Belt Sanders

No. Pressing down on a belt sander is a safety risk and should be avoided. The belt sander should provide plenty of force on its own. If it’s not working effectively, double-check your sanding belt isn’t worn out and that the material you’re working on is compatible with the sanding belt you’re using.

A thin belt sander - also known as a mini belt sander - is a handheld tool featuring a short, thin sanding arm. It can be used on a variety of sanding jobs, but its size and shape make it ideal for use in tight spaces or for finishing woodwork jobs. A wide belt sander is a much larger machine designed for calibrating and finishing wood, paints, veneers and other materials.

A thin belt sander is powerful enough to tackle many sanding jobs, but is mostly used for smoothing and finishing tight or small surfaces. If you need to sand large pieces of wood or other surfaces, you may need to use a larger sander that’s more suited to the job. Ask our Evolution experts if you’re unsure which sander you need.

Yes, some tradesmen use belt sanders to sharpen blades and similar tools. But you can’t sharpen every blade or tool this way, it depends on how they’re constructed. Blades and tools with specially-crafted edges could be ruined by sharpening them with a belt sander. You should always refer to the manufacturer’s guide on how to sharpen your tools and blades properly.