Craftsman Professional  26819 11 amp Corded 4'' x 24'' Belt Sander

This is my third belt sander - I wore out the other two mid-grade Craftsman units over about 15 years each. I have used the 26819 model only once, and it was with a very aggressive 50-grit belt. The electronically controlled motor start is a great feature. Even on the lowest belt speed, the unit drove the belt steadily. This 14-pound, industrial-grade, belt-sander can generate a strong pull with a coarse belt, so it can remove a lot of material, and the operator has to be up to the task to control it. The housing shape lends itself to mounting the unit upside down in your custom bracket to create a small sanding table. This is not a beginner's belt sander - it is an industrial, heavy-duty, lifetime belt-sander. It suits me just fine!

Great sander Powerful, quiet, good sawdust collection and even the slow start is OK. However out of the box sander builds up excessive static and constantly shocks the wood worker. This gradually improves as wood resin builds up on under side. A strip of electrical tape across the housing also helped. The lock on button is way to small for a mans hand. The cord has a clip on spot designed to clip onto the cord to keep the cord wound up and in place. This simply does not work as the clip is way to small for the cord. I sometimes wonder if the folks that design tools these days ever actually use them. Never the less on an overall basis I am pleased with this product. I have previously worn out a craftsman 3X21 and a Makita 3X21. I find the 4X24 to be more stable for surface sanding.

This is an awesome sander, it is heavy which is both a blessing and annoying at the same time. The weight is nice so you so not have trying to keep your downward pressure even, just let that thing go all you have to do is steer and prevent it from running off to Mexico. However, the weight is only good until you have to sand vertically or some else odd, you can adjust the speed which helps it vertical but it is still heavy. However, typically you would use it on flat surfaces so it is not that much of a problem. The dust collection is okay, it definitely will not win any awards and I would still wear a mask why using it. The one and only problem I have with it is that during the first 6 months of usage a boken large piece of metal started poking out.. evenually I was able to just pull it out then about a month later the other side of the broken piece came out. I have no idea what it was for but the belt sander is functions perfectly fine. Normally this annoyment but the sander does do a wonderful job and the abrasives are generic in size and available nearly any where that sells belt sander abrasives. Does not have a storage case nor is one available for it.

The sander worked great, belt tracking, dust collection, one minor problem, it would shock you every-time your hand touched the metal housing of the sander. called tech support, they said they had no record of any problems, problably static electricity. They would not even consider any other possibilities. Took it back and got my money back. 
Too bad, I really liked this sander, dust collection was awesome.

I bought this sander because I needed a powerful, durable, long lasting sander. I was willing to pay the extra to get that. Within 30 minutes of use, the bag began collecting only half the dust. Emptying bag showed no obstruction. I never allowed the bag to be more than ¾ full, but it didn?t affect the dust shooting out the front. Once I got belt adjusted it stayed put; however, initially sparks fly out the front if the belt travels fractionally inward, a little unnerving until I realized the cause. The main issue is the belt is clearly wearing on the left (inner) side with applying medium pressure, not what I expected at for the price.

Great sander! I highly recommend this for stripping.

This is an excellent sander. Good power, belt stays straight after adjustment,you can use it as a table sander and it's very stable.  I like the variable speed.  A well built sander 

I went to Sears to buy a cheaper sander and saw this one when I got there. I decided to spend the extra 100 bucks, and after using it I am certain I made the best choice. Tracking was easily adjusted and once set never moved. It made short work on the cabinet I am building and sanded smooth and even. I highly recommend this sander. You will not be disappointed.

This is a very good belt sander and has a nice long cord. I have used it for planing applications as well as heavy-duty sanding applications. This unit has a lot of power and was purchased to replace my 1960's vintage Craftsman belt sander. I would like to see a storage case supplied with this unit though. Overall, the price is not bad and I expect it to last a long time.

This is an excellent tool. The sander has all the power you need. You can flip it upside down and easily use it as a bench sander. After the initial adjustment, the belt stayed right where it was supposed to at all speeds and when it's under load. The variable speed is nice feature, as is the vacuum attachment. By far the best bang for your buck when compared to the expensive brands.