Power Tools

We Review The Top 5 Best Handheld Belt Sander That Will Smoothen Your Work, Easily!

Oct 07, 2022

Let me guess... You're looking for a tool that will make your home improvement projects faster and easier than ever before.


You're probably wondering, does a handheld belt sander really work on my home projects?


And if you have a project at home, maybe you're asking yourself, do I really need a handheld belt sander?


A handheld belt sander is perfect for making home improvements such as sanding woodwork and floors.


However, did you know that a handheld belt sander can also be used for DIY projects like refreshing worn out wooden furnishings, the deck, the stairs, wooden partitions and even boats and all things timber & metal too?


There are lots of options out there, and none of them come close to the quality and features of these 5 best belt sander on the market right now. They are light, fast, powerful, durable, and versatile that you won't want to use anything else when you need a belt sander.


They are small, handheld belt sanders that fit perfectly into your hand and can be used for all kinds of things like sanding floors, ceilings, walls, cabinets, baseboards, trim, etc.


Learn all about them here before you splurge your hard-earned money on the best hand held belt sander on Amazon.

 

How To Choose Which Model Is Best For You

Match the features, capabilities to your budget. Once you have narrowed down, click on the green "Check Price On Amazon" button to get further confidence you have made the right choice by reading some past customers reviews.

 

Why Would We Want The Best For You

Does a handheld belt sander really work on my home projects? I'm sure it works well for professionals, but what if I want to do my own home improvement projects, or repair things like my worn out rocking chair or garden bench? Can I use a belt sander?


It's not what you think! With just sandpaper, people used to spend hours sanding the edges of tables and chairs. With the best compact belt sander, it's just a few minutes and you'll be done. A handheld belt sander really works on your home projects! Just give it a go, you'll be amazed!


We don’t want to waste my money or yours. So we spent a lot of time searching for the best belt sander, and voila - here they are!


That's right. You can use a handheld belt sander to create beautiful rustic tables, unique chairs, and artistic home accents with unmatched ease.

 

 

Skil 7510-01 Belt Sander, 3 x 18 Inch

Amazon #2 in Power Belt Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Pressure control technology indicator on the sanding pad pressure
  • 6.0 A of power for any wood surfaces
  • Micro-filtration to capture fine dust
  • Auto track belt alignment will always keep the belt in the center
  • Fits any standard 1 1/4 inch vacuum hoses for better dust control
  • Able to sand right up to the edge with the Flush edge sanding capability
  • Single lever belt changes
  • On/Off trigger with lock-on button
  • Customers voted this model as the best belt sander for woodworking as well as the best 3x18 belt sander

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 5.5 lbs
  • Amperage : 6 Amps
  • Included : 3 x 18 inch 80-grit sanding belt

 

 

WEN 6502T 4 x 36 in. Belt and 6 in. Disc Sander

Amazon #3 in Power Belt Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Two-in-one sanding machine : 4 x 36 inch belt, 6 x 6 inch disc
  • Belt can be tilted from 0 to 90 degrees
  • Sturdy cast iron 6 inch base can be bolted on work table
  • Simple changes of sandpaper with the Tension release lever
  • Work Table 0 to 45° bevelling capabilities and a removable Miter Gauge
  • Extended Safety Guard
  • Stop bar for safety and control
  • 2.25 inch Dust Port
  • The best 4 x 36 inch wide belt sander plus a 6" disc

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 37.5 lbs
  • Amperage : 4.3 Amps 1/2 HP motor
  • Speed : Disc 3600 RPM, Belt 1900 FPM
  • Included : 80-Grit Sanding Belt, 80-Grit Sanding Disc

 

 

CRAFTSMAN Belt Sander CMEW213, 3 x 21 Inch 

Amazon #5 in Power Belt Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Angled belt design to sand close to adjoining surfaces
  • Tool-free belt release for quick belt changes
  • Dust collection with the dust bag
  • 3 position over molded handle for operator's comfort
  • Compatible with VERSATRACK Wall Organization System

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 6.6 lbs
  • Amperage : 7 Amps
  • Speed : Belt 800 FPM
  • Included : Dust belt, sanding belt

 

 

Makita 9403 Belt Sander 4 x 24"

