Air belt sander. 10mm or 20mm?

[carl0s]

I'm still procrastinating over the rusty inner arch and sills on my runabout Jazz. Got a needle scaler and very impressed with that tool.
I saw Ed on Wheeler Dealers using an air belt sander thing on some rot and it looks like a handy tool.
Avoiding some of the unknown cheap ones, Clarke (cheap but known if you see what I mean) seem to do a 10mm width one for about £48. I'd happily spend that for a useful tool.
Will the 10mm one be useful for this sort of stuff or would the 20mm one be more use? That one is a little spendy considering I could probably get by without either. Having said that you don't realise how useful a tool is until you've started to use one!

 

[Robotstar5]

I'd go for the narrow one as it can also be used for grinding out spot welds to remove panels.

 

[AKN]

I have a 6mm one and that is great for getting into those tight corners etc. I’ve also used 8 and 12 mm ones and I’d say don’t worry about the quality of the machine it is the quality of the belts which causes the most grief. Used with care they can give a nice finish too So I’m thinking of adding a bigger one, perhaps 20mm, to my toolbox.

 

[carl0s]

Thanks very much both of you. I think the Clarke one is only ~£15 more than the next cheapest, and some reviews on cheaper ones spoke of belts not staying put, springs being too weak and stuff, and at least I can go and pick one up from Machine Mart.

 

[fizzy]

Neither.
Get a Black and Dekker powerfile - I use mine far more than the air sander. Buy some quality blue belts for it on Ebay.
One of those tools I thought would be rubbish but is amazing and gets loads of use.
Assuming of course it will get into where you need it to go!

 

[MetalMonkey]

I think the 13mm is supposed to offer a good compromise between size and belt life.

 

[caprinut]

I use 36 grit 12mm belts on a B&D powerfile takes out spot welds in no time and you don't damage the the panel beneath. Don't buy the sh%te from B&Q and others, industrial only, I get mine from Abrasive Finishing Systems LTD under part No FX87.

Bert

 

[zzr1200]

I have and use both, l probably use the 20mm more but the 10mm is very handy at times.

I know it doesn't answer your question, but you will probably end up with both anyway.

Oh and use the blue belts. (Ziconium???)

 

[caprinut]

Zirconium Dioxide is toxic to a degree you must wear a mask.

Bert

 

[marlinspike]

Another recommendation for the B and D powerfile from me. One of those tools I wish we'd bought on day one of our car restoration. I wore out the rubber end bit on mine after a couple of years but fortunately the parts are available to fix. If you buy the blue zirconia belts from ebay they are not too expensive. The very abrasive ones will take down welds quickly and the high grit ones will just remove paint and rust without scoring the metal. Homebase have them for £45 atm. When mine conks out I'll go straight out and get another.

 

[jerrytug]

+1 more vote for the B&D, incredibly useful.