of during use. The boom arm would help with the problem.