Synopsis: It may be noisy. It may be dusty. But in a pro shop like Chris Becksvoort’s, where time is money, it’s hard to beat the belt sander for producing great results quickly. Whether you’re looking to flatten a panel, get rid of tearout, sand the surface and edges of curved parts, fit a drawer to a case opening, or shape a table leg, don’t be afraid of the belt sander. It will save you time and effort.

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The plane vs. belt sander debate is likely to continue indefinitely. What it boils down to is process vs. product. Let’s face it: Neither the wood, nor 99.9% of customers care which you use, as long as the results are the same. Personally, I much prefer to use a handplane, but I have a business to run, and it’s all about efficiency, not personal gratification. In my experience,…