Tool Review.. DEWALT DWP849

General Discussion
1

Recently we upgraded our sanding fleet from the Hitachi SPV18s… We started with the Milwaukees and had nothing but issues, So when they both went down the same week we ordered a few of the DEWALT DWP849 Sander Polishers.

I sanded a few boards with these guys and I have to say Im pretty impressed. They are lighter like the hitachis but feel well built. Very quiet compared to the Milwaukees. but still have a lot of power. They come with a variable speed  on the handle like the Milwaukees as well. I like the way the air flows on these machines personally better than the Milwaukees. The air shoots forward across the pad, it actuaaly helps push dust away. One of my biggest gripes with the Milwaukees is the way it shoots air from the side, if you turn the Milwaukee certain ways it shoots that exhaust into your face. One feature I do like is if the trigger is locked and they become unplugged, you have to unlock and restart the machine. Doesnt sound like much but ive seen people not thinking rest a machine on a board, plug it back in and it go flying because its still on.

Cleanliness…I took one apart and its a lot cleaner than the Milwaukees internally after a few boards. They also blow out cleaner as well. At this point I would venture to say they require less day to day maintence than the Milwaukees.

They are very well balanced and the spindles on all 4 we have are very smooth.

Overall we take pretty good care of our tools. The SPV18as Lasted us nearly 12 years never having to go in to Hitachi for service. At this point the Dewalts have sanded  a couple of hundred boards and no issues with any so far. The warranty is good, 3 years vs the Milwaukee 5 but Dewalt has a 90 satisfaction gaurantee so if you dont end up liking it you have 90 days and they will give you your money back which is kind of what sold me in the beginning

The one thing I dont like vs the Milwaukees is you cant remove the cords so you get a cord clusterfuck having so many machines. With the Milwaukees we just leave 1 cord plugged in and switch it between the machines. Ill eventually set the Dewalts up that way.

Price New they are about 50.00 less than the Milwaukees.

So if you are looking for a new Sander/Polisher I would definately recommend trying the Dewalt.

Three-Year Limited Warranty.** DEWALT will repair, without charge, any defects due to faulty materials or workmanship for three years from the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover part failure due to normal wear or tool abuse. For further detail of warranty coverage and warranty repair information, visit www.dewalt.com or call 1-800-4-DEWALT (1-800-433-9258). This warranty does not apply to accessories or damage caused where repairs have been made or attempted by others. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary in certain states or provinces.

One-Year Free Service Contract.** DEWALT will maintain the tool and replace worn parts caused by normal use, for free, any time during the first year after purchase.

2

A Google search results in links to mostly reconditioned tools. Even then, many of the links turn up with "out of stock" results. Is this a discontinued item that Dewalt no longer makes? I could not find a single retailer that listed it as new in box.

3

Take out the R, I copied the Model Number from CPO I must have copied from the reconditioned page. Taking out the R yields hundreds in stock.

Edited in Original Post

4

Thanks for the sander review. I'm a tool freak.

Still working with my Milwaukee's. had one for 20+ years. Only replaces brushes and trigger.

I do know what you mean about dust spraying in your eyes, no fun.

They are heavy. That's how I got these Popeye arms. HAHA.

Been wanting to get some lighter machines.

Do they start out fast or slowly?

Max RPM's?

Thanks.

 

5

Slow start  and rev up. they go up to 3500 I beleive off the top of my head

The Milwaukees I have are both under 6 months old and ones been in 3 times and the other 2x. triggers 4 times and trigger and controller once. We blow them out often… but they just dont make them like they used to.

6

What are the backing pads of choice you choose for sanding and polishing?

thanks

7

We use a combo of different pads. 

Some are Auto Body pads

Some are Flexpads and some are Powerpads.

All have a time and a place.

8

what about, how do they compare to the hitachi?

any particular reason why you didn't stick with them?

so far I'm loving all my hitachi tools

9

I dont have the years of experience with the Dewalts to compare vs the Hitachis…

But Hitachi is discontinuing and phasing out a lot of tools The SPV18a is one.

Replacement parts are already hard as hell to find.

I am pretty confident that the controller is dead on 2 of our hitachis.

That part alone is 126.00 and they are obviously well past warranty.

It was about 100.00 more to buy all the dewalts than to repair the Hitachis new tools, new warranties etc.

Weight and feel is near identical. The Dewalts are slightly smoother on the speed control

10

I bought a  new Milwaukee 5540 in the Mid 90's. I Think I spent more on it then than they cost now.

I've disassembled the trigger and cleaned out all the impacted dust for a full return of function.  The Cord has seen some attention too, but nothing has been replaced, and I consider it irreplaceable as the outsourcing has taken its toll on seemingly every product which once was made here with pride, and now is made over there for maximum profit, as cheaply as they can get away with, and never shy to test that limit.

 

I am sick of wobbly powerpads out of the box too

 

11

You might think that PowerPad would test them before packaging right?

I hear ya.

I've bought a couple wobblers.

Hate that!

12

The reliability of variable speed sanders is always bad.  The reason is the speed controller design.  All of them choke the current flow to the motor to change the speed, and those tiny controller modules just can't dissipate the heat due to their size.  These modules get pricey especially  when they're combined with the trigger switch; about $80+.   Every shop I know of has a boneyard of sanders mostly from cannibalizing switches and speed modules.  I sometimes fix them, but just the part costs for a hammered Milwaukee runs about the same as a factory reconditioned one.  And, they're no fun to work on being filled with dried compound, resin dust, and polishing pad fuzz.  Unfortunately this situation is the same for all variable speed sanders regardless of brand.   The most reliable setup is to use a fixed speed sander and a variac RPM controller which due to it's size and mass can dissipate the heat.  Those fixed speed old Milwaukees with the aluminum bodies last forever. 

 

13

Extremely unhappy with my Dewalt. I’ve had it a couple of years, but only used it a handful of times. Used it today, and heard a pop while polishing a board. Tool stopped working. Took it apart, and a copper strip on the commutator had broken off and taken out the brushes. Tool is now worthless with the broken commutator.

14

my fixed speed 1750 or 2800 dewalts have the exact same housing and cast as my very old,super light, tricked out repair grinder which happens to be a black and decker.

Now b/d makes a mean coffee maker and food processor that absolutely shreds.

Picked up a nice mini mag milwaukee grinder that is slowly becoming a favorite.  My old ,heavy Milwaukee’s are still going, just need triggers and brushes once in a while.

The Makita variable is my smoothie for finishing with flex pads.  Power Pads only with heavy grits which I block out after using.  Wobble,Wobble,Wobble… Happy Thanksgiving Turkey.