black n decker power file

[colesy]

Has anyone used or owned a powerfile.want it to linish welds for nice decorative items.do they do the job?what grit is best for steelwork?etc.....Would appreciate some help and advise before i purchase one.

 

[Welderpaul]

We have a makita powerfile. Depends on the job in hand as to what grit you would use, but we normally have 60 grit belts on it. I think there are some 120 grit belts for stainless.

They do the job, but they are slow compared to a grinder.

 

[chevyman_de]

A bandfile is a nice tool and once you' ve got one for a while, you don't want to miss it anymore.
The B&D version is not exactly for metal working. Doesn't last very long, closer to a motorized toy than an actual tool. I had one during the early nineties till the motor went belly up. The Makitas are much better and more powerfull. I have a 9 mm and a 30 mm version.

If money is no object you can look for Flex, Pferd or Suhner. Roughly twice the price of a Makita.

Anyway, as nice as they are, I would recommend a bandfile only for those who already have a well equipped shop or that special application...

 

[MrFluffy]

I bought a toy one that fitted on the angle grinder a while back, and it impressed me enough to make me thinking about reworking the crappy plastic belt hubs etc with steel versions, but I guess in the end Ill just buy a proper one instead.
Handy thing to have round, not as fast as a angle grinder, but much better for linishing etc...

 

[Welderpaul]

Wish i'd bought one that takes wider belts. 8mm wide belts can be a bit puny. Someone was telling me they can be converted. Dunno?

 

[chevyman_de]

There's a 13 mm arm for the narrow belt version, Makita # 125159-3.
You cannot convert the 9 mm machine into the 30 mm version, different design.
You can do with Suhner, Flex & Co., but two Makitas are still cheaper (much cheaper).

 

[Robotstar5]

We have a couple of B&D powerfiles at work, the belts seem to come off very easily. Most of our welders prefer the air operated ones.

 

[Porschemaniac]

I picked up a B & D Powerfile from B & Q a couple of years ago and absolutely love it.

Great for dressing welds in hard to reach places - such as high up in the inner wing of a 944 (I speak from experience).

Don't buy B & D replacement belts - they cost the Earth. I use M M belts - they fit OK. My local branch keeps some Silicone Carbide belts, which really do the business.

As the other guys have said, the B & D file really is just a hobyists tool (like a lot of B & D stuff). But you speak as you find and I've had mine for some time now, it gets regular use and is still going strong; I'll be gutted if (or when) it ever gives up the ghost.

 

[Porschemaniac]

We have a couple of B&D powerfiles at work, the belts seem to come off very easily. Most of our welders prefer the air operated ones.

Notwithstanding what I have already said, I do have to agree with this.

 

[pedrobedro]

I got a B&D one for Christmas and while it has not been used a lot I have been happy enough with the results when I have used it. I get belts from johnt1102 on ebay and have no problem with them coming off if they are tracked properly with the knob on the side. I like the control that the variable speed gives for different materials.

 

[carlmahoney]

I bought one of these a while ago and used it when i tiled my bathroom.It was a great tool for shaping and finishing any awkward cuts i had to make.I have used it at work a couple of times and to be honest its not great on metal.A bit too flimsy.

 

[M@tt]

i've got one and find it really useful.

a cheap place for belts is toolstation.co.uk. they're 94p for a pack of 5. iirc they have 3 differnet grits availaiable 40, 80, 120

if you spend a tenner online they're delivered for free!!

 

[chunkolini]

I have a B+D one, the older green ones last ages and blow up, the later red one is a horible thing.
Great for making boomerangs as well as grinding stuff.

Chunko'.

 

[chevyman_de]

(Racing) Green must be a UK thing, we've only had several black and red version here.

 

[chunkolini]

Aye, twer an old un, early 90's, way better then the later one.
When I have spare pennies I wil buy the makita version.

Chunko'.

 

[chevyman_de]

Even in those days the German version was black, had one by myself.
The Makitas are fairly cheap in the UK, at least compared to German prices. Got the 9mm version from the UK , 129 quid + postage. Excellent value for money.

 

[hareng]

Good for woodwork, aluminium and steels take an eternity. Ok for cleaning up mill scale on small items thats about it.
Got a B&D in a plastic case £30 from B&Q about 6 years ago, used once. Had one at work £40 it lasted around 3hrs, 6x 1/2hr sessions on wood, rubber and vulcanite, paid for itself three times over.

 

[johnt1102]

For the Makita or the B&D best results on all metals will be achieved with butt jointed Zirconia belts.

 

[langy]

I find it amazing that people diss the B&D as it did all this very well.

 

[madkayaker]

Got a B and D at work that's was probity used to finish of the stones for the stone henge.