5.0 out of 5 stars Love this sander.

N. · May 22, 2025

I tried a few different belt sanders and I found this one. For the price you can’t beat it, works perfectly. I returned a Milwaukee M18 because it was so heavy and bulky. I’m all about cordless, but this is worth the sacrifice! It’s light, the pressure sensor is a great feature, and the belt stays on just where you need it to. dusk collection works well.

5.0 out of 5 stars Value for the money

M.K.S. · March 21, 2025

Skil belt sander worked pretty good for what I needed it for. Used it to sand a solid hickory bar top and matching floating shelves. Started with 40 grit, then 60, then 80, then 120. Each time I used it I got the same results. The 120 grit belt worked the best. With the 120 it actually sanded more off in less time than any of the 40, 60, or 80. The attached filter captured a lot of dust, but its a belt sander so there was also a lot that didn't make it into filter cannister. It was definitely worth the price I paid for it.

4.0 out of 5 stars dust collector doesn't work

T. · June 22, 2025

good performance. powerful and has burned out after heavy use. Only complaint is the dust collector has completely stopped working after a few months.

5.0 out of 5 stars An Unexpected Source of Joy

C. · January 1, 2025

I have a lot of vintage and antique pieces that need work, but the thought of struggling to strip away old layers of dirt/varnish/paint just stopped me in my tracks. After staring at a cedar chest I purchased 20+ years ago, I figured it was finally time. I did a little bit of research and settled on a weapon, the Skil Belt Sander. I was comfortable tackling the project with a sander, because cedar isn't precious enough for me to do any real damage, and besides the sander was a joy to use.Once I removed all the copper hardware from the chest, the sander made quick work of wiping the slate clean. I felt like I was doing a giant scratch-off to reveal a prize! I hadn't expected to enjoy myself so much! The neighbors certainly were curious too, if not impressed, to see what I was working with. If I hadn't had so many folks stop to take a look and chat, this little sander might've finished the job before it started to rain.All around, it's a handy little tool that made quick work of a big project. I'm very with my purchase.

5.0 out of 5 stars Super great tool

G. · June 2, 2025

I am shocked with how well this does. I've been working on a door for 2 hours the belt hasn't slipped hasn't broken and is doing a fantastic job. It works just as good as some $200 belt Sanders I had in the past. I definitely endorse this product

5.0 out of 5 stars Good sander

N. · April 25, 2025

This a great sander. Just bought my 2nd. I burnt the 1st one up sanding a couple 10-12 hour days in a row and not really taking care of it. I didn’t expect to make it through that but it did. I like the look and feel of it. It’s robust and i like like the sanding surface

5.0 out of 5 stars I bought this used through amazon

I. · December 10, 2024

This thing is amazing. The sensitivity sensor and the universal dust port (which I ended up making my own dust port with some PVC for the perfect fit), the ergonomics, all of it feels great when using it. Does have a bit of weight to it, but I would still say it is lightweight. It will remove material pretty quickly, so the sensitivity/pressure sensor is a great bonus that works well informing you how hard you are pressing into the material.It is one speed, not adjustable, but for surfacing materials this does the job as you need it. This is not a sander that will get you that "finished" product, but it will be the sander that will get you to the dimensions or matching to the rest of your project well.

4.0 out of 5 stars Does the job; some usability quibbles

S. · June 26, 2024

Does the job well, without leaving scuff or burn marks (when operated correctly, of course!). I used a very light touch (always had a green light on the Pressure Indicator), and, it practically did the job on its own! Despite the manual claiming that the belts can be "easily" put on and off, I found it difficult to do so; there just wasn't enough slack. The sander's dust filter attachment seemed to work, though there was so little debris that I couldn't tell one way or the other (i.e., was anything vac'd or did most fall on the floor?). I wanted to attach my own vacuum cleaner to the dust port, which claimed to be a "standard 1-1/4 (inch) vacuum hose," but it wouldn't fit any of my multiple portable, stand-up, or shop vac, hoses! I made do by wrapping duct tape around the openning of a smaller vac's hose, then squeezing it into the Skil sander; a tapering dust port fitting would have been nice to fit more than just the stated size's vac hoses, "standard" or not. It's also heavier than I would have liked, and, most of the time, I was forced to use it with one hand, and found it difficult to use, even with two hands (the oddly-named "auxiliary handle" (there is no other!) is not situated well (needs to be extended a bit) and is too bulbous for me (not easy to hold). It doesn't lend itself to being used upside-down or upright, and the manual expressly warns against it, but, at one point, I was forced to do use it upside-down, and, though it was a bit of a struggle to keep it upright (I have no way to clamp/vise it down), it worked (I used my vac hose, not the filter attachment, to avoid breaking the latter). I purchased multiple grit belts from a third party, and they worked quite well. Despite my criticisms, it did the job, and it was well-priced, so, I am satisfied, and can recommend it.

