Customer Reviews
Makita 9903 Belt Sander 
2007-09-29
I looked at many reviews and comments about belt sanders. Important factors to me were size (3x21 belt), dust control, noise, belt tracking and price. I picked one of the highest priced in the Makita. My first job was to sand down 8 cedar 6 x 6 deck posts. They were painted and my first thought was to cover then with either vinyl or 1/2 cedar. Both ways would cost $ 500. So my other option was paint or sand and clear coat the cedar. Well to make a long story short I sanded and clear coated all in just a few days. I'm very happy with the job the Makita did, even more inportant my wife loves the finish product. I used it for hours on end and had no problems. Dust control was very good. I collected 2 buckets of cendar dust. As my wife always says "Your never sorry when you buy the best".
Big Bucks but easy to get over 2007-08-16
This sander is top shelf stuff. It balances in your hand and hums along while maintaining the belt tracking setting without walking. You can tell there is quality built in if you have ever used a cheaper homeowner's tool.
I had a Craftsman for 35 years that served me well but went out in a blaze of glory and I needed to replace it pronto. I dug deep and got the Makita and I will be happy to write another fine review in about 35 years or so.
It is sometimes difficult to down a product when you spend a lot of $$$ on it but this one is really worth the extra freight.
fast shipment and a great product! 2007-02-09
i was expecting shipping to be much longer; so i was bowled over at the tracking that said my makita 9903 beltsander was on it's way.
i just spent a great afternoon putting my new best tool through it's paces. i'm a woman...one accustomed to hard work...and even i was a little wary of the weight of this superb worker. after a few hours of tryouts, i barely noticed the weight...it's well balanced and that accounts for the ease of use. at that, i never once let it go full weight on the dug fur i was trimming down, and i didn't get tired. the belt trimmed and beveled beautifully. i don't have a table saw and don't want one. i rip cut my lumber with a steady hand on my circular saw. however i needed some wood center braces for under my new shed set on concrete. hard to get them as snug as this virgo wanted without a powerful belt sander to take off no more than about 1/32 off the top. makita did just that uniformly and in a snap. darned nice dust collector. that puppy was jammed. really does it's job.
i did a ton of research before buying at the best price anywhere (and fast free shipping as well!) i wanted to have one that can be used in a vice. when i pulled this one out of the box i realized i will have to wait to make a wood frame myself for it; my vice, big as it isn't wide enough. also, i have to puzzle over just where to afix the vice sides...it will lay flat upside down, but gripping the sides may take some thinking.
gouges are very possible with this puppy going full throttle, but just take an afternoon and some wood scraps and get used to the feel of this totally great little worker and you should have no trouble. when i gouged a bit i just did a descending light circular setdown and it cleared right up. i start on a table tomorrow and am eager to use this hard worker. oh, and i noticed the roller at the front is good-sized and i plan to use it to finish some large curves for a big trelis i plan to build next month. this is gonna be one very used piece of equipment, for sure!
A Dependable Product 2007-01-09
I've burned my way through several beltsanders, and actually this is the second Makita belt sander I've owned. This sander is a workhorse...you can use it all day, and it's still ready for more! It is one of the quietest sanders I've owned (although none of them can truely be called "qiuet"). But, my favorite feature of this sander is its ability to lay flat when it's turned upside down (this way it can be used as a temporary stationary sander).
makita at it's best 2006-11-10
well constucted, easy to operate, gets the job done with little effort and did i mention it's a great buy....
Great belt Sander 2008-05-31
After owning a Black and Decker sander, the MAKITA sander was a welcomed relief. It sands quickly and evenly throughout any project. I can also clamp it in a vise for stationary work and the extra long cord is handy for larger projects. The belt STAYS tracked once its set. This a a great sander!
A nice one 2008-04-06
I gave up on belt sanders years ago after several cheap ones gave me trouble to the point of tossing them. I've been using a power planer since, until my wife suprised me with a new fridge that was 1/4" too tall. The planer has a hard time getting in tight. I got the 9903 and took it out to the shop to fine tune and learn it's personality. I didn't need to; plugged it in, hit the trigger and it just tracked straight with the belt that was on it. It's a little heavy, but not so bad that I can't use it overhead. I'm used to a lot of dust with these things, but very little isn't trapped by the bag. A good buy out of the box.
Great sander 2008-03-24
I bought this sander about a month ago and am very pleased with it. I bought the Dewalt about three years ago and am throwing it away to use the Makita. Belt tracks smoothly, dust collection is best I've ever seen on a belt sander. It's well balanced, lighter than the DeWalt and a great value for the price. The DeWalt didn't pick up dust well, belt wouldn't track right and dust collection bag kept falling off. I'm staying with Makita from now on.
Power and reliable tracking 2008-02-23
I bought the 21" Makita 9903 Belt Sander after my old Skil 18" sander's on/off switch stopped working for the umpteenth time, and my other el-cheapo 21" belt sander was stolen (thank goodness for small favors).
I've used the sander now for a month to sand down 2x6 and 4x4 rough sawn surfaces on redwood and doug fir I've used for finishing a deck (railings, fascia, stair trim). Absolutely perfect tracking all the time, no matter how hot the belt gets, no matter how much pressure I apply, no matter how long I've used the belt. I start with a 50 or 80 grit, then shift directly to a 120 grit belt for final finishing. I've sanded approx. 20 4x6 16 ft boards, both sides and edges, plus another 10 4x4 8ft posts... all 4 sides, among other things this far.
Power galore and perfect belt tracking, simple adjustment to bring belt to edge if needed (and it stays there)... what more could a belt sander need to do? Changing belts is just as simple as with any other belt sander I've used over the years --- pull back on the clamping lever (it says open), slip belt on, close clamping lever... and let 'er rip.
I also very much like the flat 'top' which allows you to turn the sander over and sit it on it's 'top' to use the belt surface as the stationary member while holding the work piece by hand to shape edges, corners, etc. with much greater precision of cut (hand held piece, as opposed to holding the sander).
I also own a Makita sawzall (or whatever they're called) and have owned and used it extensively for several years (purchased in 1992? or '95? or somewhere in that time-frame). It's been extremely reliable, never any problem in the most demanding work I have thrown at it... so I decided to buy the Makita belt sander as well for the hoped for reliability and trouble-free use. Normally I opt for Dewalt power tools... still own and use my Dewalt Professional Radial Arm Saw that I bought in '75... never had a problem with it and I have used it extensively and in heavy work-loads over the years.... it's still as stong, steady, & precise as it was in '75. But, in the belt sander catagory, I didn't like the Dewalt design as much as the Makita (turning the sander over and using it as a stationary sander while holding the work piece by hand is a great feature).
I've used other 21" sanders borrowed from contractors from time to time, and though power was alway's great, the tracking deteriorated greatly with with the belt's use or the temperature/pressure I applied.
I couldn't be more satisfied.
Makita 9903 belt sander 2008-02-08
I was going to purchase a Bosch that was similar to the Makita. The reviews were less than favorable for the Bosch. I have used the Makita in my handyman business. The long cord that comes standard is so convenient, it is about 20' long. I don't have to look for an extension cord every time I want to use it. It has plenty of power, the dust collection bag is good, it will hook up to my collection system I have in my shop with no modifications. Belt changing is a breeze. This is one fine tool that is ready to work from the moment you remove it from its packaging. I'm sure happy with it and would buy another one if the need arises.
