Best Benchtop Belt Sanders - Top Picks, Reviews & Complete Buying Guide

by Scott Miller Updated on May. 24, 2019

Benchtop belt sanders are tools designed to make most sanding jobs faster and easier and your work more efficient.

As you are reading this, you are probably eager to find out more about various models of belt sanders and we are offering you descriptions in great detail, so as to help you choose the ideal tool for your needs.

The selection process is quite troublesome and difficult, especially of you are not so involved into certain field.

Manufacturers tend to hide the product weaknesses and emphasize insignificant characteristics.

According to reviews made by the users of the benchtop belt sanders, we have made a list of top five sanders available on the market.

Spoiler Alert - Check out my top choice here >>

Top Rated Benchtop Belt Sanders

Model	Rating	Buy Now
JET J-4002 Bench Belt Disc Sander	3.3	Check Price
Kalamazoo 1SM 1″ Belt Benchtop Sander	4.7	Check Price
WEN 6502 Bench Belt & Disc Sander	4.0	Check Price
RIKON Power Tools 50-151 Benchtop Belt Sander	4.3	Check Price
Rockwell RK7866 Bench Belt Sanding Machine	3.2	Check Price

* Ratings are based on Editor's own opinion.

5 Best Benchtop Belt Sanders Reviewed

#1. JET J-4002 Bench Belt Disc Sander

Top Pick

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The first one is usually the best one, and when benchtop belt sanders are in question that is definitely the JET J-4002.

This tool is both a great belt sander and a disc sander.

Many people found this characteristic amazing, as you get two tools in one unit.

This model has a 1/3-horsepower motor, powerful enough for even the trickiest surfaces.

You can choose whether you want to use the belt sander or the disc sander, depending on your needs at a given moment.

Furthermore, this model has a miter gauge, that can turn up to 45-degrees in either direction and a removable platen, as well.

Some users complained that the slot for the miter gauge is 5/8-inches instead of the standard 3/4-inch but that is not such a great disadvantage.

The issue that you might have is that this model is tricky to put together, but that problem appears just at beginning of the usage, as once you have assembled it, you can enjoy your work on the best benchtop belt sander.

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Pros

1/3 horsepower
Good miter gauge
Platen can be removed
Disc sander

Cons

Difficult to put together

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#2. Kalamazoo 1SM 1″ Belt Benchtop Sander

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The second one that deserves our attention is the Kalamazoo 1SM Belt Sander.

This sander gets the job done and users especially like this model due to the fact tthat it runs quietly and smoothly.

The noise is the most frequent characteristic of benchtop belt sanders, and it is considered great that this model run much more quietly than the competition.

This model boasts easy belt changing, resulting in very easy setting of the machine for different tasks.

The easy tracking adjustment is also a great feature, meaning that you can set a belt in the correct alignment so as to produce the best sanding experience.

This model of belt sanders is great for knifemaking.

This is due to 1” x 42” belts, which are designed to be used for anything and the knives as well.

There is one disadvantage of this model – the platen is awkwardly-placed and small.

This means that you will not be able to work with a piece larger than four or five inches across, because it will bump into the motor.

This is the only reason why this model is on the second place.

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Pros

Quiet when working
Belt changing is easy
Can be used for knife making
Easy tracking adjustment

Cons

Platen placement

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#3. WEN 6502 Bench Belt & Disc Sander

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The WEN 6502 is a good belt sander, even though it is not our top choice.

It is designed for workers who need a tool that will perform a variety of tasks.

The tool uses 4 x 36-inch belt, a common belt type, resulting in an easy replacing when needed.

Furthermore, this model boasts a large sanding area that makes it good for larger projects.

Great characteristic of this model is that this belt sander comes with a disc sander.

Users found it great that the main belt on this model can be rotated from zero to 90 degrees.

That way you will be able to achieve the best sanding jobs done on any piece.

The greatest thing about this model is the price, making it the best value buy on our list.

These quality control problems caused this model to be put only on the third position.

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Pros

Affordable
Wide belt
Disc sander
Adjustable angle

Cons

Poor quality control

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#4. RIKON Power Tools 50-151 Benchtop Belt Sander

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The fourth one is the RIKON Power Tools 50-151.

What you get with this model is the adjustability at a low price.

This model boasts a 1” x 30” belt, and a 5” disc sander.

This means that it has very same features and usages that you can find on more expensive models.

There are also two platens, saving you from switching one back and forth, and the platen on the main belt also adjusts up to 45-degrees, which means that you can sand angled pieces easily.

Additional advantages of this unit are 1/3 horsepower and a 2” dust port.

This makes the tool quite powerful and allows easy clean up.

When disadvantages are in question, we have to mention that the belt tracking system works strangely, it is not easy to make a good alignment and the quality control problems result in some units not working from the very beginning of the usage.

