Here’s my review of the Central Machinery 1 x 30″ bench-top belt sander from Harbor Freight tools.
I got this tool in 2002 when it was on sale for $19.99. I used a 20% off coupon and got it for $15.99. As I recall, the retail price at the time was $34.99. At the time of this writing, it’s $54.99, but they still go on sale for $19.99 and 20% off coupons are still around.
I run a small fabrication shop in Sacramento, CA, and this is arguably the handiest tool in the shop. I use it every day! I sharpen knives, chisels, and pencils with it. I sand off the ends of cut threads and deburr cut metal with it. I even use it to sharpen drill bits and chamfer cut wood. When a grinder or a saw is just too much, this is just right. This is the first belt sander I ever owned, and while I’ve since bought a Ridgid oscillating belt sander, this has not outlived its usefulness. It even has a place to plug in a vacuum for dust collection.
This thing is really handy and if it ever dies in some way I can’t repair, I’m definitely buying another! Of course, I’ll wait till it’s on sale and use a 20% off coupon.
Amazon.com
Features
- 1" x 30" Bench-top Belt Sander
- 1/3-HP motor that moves at up to 3400 RPM for fast stock removal
- 1" x 30" sanding belt, 80-grit
- Adjustable belt tracking
- Table dimensions: 5-1/16" W x 5-1/8" L Overall dimensions: 9" W x 11-1/8" L x 13-1/2" H
EX ELECTRONIX EXPRESS Mini 1 x 30 Belt Sander 3400 RPM
2 used from $77.23
Features
- Belt Sander Size: 1" x 30"
- Vacuum Diameter: 1-3/4"
- Power: 120 VAC, 60Hz, 3.0 AMP, 360 Watts
- Motor: 1/3 HP @ 3400 RPM
- Table Size: 5" x 5" ; Table Tilt: 0 ~ 45º
4" x 36" Belt 6" Disc Sander Belt/Disc
$75.47 in stock
Features
- Sold on Amazon
