This sander works very well . I have used the delta sander for many years and they finally stopped making the model I used so after looking at reviews I decided to purchase this Makita and I have not been disappointed. Long cord makes it very convenient for large work table .

Bought this to replace my DeWalt belt sander which broke (drum disintegrated) during light use and then parts were no longer available.I think this Makita sander will be a work horse like my other Makita power tools.

I've restored and made furniture and cabinets for 40+ years and have owned many different sanders, of all types. Most of my hours were spent on a Rockwell - Porter Cable 503 belt sander (it's the worm-drive sander that looks looks a locomotive). Compact and powerful, the 503 is my gold standard for belt sanders, but is just too heavy and too powerful for this old man. After it snagged on my t-shirt and crawled up my chest, nearly strangling me to death - I knew it was time for a change. (By the way, this is why old men grow beards - without one, I would be chinless today.)My first mistake after that incident was to go to the "Lo"cal big box home improvement store and get a different Porter Cable (352VS) sander. As soon as I unboxed the thing, I knew it was junk. The front roller was way too stiff and the fit and finish on the thing were horrible. When I ran the thing, it screamed so loud, I was afraid it would destroy what is left of my hearing. It was returned within an hour, and I suggested that they send it back to the vendor as defective, or at least awful.Needing to keep working, but fearing for my life, I checked Amazon and saw that the Makita 9903 had mostly positive reviews. I've used only Makita cordless tools ever since they went to LXT, but only have one Makita corded tool - an angle grinder that just refuses to die. I considered the 9920 because it takes the same size belts that I'm used to, and I've got quite a few of them in stock - but since it has the same size motor as the 9903, I was afraid it would bog down when I get rushed and do the thing you're never supposed to do (I burned up my first 503 that way, and still feel the guilt to this day).>>>Sorry for the long pre-ramble, the "actual" tool review begins now.I returned the first one Amazon shipped, as it arrived damaged. It was sent via USPS in the original (thin cardboard) box from Makita and nothing else. The box is weakest on the bottom, which happens to be the most vulnerable part of belt sanders. Since the sole plate was bent, it was useless as far as I was concerned. What a shame they didn't spring for a second box to ship it in, as I'm pretty sure they have some boxes lying around. The second one was kid-glove delivered by Amazon's own delivery service, and it arrived in pristine condition.Having read some reviewers' comments that the thing is heavy, I was shocked at how light it is. It has a wonderfully long cord, which is truly a plus for belt sanders because you really don't want that snag between the factory cord and extension cord while sanding. It spoils the Zen, and ruins the bliss. When I first fired it up, I was surprised at how quiet was, and how smoothly it ran. Being used to heavy sander with tremendous torque, I was disappointed with how little "pull" it had. I thought I had chosen a light duty model for sure. But when I checked the oak I'd sanded and emptied the dust bag - I was amazed. This tool, somehow, removes a lot of material with very little noise, rattle, and effort. Kudos to those who designed it!In an effort to catch up with my work backlog, I've used this sander daily for the last two weeks. It is a definitely a keeper, silky smooth, quiet, and effective in a way that I do not understand, but am happy for.While it is a plus that there are two metric-tapped holes on one side of the tool, I wish they offered a graphite sole plate. Porter Cable has them for the 503, and believe me, once you use a belt sander with a graphite sole plate - it is very hard to go back to a stiff steel one.

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.

This sander is a beast. It's heavy and solid! I've been using it to refinish old furniture and smooth out some door/passage jambs in my place after stripping paint off them. The belts track well with minor adjustments to the knob. Dust catcher is mediocre. My biggest gripe is I'm having a difficult time finding an attachment that will let me connect my shop vac hose to the dust collection port. I have all kinds of adapters and ordered a new set but nothing works well. They should make a good right angle elbow one. Why doesnt Makita make this easier?? This has been an issue with a few of my makita tools. But overall this tool gets the job done and I'd recommend it to a friend.

Though the sander was robust and effective at first, it overheated the supporting pads that sit beneath the sand paper belt. These became damaged and the sander failed to sand evenly from then on. All along, I was sanding pine boards on a horizontal surface. If it had not this defect, it would be a fine purchase. Perhaps my sander was a one-off?

Ready to use out of the box. Was able to hook up the dust port to shopvac quite easily. Belts stay running true even when using the sander on edge. Overall great product.

El producto llegó puntualmente, perfectamente embalado y en buen estado de funcionamiento.Es una máquina que se ve potente, fiable y segura

The Makita 9903 is a pleasure to use. Smooth, light and powerful it reaches very close to the wall. The sander is easy to set-up and once the paper is adjusted with a spring knob it keeps it perfectly aligned. The cloth bag works very well and is out of the way. Cleaning the bag is relatively easy but I prefer to close the garbage bag around my arm to avoid spreading the dust.

This sander has unbelievable power and performance ….. but. It is so heavy. I saw some reviews saying same but ignored them because I don’t mind heavy tools. Mistake. This is a sander for horizontal flat surfaces on a bench. I sanded a horizontal screen fence and it’s far too heavy. To use upside down in a clamp or for sanding long boards like a bar for example it’s amazing. 6 stars but versatile and ergonomic it is not