There’s an errant hunk of lumber on your work bench; it needs to be flat, smooth, and ready for finish. You’re eager to finish it. The lowly power tool on the lowest shelf seem like the obvious choice: It’s easy on the wallet, and its appearance suggest power.
Before you grab that trigger, think about what a bad call will cost you. In less time then it takes a premium model to produce great work, a bargain sander can reduce an otherwise straightforward job to a regretful mess. Harbor Freight has firmly established itself as budget category player with their Chicago Electric brand.
It’s what people buy when they don’t want to spend a lot on something they may only use once or twice. Is it only about cost? No. Can I really expect a decent outcome even though it’s cheap?
That’s what we’re going to find out in this review. We will cut through the BS and decide whether this belt sander deserves to be in your collection or should stays on the pegboard. Let’s start with motor.
Chicago Electric Belt Sander Review Summary
Motor Power and Performance
It has an advertised current draw of 3.25 amps. That doesn’t sound so bad until you realize that, in real-world terms, it can absorbs material fairly easily in softwood but struggle with hardwoods. Pressing hard will cause machine to bog down, which, by the way, isn’t a bug; it’s a feature.
The lighter motor prevents you from digging deep gouge into your workpiece. And since it force you to continue moving, it may save your project from any potential terribel errors if you’re a beginner. This unit has primarily plastic housing which keeps it lightweight but reduces its durability.
Build Quality and Ergonomics
If you’re looking at sanders, you don’t purchase one from Chicago Electric because you think it will withstand dropping off of ladder. You purchase them because every now and then, you need something in a controlled setting to get some light work done. Although it has a good grip (not as nice as say Milwaukee or DeWalt), you may find your hands cramping after extended use.
However, you pay for that with the reduced price tag, so keep that in mind. Another weak spot is dust collection (the port is small and easily clogs). The result is a cloud of sawdust in workspace.
Dust Collection Issues
This really matters because dust extraction are important for good vision. If you’re breathing a haze of gray stuff, you can’t see what you’re doing, and a shop vacuum makes it better but the fit never seem right. Expect to clean out port regularly to get anything approaching a good flow.
Next let’s discuss belt system. It shouldn’t be hard to change belts. This is certainly doable on this model, but it isn’t perfect because the tensioner sometimes gets a little loose.
Belt System Adjustments
The belt will need to be adjusted more often then a premium brand’s belt, which means more setup time. Not much time if this was a one off job but if you were doing production type work it adds up fast. The obvious winner on that list?
Price and Value
Price. You can buy this tool at a fraction of the price of name brands. And it makes getting into woodworking easier.
It gives you a chance to see how well power sanding works without making a huge investment in the tool. If you break it, you don’t feel bad about it. That’s a big mental win for buyer who is nervous.
When to Buy or Skip
Buy It Or Skip It: Is This Chicago Electric Belt Sander Right For You? If you’re doing some basic clean up around the house or even prepping for framing or deck refinishing, go ahead and pick one of these up. For rough stuff like this, it’ll do just fine.
But if you’re doing anything on an expensive hardwood or furnitures piece, don’t bother. The vibration, dust issues, and power limits will frustate you during precision work. Invest in something better for that kind of thing.
Final Verdict and Advice
Don’t be blinded by the low cost because it has limitations. Use the Chicago Electric for rough shaping and heavy lifting duties and then reserve finer details for nicer tools. This ensures that you are protecting both your project and your money, yet still providing yourself with the power you need without having to pay for all those bells and whistles you’ll likely never use.
This is a sensible choice for the practical builder. Go back to that gnarly bit of lumber lying on your workbench. The bottom line with tools, any tools…
Is that they’re an extension of your ability. If you’ve got a cheap-ass sander, don’t rush it or lose your temper; let it do its thing, because with enough time and patience even a shitty machine can produce something nice. So pick up the one that matches what you actualy need (not what you wish you needed)…
And neither your wallet nor your project will curse you out.