Comments on: A Belt Sander For Tight Spaces

By: T

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:59:13 +0000

I second ba614. We used a Dyna-file two jobs ago incessantly. Lots of big metal acme threads subject to getting beat up and dinged around. They’ll smooth out at thread real quick and remove burrs before you can blink. Great tools for metal working. I don’t know about wood working. Never needed it for my applications.

By: ba614

ba614 — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 13:27:26 +0000

Quite a few years ago I used a similar tool called a Dyna-File durring a time that Kellogs was converting everthing in thier plant to stainless steel. I built staircase handrails, conveyers, electrical pannel boxes, sub-floors and alot of piping. All welds and materials had to be fully polished smooth. There are varouis sanding and scotchbrite belts availible for these tools. I never had problems with the belt coming off. I used the Dyna-File daily for about 2 years. For the metal fabricator this is an amazing tool. I’ve never used one on wood but I’m sure it would work just as well.

By: John Doe

John Doe — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:27:04 +0000

I’ve used a Harbor Freight attachment for an angle grinder that gives you (in effect) the same capability. (The attachment looks similar to the machinery attached to the left of the motor in the pic above.)

It works very well for tight sanding (e.g., chair rails), some detail sculpting. Low $$ for the functionality.

It tracks similarly to an ordinary belt sander. I haven’t had problems with tracking. The tip half is spring loaded as a tensioner, with a tip roller that’s slightly crowned to keep the belt on track there. There’s an adjustment knob to set the track, angles the tip left or right.

Long term, I wonder about getting belts. Also, like a belt sander, you need to be careful about sanding marks in wood, crossgrain marks especially.

If I were to ever upgrade, I’d look at this Makita unit.

By: Brau

Brau — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:42:25 +0000

It does make you wonder what kind of witchcraft they are using to keep the belt in place. Looks more like a chainsaw than a belt sander.

By: l_bilyk

l_bilyk — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:51:54 +0000

How does the tiny belt track? I would think if the tracking is slighty off the belt would fly off

By: Russell Jones

Russell Jones — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 17:34:41 +0000

These go by the name “Power Files”

And they’re absolutely a god send for reaching into tight spaces, or doing precise file work quickly.

I’ve used them for taking down burrs on steel tubing to making large holes through sheet metal more circular.

Recommended!

By: nrChris

nrChris — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:47:48 +0000

Harbor Freight has a similar one, although I believe it uses 1/2″ belts and runs for about $30. I bought one, it was very very loud, and very much overkill for the application that I had in mind–so I returned it the next day.