If you’re tackling sanding projects that require rugged, coarse-grit sandpaper, you need a belt sander. When mounted to a fixed stand, belt sanders also excel when it comes to smaller tasks like edge sanding or knife sharpening. Belt sanders aren’t a practical option for finish work, but if you need to remove a lot of wood quickly, and you don’t mind using some elbow grease, they’re a great investment. Alex RennieBest Belt SandersBest Overall:Best Cordless:Best Value Corded:Best Value Cordless:Best Detail Sander:How We SelectedFor this update, I tested each belt sander on the list to see how it performed in realistic woodworking situations. I evaluated dust collection by noting the amount of sawdust left over after each two-minute period, both on the wood surface and inside the dust collection pouch.