Labor cost money. Sandpaper is cheap. This is the math of painting, refinishing woodwork, stripping paint from old furnitures, finishing a deck, everything.
You’re trying to get down to the bare wood (or whatever) without losing your mind. The way you do it is with sandpaper. And one of the key tool here is a belt sander.
Not all belt sanders is created equal though. Some are rigid and heavy; some are light as air and can be moved around on a trim board. For decades now, SKIL has been making power tools.
Pros and DIYers who need something that gets the job done without breaking the bank knows SKIL’s name for belt sander. Does it look good on paper? But there is more to consider.
How does it feel when you use it for an hour? Will it vibrate your arms numb? Does it clog up with dust within three minutes?
Those are things that set a good tool apart from a great tool. The writer has spent time using SKIL belt sanders on jobsites and in his own garage. And that experience help identify where they shine and where he may have a better option.
How The SKIL Belt Sander Performs
The Importance of Belt Sanders for Wood Finishing
Everything else depends on build quality. If your tool feel flimsy and ready to fall apart, it’s not going to work very well for you. Many of the SKIL units is built with a solid metal base plate.
Build Quality and Metal Base Plates
Unlike cheaper models which use plastic bases. Having the metal base plate keeps it flat against the wood, preventing you from putting down pressure and accidentally gouging out the wood. It also lets heat out better than plastic.
For long jobs, motor runs cooler. This leads to more longer lasting motor. It is basic engineering, but it matter if you’re ripping off an entire staircase.
Dust Collection and Ventilation Systems
Good ventilation are essential. Dust make it difficult to see. Guesswork is not work.
SKIL bags has good flow of air in them. They do not struggle against the motor. Vacuuming can pull a little but you still get some dust out; particularly on softwoods which create very fine powder.
However, it keeps the area safer and the air cleaner than with an open-dust design. Keep checking the bag. When full, a bag kills airflow and also decrease suction immediately.
Motor Power and Variable Speed Control
How does it deliver the power? Expectations match reality. When the belt comes across a ridge, or gets caught in a knot, there need to be enough torque to continue driving.
Typically, SKIL motors will handle common softwoods and hardwoods just fine. However, if you’re stripping lots of heavy paint, or working on extremely dense exotic woods, the motor may strain. For general around-the-house jobs, however, motor should be enough.
Variable speed control was added in some newer units. This allow you to engage at a slower speed so as not to burn through the wood. Once engaged, you can speed up to remove material quicker.
This control prevent mistakes. Longevity means how long I can work before needing a break. Ergonomics matter.
Ergonomics and Comfort Features
If the tool get heavy, it wears you down. SKIL sander are reasonably light weight. When you’re doing vertical panels or an overhead surface, that’s helpful.
The handle design is general comfortable. If your hands tend to sweat, you may wish to apply some grip tape. The trigger lock is useful for extended sanding.
It allows you to concentrate on moving without having to hold down a button. Little comfort features accumulate during a two hour project. Since most people never think about maintenance, keeping up with it is easier than you may think.
Maintenance Tips for Longer Life
Clean the platen. Thick layer of dust or glue will cause the belt to slip. Between jobs wipe the drum with a rubber cleaning block.
It takes ten seconds and you won’t need to replace the belt frequent. If the belt tracks to one side, adjust the tracking knob. When sandpaper wears evenly, it result in a smoother finish on your wood.
Final Verdict on SKIL Belt Sanders
Should you buy one for your shop? Should you spend the bucks? If you’re looking to add a solid belt sander for occasional jobs around the house or at woodworking projects, then yes (this thing is pretty good).
It has a solid build, good performance, and is not too expensive like the pro line. It is a work horse, not a race car. It is the kind of tool that gets job done when you are doing floors, furniture and deck work…
Which is what most folks do. It works as advertised. You can sand fast.
You can clean up ok. And you come home sane with your wallet intact. It is not a bad deal.