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Combining Festool and a Makita 9903 Belt Sander -Review by Dan Clark.
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Festool tools are well known for their quality and ability to work as a system. However, most Festool owners also have non-Festool tools. But how do you get the most out of these tools? Can you integrate your non-Festool tools with your Festool components, like their excellent Dust Collectors and Multi Functional Tables (MFT)?
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A key question to ask is, “What features should a tool have to work best with the Festool system?” A major feature is good built-in or add-on dust collection. It should have a dust collection port that can be adapted to Festool DCs. It should be adaptable – the ability to serve in multiple roles through either in or optional features.
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Another factor, especially if purchasing a new tool, is quality. Get the best you can afford. Once you get used to Festool quality, you’ll probably become dissatisfied with mediocre tools. More importantly, when you start using it with your Festool tools and accessories, it should integrate well. Poor quality is a weak link; it will degrade your overall system.
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In this review, we’ll cover the Makita 9903 Belt Sander and show how it integrates with the Festool system. Why the Makita 9903? It meets several criteria as a Festool integration candidate. It’s an excellent, high quality, belt sander with great tracking and has done well in reviews. It looks like it has a nice dust port and some reviewers say that it can be clamped to a work table as a fixed sander.
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The 9903 is a 3 X 21 sander (it uses a 3” by 21” belt). At 9.5 lbs, it is fairly light. Combine the weight and belt size, and it’s a nice-sized, all around sander. The belt comes very close to the nose, allowing sanding close to corners. Other pluses include excellent tracking via the black tracking adjustment knob on the left front of the sander and an extra-long 16 foot long cord.
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Belt removal is very easy using the gray belt removal lever on the right side, just below the orange speed adjustment wheel. Flipping out the lever, removing and reinstalling a belt, and changing the belt, and closing the lever takes is very quick. Because belt tracking adjustment is easy and quick, you can swap out belts and be back working in under a minute.
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Also notice the flat right side of the sander and how close the belt comes to the side. This allows sanding flush with a wall or other vertical edge. It turns out that the flat, right side of the sander is exactly square with the belt. While not obvious at first glance, this flat side provides a VERY nice benefit which we’ll cover later
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The 9903’s handle is comfortable for long sanding sessions. Combined with the stable front grip, control is very good in multiple positions – sanding a floor, flattening a wide panel, or flattening a vertical wall stud.
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The orange speed control is readable and accessible while still gripping the sander. And, like Festool belt sanders available in Europe, Makita offers a sanding frame (aka “sanding shoe” in Makita-speak) for better control and protection with fine sanding: Makita's Sanding Shoe.
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The Japanese designers of this Makita sander have a similar design philosophy as German counterparts at Festool – keep it simple, flexible and functional. Nicely placed, usable controls, compactness, and lack of non-functional gimmicks make this a good addition to anyone’s tool inventory. Most importantly, the 9903 looks like a good candidate to use with your Festool system.
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Now let’s focus on how the Makita 9903 integrated with your Festool tools and accessories…
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