Black & Decker 7.0A Dragster
By Sean O'Hara
You don’t often hear sanders described as sleek, but that’s exactly the word that comes to mind when we look at Black & Decker’s DS321 Dragster. We hear the handling in corners is excellent, and it sports a 7.0A motor under the hood.
The small wheel at the very front of the unit allows you to get within a quarter-inch of most baseboards, and a flip-top cover gives you access to the top of the belt when you need it. It takes a standard 3” x 21” sanding belt and features a movable handle for comfort and greater snout access at the front.
The Dragster’s $60 buy-in is almost double the normal gift-pricing slapped on tools at the end of the year, but this is also more handy than an electric potato peeler.
DS321 Dragster [Black & Decker]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:43 am
I have one and have been very happy with it. Only issue with it is that it is LOUD! I wear earplugs when using it. I have never used it in the normal way that most would, I clamp it into a 5” bench vice with rotating jaws. I needed a benchtop belt sander, and this method has worked well for me at half the cost (already had the vice) of a dedicated sander
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 am
I recently refinished my floors and this was great for getting under baseboard heaters. Unfortunately the dust port is now plugged and I haven’t had the time to pull it apart to clean it.
November 3rd, 2008 at 12:52 pm
We have an old Clarke B-2 rotating disk edging sander that gets in under toe kicks. This machine has pretty good dust colection - but ain’t cheap.
I’ve seen on of my subs with a newer Clarke machine that has an extended lip that gets in even further.
November 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
I’ve pretty well sworn off B&D tools due to problems I had with my last 3 B&D purchases/gifts (laser level, high-power flashlight, and cordless drill). The flashlight was DOA, the laser level broke the second time I used it, and the drill was poor enough of a performer to just sort of embarrass me (I’d picked it up when I was traveling and needed a drill in a pinch to fix something for a family member). This looks like an interesting design though and might, just might get me to bite the bullet and try another time.
November 5th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I have had great luck in the recent past with BnD tools. I love my random orbit d handle……
Although with these there are varied reports that tracking does not hold true.
And I have also heard that these are very loud….
I am still on the hunt for a good cheap belt sander….. I may be getting the rigid although heavy I have heard good things