Hace el trabajo más fácil

V.S. · April 14, 2025

Me gustó bastante. Para lijar mayores imperfecciones está excelente. Quizás si se caliente un poco, pero en mi caso, le doy descanso porque uso varias lijadoras. Primero uso este cepillo eléctrico para quitar las grandes imperfecciones y después dos lijadoras de grano más suave para dejar la madera perfecta. Vale mucho la pena.

Excellent Value

J. · August 11, 2021

I bought this sander halfway through a carpentry project when my eight times as costly Makita sander decided it was time for the motor to burn out. In my experience, this is not something unusual for Makita, their alleged robustness notwithstanding. This Skil had some good reviews so I ordered. At that price, what was there to lose? It arrived the next morning and was able to finish my project with almost no interruption. Operation is flawless, the belt stays in position and the transparent dust catcher makes sense. The 18 inch belt is a size down from the Makita but didn't notice any difference in use. Some posters have remarked the unit gets hot. I didn't find that to be the case at all but with power tools I am always mindful of duty cycle so never push these units to the limit. Show some mercy and let it cool down once in awhile and I think you will be just fine. Maintain some perspective. If your intention is to sand a ballroom floor or a roller-derby track, rent a drum sander or hire a guy who has one. This Skil is priced and built for the handyman, furniture maker, stairs and railings builder etc. - not the sort of industrial user who needs to grind down 2 x 4's into toothpicks all day.Surprisingly light with a nice feel to it. Mine came with a medium grit belt installed - just right for many projects. As with most power tools, be sure to use hearing and eye protection and keep your fingers clear of the business end. Bottom line: "Skil" name and quality for the handyman/homeowner/craftsman at a great price.

Parece que lijará perfecto.

E. · April 18, 2025

The media could not be loaded. Todavía no la uso, pero se siente robusta y pesada. Tuve un modelo anterior de la misma marca que me funcionó muy bien. Espero esta maquina realice iguales o mejores trabajos.

Easy to handle - good build quality

B.W.S. · December 20, 2022

I’ve had this at work for a few months. It is more compact and easier to handle than some others out there. Still sands like a demon tho. I work restoring old building fixtures like windows and doors, so medium tasks that take some finesse. The load lights are unusual and it’s easy to push into red. Not sure how it would handle heavy prolonged load. I give it four stars only because I can’t yet say how long it will last.The dust collector works but fills quickly. Better than those little fabric things many tools come with.I would recommend it … great value - good to see Skil can still make nice tools.

Thoroughly Impressed…

T.b.F. · August 18, 2022

I’ve only ever used the $500 brands of power sanders at work and so, was not sure what to expect on the lower end.This unit is a beauty.It’s got heft and just feels solid in my hands.When working, it feels just like any others I have used.The Pressure Indicator Lights have impressed me much more than expected…At first, I thought they may be a poorly thought out gimmick; they are not.At the very least, they are a reminder to people like me who tend gradually apply more and more pressure until I snap out of my monotony trance. And at Best, they can drastically increase the lifespan of your belts.The only little negative… The lights are hard to see when working in direct sunlight. Oh well.Quick & Easy to switch out belts.Works beautifully with a shop-vac attached for dust control.I personally haven't been pushing it too hard in the mid-30’s heat & I let it rest regularly.All in all, I find this to be a very capable, sturdy, nearly-professional grade unit & highly recommend it!