Even though this is a decent choice for people looking for something inexpensive, they do not want to buy the product which will not work once it is put into usage for the first time.

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Pros

Adjustable angle
Dust port
1/3 horsepower

Cons

Poor quality control
Belt tracking system

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#5. Rockwell RK7866 Bench Belt Sanding Machine

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The last model on our list is the Rockwell RK7866.

This benchtop belt sander is not the ideal choice, as it has a number of problems.

Most frequently, these kinds of downsides lead to users’ frustration and people avoid buying it.

Even though its build is quite similar to the third sander on our list, considering the fact that it has a belt that can adjust from zero to 90 degrees and allowing a sanding from a variety of angles, this model is not of such a good quality as this belt sander suffers from low power.

You will also get a disc sander that has a platen that can adjust up to 45-degrees, but the lack of power makes it useless when it comes to a heavy-duty work.

What is even worse, the sanders that do not have enough power wear our more quickly and even if you do only the basic tasks their performance would quickly decrease.

The durability is questionable due to the plastic parts which are prone to quick failure,.

Besides the fact that this belt sander is inexpensive, we do not suggest you purchasing it.

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Pros

Belt and platen are adjustable
Easy belt changes

Cons

Low-quality parts

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Benchtop Belt Sanders: The Ultimate Buying Guide

If you are still wondering what makes for a good benchtop belt sander and you still have doubts, we are offering you more information about benchtop belt sanders in our buyer’s guide.

There you will get acquainted with useful information about belt sanders and you will be able to make a great, well-informed decision about and do not regret your purchase.

How important is the ease of use?

When we speak about the ease of use, we have to say that this feature is very significant, especially for those who are using this tool for the first time.

How easy a belt sander is to use determines how much time you spend working.

It also affects your liking of the model, so it is suggested to go for a model that is easy to assemble, or the one that is pre-assembled.

There are some models which have issues in this area and you would spend a lot of the time trying to assemble it and once you manage to do it, you will find that there are some issues about the tool.

What we suggest is to purchase a model which will allow you to center the belt easily.

Those models that come with a poor belt tracking should be avoided as they will end up rubbing the belt against the sides or other internal components, and destroying the unit.

The users voted for models that make it easy and quick to change out belts.

If you work a lot, they will frequently wear out and you will probably want to change out the belt so it is better to do it without much trouble.

Value

When we speak about the value of belt sanders it is difficult to determine what makes for good value in a belt sander.

Many of the excellent models come at different price points, that are separated by hundreds of dollars and then you wonder whether it is worth spending so much money when you can get one for quite less.

But, the fact is that the value is not only reflected in the price.

A model that would be of a good value for you is the that will meet all of your needs and will be in line with your budget.

So, you will be able to save as much money as you can and at the same time have a tool which will be good enough to do the job.

Deciding to buy the cheapest models can lead to a disappointing purchase, as in the majority of cases these units are of poor quality and lack the power you need to complete your tasks.

Their durability is also questionable, and you do not want to get the tool that will last very short.

On the other hand, you can spend a lot of money on a belt sander with amazing features, but once you start using it, you will discover that you do not need all those features and that your initial investment was a waste of money.

What we suggest is buying a belt sander that would work well, do the tasks you are planning to do with it and be at a good price.

Creating a shortlist of belt sanders that cover those needs would lead to the choice of the right one for you.

What about wood shaving management?

The belt sanders cause a lot of wood shavings which have to be cleaned up.

The fact is that they lower the quality of the air in your shop or garage causing you to breathe heavily and can even lead to some health issues.

That is why you are suggested to wear a breathing mask while using a bench sander.

Furthermore, there are some other ways of reducing the amount of wood shavings in the air and that is achieved if you get a benchtop belt sander which comes with a dust port.

What you need to do is to hook up your shop vac and turn it on while you work.

The shavings will be sucked up many and this will keep them out of the air.

The greatest thing is that shavings will also be kept away from the belt sander’s casing.

You should know that this is a very significant for the unit, as shavings can build up and create friction.

This can lower the overall power and put stress on the machine.

If it gets to the engine, it would cause a reduced lifespan, so we suggest you buying a sander with a dust port to improve your air quality and prolong your belt sander’s life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it can be said that if you have enough money for the JET J-4002, you should not think more and go and get it.

This unit is a powerful dual belt and disc sander with excellent features such as a good miter gauge and a removable platen.

Another good choice can be the Kalamazoo 1SM Belt Sander, as people find it great due to the fact that it runs quietly and smoothly and boasts easy belt adjustment and easy belt changing.

The WEN 6502 comes with a wide belt and low price, making it best value for money on our list.

The RIKON Power Tools 50-151 has some quality control problems while the Rockwell RK7866 lacks the power and should be avoided.

Now, that you have gone through our reviews and buyer’s guide, you should be ready to make the final decision.

The model that is right for you should be the one that suit your needs and budget.

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