Customer Reviews:
 Good all rounder most used tool August 9, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Hi all I really MUST say do not go by the first bad review, I have been using Black and Decker Powerfiles in all their different updates and styles for the last 20 years and it is the most used tool in my tool box. I agree with everything "Hud" (the second reviewer) said and more. what I will never understand is why the Powerfile is not more popular, I have even used it to "sculpt" shapes to suit tricky areas. If you use the variable speed and the different grits to suit the job then you should get many useful years out of this very useful tool.
Oh and just for information my first (Black coloured) powerfile lasted 10 years before I burnt out the motor with heavy use. My second (green coloured) one is still going, it is about 10 years old, this one I treasure as it has variable size heads so it is used sparingly. My third one (orange coloured) took over the heavy use and has been flogged for the last six years, I managed to damage the wheel on the end from trying to get it to do too much, oop's silly me. It is the one being replaced by this new designed (orange coloured) one which is easier to use as the location of the motor has been re-designed it is better balanced.
GREAT TOOL, BUY IT, USE IT, LOVE IT.
Hud. August 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am so glad that I wasn't put off buying this tool,
I think you have to be realistic what you are using the tool for as with all power tools you have to let the tool do the work,
I wouldn't reccommend this tool if you were stripping the face off of a barn door but it easily got the wood treatment off of my window frames
I found it easy and versatile to use, the only quibble I found was it became a little bit heavy after prolonged use, and think it would have benifitted from an adapter to allow a vaccuum to be fitted,
I didn't find any problem at all with the (foam ?) pad.
What I would suggest is don't buy any course belts unless you are sure you need them, the medium ones are very effective, also be realistic in belt life, if it's worn out use a new one.
( NO I DON'T WORK FOR B&D )
But happy sanding.
Hud.
 Seriously bad, don't buy June 12, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I purchased one of these to sand down my stairs, particularly to handle the banister uprights. It's certainly powerful enough - if you're not careful it takes massive chunks out.
The main issue is a serious design flaw in that the sandpaper "belts" that you have to use are kept flat by a piece of foam stuck to the files bar. So as soon as you sand for more than a few seconds and/or put any pressure on this area the foam heats and falls off. You're then left with an uneven bar and the wheel at the end. I had 2 in the space of 1 day and both had same problem - on one the bar even bent as it couldn't handle the friction heat.
Hire a mikita or do it by hand.
|
