 this pig OWNED my end grain chop block |
| Review Date: June 8, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Spider Monkey, Marlboro, MA United States |
| This thing did so well that I am motivated to give a review.My plight: I made an end grain cutting board (chop block) 15x24 to be put in cabinets that i built. I used all scrap hardwood from a lumber yard for free, so that was nice. In anycase, I glued hundreds of pieces of wood i chopped into pieces into strips and glued those together. In anycase, the top and bottom were random terrain up to 1/4". I brought it to a lumber yard to see if they could plane it down--which they said 'no way'--not endgrain. They said they could send it through their sander, which would take hours and cost me well over 150$. Pfft.Enter the dewalt. After that I invested in this pig (i use pig endearingly) the walls came crumbling down. I got this with 12 belts thinking the hardwood would take its toll--but heck no. ONE 50 grit belt took care of the entire monster. I couldn't believe it. Its also a tank, and look at that back wheel! i'm thinking of putting on rims and maybe a sound system. awww yah!Anyway, as my first belt sander--it is extremely powerful, built like a tank, and eats through hardwood like I do this cheesecake. |
I'm no contractor...
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| Review Date: July 4, 2006 |
| Reviewer: SweetJimmy, Denver, CO United States |
But I am a serious homeowner (the kind of person who goes to real supply houses and talks to real tradespeople - rather than the guys at HomeDespot). If you're a contractor, trust what the contractors say. If you're a homeowner, read on...
I look at a belt sander as a consumable purchase, so for me it was a function of doing the jobs I need done before it cooks. If you do enough heavy work with it, eventually you will kill it. With that disclaimer, here's my 2 bits on this. I bought one re-conditioned and without the case.
I have had no problem with either dust collection or belt tracking and have probably run it for the equivalent of about 40 hours doing heavy (36 grit) stripping. The beast gets hot and eventually your arms get tired, but I have not hurt it yet. Was it worth the money vs. stripping by another means? Absolutely. If I needed to do it again, would I buy the same tool? Absolutely.
I like the three wheel design and adjustable handle. And, as mentioned in another review - it does look cool. |
My first and only sander I will ever need.
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| Review Date: June 22, 2004 |
| Reviewer: Matt Jurik, Chicago, IL USA |
| I bought this sander at the local store and bought some porter cable sanding belts along with it. I got home and put one of the belts on, without looking at the direction. About 5 minutes later the belt started sreading apart. Not knowing what just happened, i threw another belt on there. This time, looking only at the installing a new belt part of the directions. Make a long story short, I went through about 4 belts doing this before my friend showed be that you had to track the belt. I tracked it with a new belt but the belt would not stay on the rollers. Extremely angered, I went to the store and bought some 3M belts, cost about as much as the porter cable ones, and brought them home to try out. I put the first belt on there, and tracked it. This time it stayed on. In fact, that same belt is still on my sander, but I need to replace it. I've used it so much that the paper is becoming smooth. Moral of the story: Never give up, and never buy porter cable sand balts, they are pieces of ****. The dust collection works as well as they advertise and I have yet to have a problem with it since the new belts. I recommend this to anyone looking to buy a sander. I haven't tried any other sander, but from the experience I am getting from this one, I'd buy another dewalt if this one ever breaks. |
DeWalt DW433 - The Little Sander That Sorta Could
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| Review Date: July 22, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Michael K. Parker, Tiburon, CA USA |
I am a general contractor doing remodel/restoration work on old buildings. I also do cabinets and have dabbled in wooden boat restoration. I have been at it over 30 years and have had a lot of belt sanders.
I have enough ambivalence toward this chunky little sander that I felt the need to share my thoughts. I bought this machine when it first came out to replace my ancient Makita 3"x24" which I used for job site sanding, often vertical. It still works but the sleeve bearings howl for oil at inopportune times.
The DeWalt DW433 design allows for nearly the same size platen with a smaller belt. However, although the DeWalt is physically smaller it is way heavier making it a chore to control in vertical position. The extra weight does make horizontal sanding easier but I generally use a 4" machine for flat work. I have a Makita 9403 4"x24" which I really like, I feel the wider belt is less likely to leave gouges; and it weighs about the same as the DeWalt.
On the plus side the DeWalt is compact and powerful. It has many well thought out details. I have never had any problems with quality. If anything it is too powerful for 3"x21" belts. The machine is very sensitive to the type of belts used and it eats thru belts very quickly. Cheap belts will stretch and have you grinding through the chassis. Even good quality belts don't last long and I suspect the power, weight and the tight radius the belt travels over the front rollers shortens their life. Belt tracking is sensitive for the same reasons.
Dust collection is problematic. I have found the canister to be nearly useless for the kind of heavy stock removal I usually do with a belt sander. In addition the "break away" design of the dust collector attachment, detaches itself with the slightest bump spraying dust in your face. A couple of nylon ties fixed that problem. I purchased the vacuum adaptor which works well when hooked up to a shopvac but if you are using a coarse belt for heavy stock removal or if you shred a belt (fairly common) you will need to have compressed air handy to clean out the clogs.
This would be a great sander for flat work in the shop hooked to a vacuum. There is a stand which converts it to a vertical sander which would be handy. It would be good for metal work with fine belts and the variable speed; and it can be had at a deep discount. But out on my job sites where vertical work is usually part of the mix it is too heavy and too fussy with belts. Maybe I will try the Bosch 1274.
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Too many glitches
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| Review Date: April 23, 2005 |
| Reviewer: B. Kellen, Ames, IA |
I am a contractor who recently started my own business and have been buying a lot of tools. I used the Porter Cable belt sander before and loved it but figured DeWalt was great brand so I bought this sander. In as few words as possible; I hate it! I mean I really do not like using it and here's why:
Cons
-Belt tracking doesn't work and I am constantly watching it instead of my work to make sure the belt doesn't work its way to one side and shred itself. I have had many belts get shredded and as a result damaged the wood I was sanding.
-Dust collector is poorly attached; bag falls off too easily causing dust to blow everywhere in a matter of seconds.
-Dust collection system gets clogged and I find I have to constantly blow it clean with a compressor.
-Comes in a ridiculously HUGE case. It's great if you bought the stand with it (unlike me) since there's room for it. It's so big I also keep a palm sander, 2 8" quick clamps and a lot of extra belts (you'll need them).
Pros
-The only pro I can think of is that it looks cool.
Ben |
On Sales for
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