It's Orange!
Written: Nov 21 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Price. Clamps to bench upside down and they come with it.
Cons: Could use more power and variable speed?
The Bottom Line: Sure it works. For the homeowner or hobbyist. Not a production tool.
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| geek4670's Full Review: Black & Decker BR400 3x21 Belt Sander |
Why a belt sander?
Belt sanders are for fast removal of material. They are not for finish sanding and even if used with a high grit paper like 220 or higher they will scratch wood. The marks will be visible. But if you are removing stock or even shaping stock this is a tool that is versatile and can be used to even shape small pieces especially this one and I will get to that later.
I am an avid woodworker/tool junky and I have a Porter cable belt sander also. But I recently did a bathroom remodel and tore up the old vinyl floor and had to sand off old vinyl glue. I recently got this sander as a gift from my brother and I figured I would burn this puppy up instead of getting out the PC. Well I ran this thing for about 45minutes straight and got all of the glue off and the sander was hot but not smoking:) But I couldn’t tell if it was anyway by the cloud of dust from the glue and particle board subfloor.
Later:
The cool part about this particular sander is it comes with clamps to secure it upside down on the tool bench. What this does is give you a free running sanding belt hands free. You can then just bring the work right up the sander instead of the opposite. The clamps are well though out and are actually secure.
Belt Tracking:
It is supposedly adjustment free? Ya whatever! No such thing in my shop cause I gotta know:) It does have an adjuster on the front wheel to adjust the belt side to side.
Changing belts:
It is a snap “literally” There is a simple lever on the side that you pull and it takes the tension off the belt. Belt slides off and new one slides on. Flip the lever and the belt is tight.
Size:
This is a 3x21 the most popular size and also has the widest availability of belts. The belt is 3 inches wide and 21 inches long. The reason you want the 21 is it gives you and extra 1.5 inches of belt in contact with the work compared to a 3x 18.
Durability:
Questionable, Will you give this tool to the kids? Probably not! But at this price compared to a Porter cable or Makita who cares?
Power:
Some:) enough really, there was specifically a request for amps and such on the first antagonistic review. It is a 6 amp motor so for some manufacturers that = 50 horsepower? (just kidding) read a sears shop vac sometime for horsepower ratings. It is funny they have 6.5 HP vacuums. Well that is not possible on 110 volts and a 15 amp breaker. But they tell you it is a 11amp motor and gives 6.5 horsepower. Funny Huh? Will have to do an essay on that someday? Truth in advertising horsepower?
Dust Collection:
Sanders are inherently dusty. Yes it has a dust bag but don’t let that make a buying decision on any belt sander. If you hook a shop vac to the dust port (maybe you have a new 7HP sears model:) ) then it will help with the dust.
It is comfy like I said I have used it for 45 minutes straight and my knees hurt worse than my hands.
Not a professional quality tool but it is fine for the occasional use homeowner. Or as a substitute when you don’t want to get your pretty tools covered in old glue.
Be Safe!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
geek4670
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Member: Joe Eldridge
Location: Bothell, Wa
Reviews written: 13
Trusted by: 5 members
About Me:
Love my Kid's! Love my tools!
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