Belt sanders which have 9 x 533m belts are also known as file sanders and are designed to be used in tight and confined spaces. These belt sanders can help sand areas that would traditionally need to be sanded by hand, either due to the surface shape, or inaccessibility.

• The key consideration with selecting a belt sander is the belt size. This particular dimension of belt is useful for sanding of pipes & into confined spaces.

• Some orbital sanders have a variable speed function ie. allowing for a slow start on the trigger. Additionally some have more than one speed setting. Most sanders are mains operated although there are some cordless now coming to the market. Choosing your power source: The first choice is between a mains (110v or 240v) or a cordless tool. 240v tools are used with normal mains power whilst 110v tools are used on construction sites for safety reasons.
• With regards to cordless (battery powered) tools there are a variety of chemical types; Li-ion is the latest technology, prior to that it was Ni-MH and Ni-Cad was the original. The higher the Ah (Ampere hours) the longer the interval between charges; the fewer times you recharge a battery the longer it will last. Some cordless tools can also come without batteries - sometimes referred to as naked, bare units or body only. These tools are supplied without a battery or charger and more often than not without any accessories; as a result they are significantly cheaper in price.