I buy the 21 '' Makita 9903 Belt Sander after my old Skil 18 '' sander 's on\/off switch stop work for the umpteenth time , and my other el-cheapo 21 '' belt sander be steal -lrb- thank goodness for small favor -rrb- . I have use the sander now for a month to sand down 2x6 and 4x4 rough sawn surface on redwood and doug fir I have use for finish a deck -lrb- railing , fascia , stair trim -rrb- . absolutely perfect tracking all the time , no matter how hot the belt get , no matter how much pressure I apply , no matter how long I have use the belt . I start with a 50 or 80 grit , then shift directly to a 120 grit belt for final finish . I have sand approx . 20 4x6 16 ft board , both side and edge , plus another 10 4x4 8ft post ... all 4 side , among other thing this far . power galore and perfect belt tracking , simple adjustment to bring belt to edge if need -lrb- and it stay there -rrb- ... what more could a belt sander need to do ? change belt be just as simple as with any other belt sander I have use over the year -- pull back on the clamp lever -lrb- it say open -rrb- , slip belt on , close clamp lever ... and let ` er rip . I also very much like the flat ` top ' which allow you to turn the sander over and sit it on it be ` top ' to use the belt surface as the stationary member while hold the work piece by hand to shape edge , corner , etc. with much greater precision of cut -lrb- hand hold piece , as oppose to hold the sander -rrb- . I also own a Makita sawzall -lrb- or whatever they be call -rrb- and have own and use it extensively for several year -lrb- purchase in 1992 ? or ' 95 ? or somewhere in that time-frame -rrb- . it be be extremely reliable , never any problem in the most demand work I have throw at it ... so I decide to buy the Makita belt sander as well for the hope for reliability and trouble-free use . normally I opt for Dewalt power tool ... still own and use my Dewalt Professional Radial arm see that I buy in ' 75 ... never have a problem with it and I have use it extensively and in heavy work-load over the year ... it be still as stong , steady , & precise as it be in ' 75 . but , in the belt sander catagory , I do not like the Dewalt design as much as the Makita -lrb- turn the sander over and use it as a stationary sander while hold the work piece by hand be a great feature -rrb- . I have use other 21 '' sander borrow from contractor from time to time , and though power be alway 's great , the tracking deteriorated greatly with with the belt 's use or the temperature\/pressure I apply . I could not be more satisfied .