Makita 9032 file sander belts

[CharlieRoundhousewood]

Hi, just wondering what belts others maybe using if they use a makita file sander. I've been using the makita belts for the past 5 years, and they've been great, although they are fairly pricey. However the last few batches I've bought  just seem to snap within the first few minutes of use. I'm guessing that they're using a different glue to hold them together. Anyone experiencing this? I've tried them on a mates sander, as i thought maybe something wasn't right with my sander, but same thing happens. Any insights appreciated. 

Cheers

[harvey b davison]

I've found this on many different belts, I just recon most of the belts must be generic and they're using a different glue, and or cheaper materials.

[gobbypunk]

Hi I have one and did find the same thing a few yrs ago so a fellow chainsaw carver told me to just get belt sander belts and cut them down and I have now done that for yrs and yrs and not had hardly any problems with belts snapping , thin belts from screwfix are total rubbish

[CharlieRoundhousewood]

okay ill try that, cheers.

[CharlieRoundhousewood]

Thanks for the tip, working great and loads cheaper. started cutting them with stanley knife-too slow, band saw works a treat. 

[gobbypunk]

Cool as glad it worked

[Andy U]

I have also used a Marita 9032 for about 3 years but I have also found that the belts do not seem to last as long as they used to. I have also found that the little cushion pad under the arm becomes dislodged.
It is a good sander though. However, the need to finish standing carvings away from a power source led me to purchase a Ryobi One+ R18PF-0 cordless power file. Which uses 13 x 457mm belts. I use the 5Ah battery . Although the belt speed is much slower than the Makita I have found the Ryobi to be an excellent tool. I purchased some cheap non Ryobi belts for it ages ago and they seem to last much better than the Makita ones. I now find myself using the Ryobi much more. The big battery lasts ages.

[gobbypunk]

Hi the makita one comes with a 9mm belt but you can buy a 13mm end for it not cheap  but I would be lost without my filling sander