For doing serious mat'l removal like levelling a floor I'd look at something with 10+ amps. If you think you might want to use the sander on some "finer" work in the future, you might also want to consider a VS(variable speed) sander. I bought myself a Makita 7.8amp sander a few years ago to level some heaves in my floor before installing hardwood but I should have got the 11amp model as the 7.8 , though reliable, was underpowered for such work imo. I would think any of the brand names should track well, but it seems like Bosch, Porter Cable and Makita get the better overall reviews from what I've seen. I believe Bosch might also make belt sanders for Sears so you might check some of the Craftsmans out too. Anyway, look for something with extra power....ARR...ARR...ARR!!

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