Hitachi belt sander question Model SB75B

[lcm1947]

Can anybody tell me or even guess why Hitachi would have put a extra wide platen on thier 3x21" belt sander. All other brands and I mean all other brands have the proper size platen except for Hitachi. It's driving me crazy trying to figure it out. There has got to be a reason. Anybody. If you own one what do you think of it also?

[gwyneth]

By how much is it wide? Could it be a metric thing, with of course U.S. belts being inches not cm?

[lcm1947]

Ok never mind I found out. I happened to come across an article that said that it was designed to help when sanding flush to the right. In his opinion it didn't and the extra wide platen just made it more difficult to see what you were doing overall. So not a good idea and I didn't think so but just had to know. To answer your question gwyneth. It's about maybe an inch I'd say wider then the rollers. Kind of goofy looking too. Plus the bag on the wrong side.

[gwyneth]

I've got a Hitachi palm sander and sometimes the results of their design team make me think they came from the hopped-up world of extreme Japanese anime.

Amazing they haven't investigated air skirts, like race cars-- next they'll add spoilers.

[lcm1947]

Yeah gwyneth Hitachi tools are somewhat- well extreme looking. I guess they and Ryobi are pretty close to the same quality with maybe them charging a little more and I suppose a little better but then again Ryobi has them on certain tools in my opinion.