March 25, 2008

Black & Decker DS321 Dragster Belt Sander

It looks like this has been out for a while, but it looks pretty interesting so we thought we'd mention it anyway. The Black & Decker Dragster is a 6 amp belt sander with a unique design, which makes the nose of the tool more versatile than your average belt sander.

Because the front wheel of the sander is so small, the Dragster is capable of sanding much closer (3x closer, according to B&D) to the edge of an adjoining surface. Also, the guard that covers the nose of the sander flips up, making it easier to sand in and around things.

The Dragster also has a three position handle and a dust collection bag. The sander uses standard 3 x 21 sanding belts.

We looked around a bit and found generally mixed reviews about this tool. The most common complaint is that the belt doesn't stay aligned very well. We also read some that said the tool isn't up for heavy duty work, or even medium duty, and that parts started to malfunction pretty early on. But on the other hand, there were also people who have had the Dragster for a while and liked it.

If you decide to get one, it's going to cost about $60. Our advice is that if you're already putting in that kind of money, you should seriously investigate Porter-Cable's little 371K Compact Belt Sander. It's twice the price, but a very nice sander.

At Amazon