Motor with a 5.5 amp outpu.
6,000 hours per wee.
Accepts a half-sheet of sandpape.
Insulation on both side.
The dust bag is provided by the manufacturer.
Heavy-duty applications benefit from a powerful 5.5 amp motor that delivers high torque; an efficient dust collection system ensures cleaner operation and reduces paper clogging. Accepts a half-sheet of standard sandpaper as well as hook-and-loop sandpaper for added versatility. Operator fatigue is reduced as a result of reduced vibration. Large clamping levers make it simple to install paper, and the front grip can be adjusted.
My recent experience with 1/2 sheet sanders provided me with the opportunity to conduct an in-person evaluation. I liked the Porter-Cable for its ruggedness, the Milwaukee for its economy, and the Bosch for its feel, but this new Makita is in a league of its own. It was purchased by me.
It was a little heavy at first, but after I got used to it and let it do its job, it did an excellent job of cleaning. This 1/2 sheet sander oscillates significantly more than the others, allowing it to complete the job in half the time of the others. It leaves a perfectly flat surface and is extremely gentle on veneer.
It is similar to a random orbital sander in that it has vacuum pick-up holes in the paper/sander. If you connect it to a vacuum, the dust is kept to a minimum ( This may require a little tape around the outlet to fit your hose). The sander does not come with a punch plate attached to it. In order to avoid having to order a plate from a Makita representative or make one yourself, you must first locate the special pre-punched paper.
January 2009 was the date of addition.
The bad news is that I recently ran out of the Makita sandpaper that had been pre-punched, and my local shop no longer carries it. Having the pre-punched hook & loop paper on hand when working on a small project is extremely convenient for making quick and easy grit changes when working on a small project. After some research, I discovered that the Festool 12 sheet hook and loop is interchangeable with the Makita. This is great news. It is true that the Festool paper is not inexpensive, but it works perfectly on my Makita sander and provides excellent dust control.
It has been in intermittent use for eight years and is still in excellent condition.