Amazon #6 in Power Belt Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • 4" belt with a speed of 1,640 ft./min. for fast sanding
  • Motor & bearings are protected from dust with the labyrinth construction seals
  • Dust bag swivels 360° for convenient operation
  • Large front grip for operator's comfort
  • Designed for sanding flush to wall with nose and side of sander
  • Quietest 84 dB belt sander in its class 
  • The best Makita belt sander for its functionality & affordability

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 13 lbs
  • Amperage : 11 Amps
  • Speed : 1,640 ft./min
  • Included : 4 x 24 inch Abrasive Belt 80 Grit, dust bag 



WEN 6524 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander

Amazon #220 in Power Belt Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Able to create sand arcs, curves, contours, faces and even odd shaped workpieces
  • Features 5 sanding drum sizes and one 4 x 24 inch belt
  • Belt speeds up to 1575 FPM and spindle speeds up to 2000 RPM
  • The 3.5-amp motor oscillates the belt and spindle 58 times per minute with a 5/8-inch stroke
  • Onboard storage for of accessories and sandpapers
  • Bevelling work table, five throat plates, four rubber sanding drums, one belt sanding attachment and six pieces of 80-grit sandpaper
  • Dust port 1-1/2 inch
  • Table adjustable from 0 to 45 degrees
  • The best oscillating belt sander in its class

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 27 lbs
  • Amperage : 3.5 Amps
  • Speed : Belt 1575 FPM, Spindle 2000 RPM
  • Included : 80 grit sandpaper - Belt 4 x 24 inch and Spindle Sander 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, 1 inch, 1-1/2 inch and 2 inch

 

Best Hand Belt Sander FAQ

Who makes the best belt sander?

Amazon's Choice for best sanding belts for wood is the CRAFTSMAN Belt Sander

 

What size belt sander is best?

Experts voted both the 3 x 21 inches and the 4 x 24 inches sanding belts are the right size for most home shop uses.

Using a bigger machine will probably be tiring, but if you're going for larger weights and heavier machines, then you'll most likely get tired quickly.

 

What is the lightest belt sander?

The 3 x 18 Inch Skil 7510-01 Belt Sander weighing in at 5.5 pounds and the 3 x 21 Inch CRAFTSMAN Belt Sander CMEW213 weighing in at 6.6 pounds are the 2 lightest machines around.

 

How do I choose a belt sander?

First look at the size measured by the width and length of the belt. Next is whether it has variable speed and the speed the machine runs at measured by FPM, then if it has a dust collection feature. Lastly, whether you like the design as you'll be the one using it, so the ergonomics is important.

 

How long should a sanding belt last?

The average time is 12 to 18 months in a work place but more importantly, the frequency of use will determine how long it lasts.

 

What is better belt sander or orbital sander?

Orbital sanders are ideal for smaller projects that require precision, angles, or need shaping. Bear in mind, they tend to leave behind orbital rings.

If you need to strip a large area of wood, a belt sander is much faster & have a better finish as they are far more powerful.

 

How much can a belt sander take off?

You should usually use lower grit belts for heavy stock removal, belts with 36-80 grit abrasives will remove 1/4” to 1/32” respectively.

Belts with a medium grit of 100 to 120 can remove about 1/32” to 1/64” in one pass.

 

Can you sand floors with a belt sander?

A belt sander will make it much easier to remove old flooring and prepare the room for refinishing. Belt sanders make a quick job of sanding the wood.

A belt sanding machine for finishing a wooden floor should be a handheld one so you can move the tool around the floor to make a smooth finish.

 

Can a belt sander be used on metal?

When using the belt sander to sand metal, it's best not to use the sawdust bag.

Before using your new sander, blow the dust out of it and empty the dust bag.

 

Which metal sanding belt is best?

Ceramic and zirconia sanding belts last longer and remove metal more quickly than aluminum oxide or silicon carbide sanding belts.

Both have the ability to resharpen as they wear and are primarily used on metal applications. Both of these are very good belts.

 

Can you sharpen knives with a belt sander?

To hone the edge of your knife, first use a belt with 150-grit grit using light pressure.

Then do the other side. After you are done, swap out a belt of 240 grit, and start sharpening again.



If you are looking for the best oscillating belt edge sander for commercial use, then consider the Grizzly G9984 3 HP Industrial Oscillating Edge Sander


 

We hope this article has helped make your decision easier and that you enjoy using your purchase!