both my welding benches are rusty,not so bad that you get brown when you touch,I’d just like them brighter,I wire brush them once a while,& have tried a 650w belt sander but it’s not powerful enough,so was looking at a 1000w model like Makiita etc,would they cope? By the way each bench is 8’x 4’
Ive got a Makita belt sander, cant remember the number. Its really heavy and brilliant....sands rough timber to a good finish in no time.....
Customer had been sanding a butchers block for days. He left it outside for 9 months. Gave him a shot on the belt sander. Done in ten mins. Great bits of kit. When mine does il buy like for like. Gets abused and doesnt complain.
Even so the belts make a difference. I bought one for £5, i thought it said 6 so I complained but using it I realised it had lasted longer than 6 cheap ones.
I use screwfix belts last ages and keep. Belt cleaner handy. For metal belt choice will lay dividends. Make sure to clean the sawdust out well first. Had a fire sharpening chisels
Thats right.....do they last longer........ive nothing wants doing at the moment so Im reticent to use them just to try them out Ive got some "washable" ones for the disc sander, ever seen those for the belt
Interesting hearing favourable comments for the Mikita,but it seems no one can comment wether it will perform the job I’m after on steel benches.ill have to chance one & try,if that doesn’t sand adequately,then maybe a floor sander,can’t imagine that stalling. Thanks for the replies.watch this space for hopefully mildly shiny photos. Technic al,no never seen nor heard.
If I can lean on the Makita with all my weight while sanding roughsawn timber it's not gonna struggle with metal. Only used it on metal once and certainly didn't struggle.
Difficult to get a sense of scale from web pictures It's not a little sander. Van only find videos of the 9403 online. Newer version with a lot more plastic on it.
I'd use a 7" fibre disc, or a 5" rather than buying a belt sander for that. Nice coarse pads will have it clean in 5 minutes.
