Best Benchtop Belt Sander In [year] – Reviews

After testing various benchtop belt sanders for their power, speed, toughness, and other factors, we found that the Jet J41002 is the best benchtop belt sander in the market. It has a strong construction and is perfect for professionals. It will help you in managing your projects easily.

Apart from that, we even had some alternatives that were tough competition. One of the alternatives is the Rikon 50 161VS, which was close to the first position. There are other belt disc sanders as well (see the list of belt sanders), each suited for a specific job. This list will help you in finding the best belt disc sander for your work.

Recommended Best Benchtop Belt Sanders

There are various benchtop belt sanders available in the market which makes it difficult to choose one. To make it easier for you, we have curated this list consisting of the best benchtop belt sanders, based on their features. You can use this list as your reference before selecting the best one for your work.

1. Jet J41002 Benchtop Belt Disc Sander: Best For Professionals

The first bench disc sander which we have on this list is the Jet J41002 benchtop belt disc sander. It has tons of features that quite impressed us. The first thing that we liked about this belt sander is that it is super strong.

The Jet J41002 is made up of cast iron and has a steel base with rubber feet. The construction of the device makes it strong enough for any kind of heavy duty work. It is meant for the professionals. The belt disc sander has a strong miter gauge which turns and locks at angles between 0 to 45 degrees, at both sides.

It comes with a powerful 4 Amps motor along with a disc speed of 3450 RPM and a belt speed of 3100 SFPM. Moreover, this belt sander is adjustable in nature. You can easily adjust the belt disc sander and then use it accordingly.

The Jet J41002 can even open small openings and will work perfectly even with odd shapes and angles. This disc sander even comes with an adjustable dust deflector and dust chute, which makes dust management easier.

The device has a removable platen which allows for perfect sanding and grinding. Due to this removable platen, you can get perfect finishing even with curves and odd shapes. Moreover, the abrasive belt unit can work in three different ways: jigsaw, hand file, coping saw.

It makes filing of the material an easy process. However, not everything is good with this bench belt sander. It is quite expensive and unless you are a professional, it will be useless for you. Moreover, the process of changing the belt of the sander is quite difficult due to its design.

Bottom Line

The Jet J41002 is the perfect belt disc sander for a professional. It is built for tough work and will come in handy for various major projects. Though it is a bit expensive, it will come in handy for your professional work. Unlike other belt sanders, this one will still work fine after several years.

2. Rikon 50 161VS Belt Disc Variable Speed Sander: Best For Knife Maling

The Rikon 50 161VS is the best bench belt sander for knife maling. It is light in weight and is made for creating small crafts. This particular benchtop belt disc sander is made for light crafting and knife making jobs.

The Rikon 50 161VS is designed in a way that it will help the beginners to know more about the process of sanding. It has a variable speed option, which comes in handy. As this device is made for light-duty work, it is essential that the user should have control over speed.

You can easily adjust the disc speed and the belt speed with the dial-in speed controller. By lowering the speed, you would be able to get the perfect finishing for your job.

Moreover, the Rikon 50 161VS comes with a strong motor and a sturdy frame. The frame and the base of the belt sander are made with cast metal, which gives it support to handle the job.

The bench belt sander even has tracking knobs so that you can adjust the device as per your comfort. The tracking knobs help in adjusting the belts and the frames and you can change the adjustment with every job.

But, this device is only good for small work such as knife-maling and creating other small crafts. You cannot use it for heavy-duty work. For light-duty work, this device is quite expensive and it even has an issue of overheating. Due to overheating, the device can even get damaged or create a hindrance during your work.

Bottom Line

Rikon 50 161VS is the best benchtop sander that you can get for knife-maling and other small jobs. But, it is quite expensive and you need to think before investing in this belt sander. If you are a beginner, then this benchtop belt disc sander is perfect for you but it requires a heavy investment.

3. Rockwell RK7866 Belt/Disc Sander: Best For Woodworking

If you are looking for a belt sander to perform your woodworking, then you should go for the Rockwell RK7866 Belt/disc sander. It is the perfect benchtop belt sander for doing any kind of woodworking. Whether it is a wood-related DIY or any kind of furniture making, you can trust this belt sander to help you out in the process.

The Rockwell RK7866 has a spacious belt platform of 4*36 inches, which can be adjusted anywhere between 0 to 90 degrees. As the belt is highly adjustable, you can use this device for any project.

Moreover, this belt sander from Rockwell has a motor of 4.3 Amps, which is quite strong for dealing with woodworking projects. To support that, the device has a disc speed of 3450 RPM and a belt speed of 1700 SFPM.

It has a quick-release tension lever, which makes it easier to change the belt in no-time. The only thing which might bother you is that the belt is not too strong. You might have to change the belt sooner, to use the device.

Apart from that, Rockwell RK7866 is the best choice for woodworking projects. The sanding table even allows you to make beveled cuts easily. It is made of Aluminum, which gives it support. You can make bevel edges at any angle between 0 to 45 degrees.  It has safety switches in it, which will prevent any major accidents in the workshop.

Bottom Line

The Rockwell RK7866 is the best belt disc sander for woodworking projects. It has a powerful motor and an adjustable table, which will help you in dealing with your wood projects. It will help you to complete your work in less time.

4. WEN 6502T Belt Disc Sander: Best For Metal Working

The WEN 6502T ( see the detailed review) is a combination sander, which comes with a belt sander of 4*36 inches and a disc sander of 6*6 inches. The whole device is made up of cast iron, which gives the device enough strength to handle the vibrations while working with metal items. See the full review here.

This bench belt sander is the best choice for metal projects. It is strong and will be able to handle heavy-metal jobs easily. Moreover, it comes with certain features that will help you with your major projects. The WEN 6502T has a 4.3Amp motor which provides a speed of 3600 RPM.

Besides that, the belt can tilt from 0 to 90 degrees, hence allowing you to adjust the device as per the project requirements.  It comes with a tension release lever for fast and easy sandpaper changing.

But, there are some things that the bench belt sander is not good at. The first thing which will bother you is the dust management of the disc sander. It comes with a 2.25-inch dust port, which cannot collect the dust properly. Apart from that, you might face problems while making miter cuts, as the miter gauge of the belt sander is not too strong.

Bottom Line

The WEN 6502T will be the best choice for metal related projects. If you work with metal regularly, then you should invest your money in this belt sander. It is not expensive and is strong enough to handle heavy-duty work.

5. RIKON Power Tools 50-151 Belt Disc Sander: Best For Money

If you are looking for a belt disc sander that is not too costly and will help you in your daily chores, then you should invest your money in Rikon Power Tools 50-151. It is a budget belt sander and will not harm your pocket at all.

The device requires only 120 Volts of energy to work and weighs around 18 pounds. Though there are some flaws in this sander, the device is quite good to use occasionally. You can easily adjust the belt table at any angle between 0 to 45 degrees.

It comes with a 2-inch dust port and is surprisingly quiet in its operation. The safety system of the device is also good. There are safety switches that cut the main power directly.

Though you might face some problems while changing the belts, else it’s quite good. The Rikon Power Tools 50-151 does not have a quick-release lever, due to which you have to open the screws and then change the belts of the sander. Moreover, it is important that you tighten the screws properly, else you will face problems.

Bottom Line

Though Rikon Power Tools 50-151 is not a professional bench belt sander, it is quite nice for occasional uses. It is budget-friendly and is surprisingly strong. Though it does not have many specifications like other belt sanders in this list, you can use it occassionally.

We know how difficult it can be to select a single benchtop belt disc sander for your work. To help you out in this area, we have created a buying guide. You can refer to the buying guide below.

Buying Guide For Benchtop Belt Disc Sanders

Every benchtop belt sander is different and is made for a specific reason. While some belt sanders are built for professional work, others are made for regular woodworking.

How can you know which belt disc sander is the best one for you? By knowing the features of the device. Each belt sander has some features, which decides the type of benchtop sander it is. Here are the major features, which will help you to select the best belt disc sander for yourself.

1. Power & Speed

The motor power of the benchtop belt sander will tell you the performance that the device will provide. Higher is the motor power, the better is the performance. A powerful motor not only increases the performance but even fastens the speed of both belt and the disc in the device.

Most of the motors come in the range of 1-6 Amps, which gradually decides the type of sander that they are. If you are working on small projects or need the belt sander for a regular purpose, then you should look for a sander that has a motor of 3 Amps or less.

Moreover, if you are a professional in this area, then a benchtop belt disc sander with a motor of 6 Amps or more will help you out. Powerful motors help you to complete the work in less amount of time. Hence, for professionals, a belt disc sander with a motor of 4 Amps or more will be suitable.

For example, you can go for the Jet J41002 sander which comes with a motor of 4 Amps or you can even choose the Rockwell RK7866, which has a motor of 4.3 Amps. These two devices are built for professionals in this field.

Another advantage of having a powerful motor is that it increases the speed of the disc, which in turn increases the inertia of the belt. Higher inertia avoids any moving parts from getting stuck in the device, hence there is less risk for damage.

2. Type Of Belt

A benchtop belt disc sander is a combination of both belt and disc sander. Here, the type of belt matters a lot. It is better to look for sanding belts that are stronger and more effective than other belts. Stronger belts will help you to work easily on any piece of wood.

You would even find belts that have sharp edges, which allows you to use it for sharpening the knives. The belts that are made up of Zirconia and Aluminum oxide are mostly preferred for the belt sanders. Zirconia sanding belt will help you in sharpening the knives.

Moreover, the size of the belt also comes in this category. If you are working on a large piece of wood, then you would require a larger belt for this work. For working on large pieces of wood, you can depend upon the Rockwell RK7866, which has a belt of 4*36 inches. Though the belt would take up a lot of space, it would help you in working with large pieces of wood.

3. Disc Size & Speed

The size of the disc also matters when you are looking for a benchtop belt disc sander. Most of the belt disc sanders come with a disc size of 5 and 10 inches. You can select the one which suits the best with your needs.

A larger disc will occupy more space and will work more effectively. These types of discs are the best to work on sanding the curves.

Another thing that you need to keep in mind is the speed of the disc. The speed of the disc will determine the time it will take to complete the work. A disc with low speed is only good for providing perfect finishing. The Jet J41002 comes with a disc speed of 3100 SFPM, which is quite good for doing any professional work.

There are even disc sanders with adjustable speed. For example, the Rikon 50 161VS has a variable speed control which allows you to adjust the speed as per your work. You can lower the speed while doing the finishing work to get the perfect touch.

4. Base Material

The base is the most important part of a benchtop belt sander. A strong base will reduce the vibrations and will keep the wood in place. Most of the belt sanders come with a weak base, which creates vibrations.

A base made up of strong material will help you in reducing the vibrations produced. Vibrations can make it difficult for you to work and hence a strong base will come in handy.

Look for a benchtop sander that has a base made up of cast iron or stainless steel. These two materials are sturdy, have high density, and will help the base in handling the powerful motor easily.

The Rikon 50 161VS is a great example in this case. It has a frame made up of cast metal, that provides the device with strength. Moreover, a strong base will even prevent any kind of damage that may happen if the device falls.

Look for a sander that has a strong frame and construction. You can go for the Jet J41002 which has a sturdy steel base.

5. Dust Collection

It is normal that a sander will generate a lot of dust while working on wood. This sawdust is extremely dangerous for health and should be removed immediately.

Most of the belt sanders come with dust collectors or dust porters that collects the dust, which you can throw out after the work is done.

For example, the Rikon power tools 50-151 have 2-inch dust ports that work perfectly well and manages to keep the surroundings clean. On the other hand, the WEN 6502T has 2.25-inch dust ports, but cannot collect dust properly. If you go for the latter, then you would have to change the dust port.

A good dust collection system is important, as it will help in keeping the air in the workshop clean. Moreover, sawdust can even create breathing problems and hence it needs to be cleaned.

Most of the belt sanders come with a built-in vacuum that clears the dust and stores it in the dust bag. You can even find holes in the sanding discs, that are designed for absorbing the sawdust.

If you are looking for a benchtop sander, then look for one which has a good dust collection system. It should have high-quality dust porters and holes of appropriate size in the sanding disc.

6. Versatility

It is good to have a sander that can be used for various purposes. The benchtop sanders come with a combination of the belt sander and disc sander, which makes it highly versatile. You can find various bench belt sanders which are available in a combination package.

For example, the WEN 6502T is a perfect combination sander, which you can use for various work. Make sure that the combination package is effective while working on different materials.

7.  Safety

Working with a bench belt sander can be extremely dangerous and one needs to take precautions. However, the device should also have some safety norms which will help in avoiding major accidents in the workshop.

You can take Jet J41002 as an example of perfect safety features. It has all the necessary safety precautions which a device should have.

Look for a sander which has safety guards, emergency switches, disc guard, and other safety features. These things will help in avoiding any fatal injuries.  The emergency switch cuts the main power when the blade gets in contact with the human touch. This avoids the person from getting any major injuries.

Final Verdict

After speculating various bench belt sanders, we found that the Jet J41002 is the best benchtop sander available. It comes with excellent features which will help you with any kind of professional work.

There are other alternatives as well, which we have listed in this list. The main thing which you should know while buying a good benchtop sander is the work that it can do. If you want to have a benchtop sander for occasional work, then you should look for one which is not much expensive. It would be of no use if you spend money on an expensive sander and don’t use it to its full capability. Make sure to sort out your priorities before you buy a benchtop sander. There are various sanders available in the market which will confuse you. But if you know what you are looking for in a sander, then you can easily choose the best one for you.