I have one (bought secondhand from a car boot sale), and have not used it a great deal yet. However from first impressions, I found it much better balanced than my little Kress belt sander. It's also considerably lighter and easier to handle than the big Elu (MHB90?/DW650 type). Out of those three, it'll probably become the one I reach for first for most jobs.
One other comment I can make is that the dust extraction, on mine at least, leaves a lot to be desired. If I start using it heavily I'll probably try to come up with a vacuum cleaner attachment for the dust outlet.
The design has been around for a long while, and shows no signs of disappearing: either the Elu model you show or a very similar one lived on as the DeWalt DW430/431, I believe, until fairly recently. DeWalt eventually replaced the DW430/431 with the DW432/433, which, by their own specs, are less efficient (new models have 800W input for 360W out; older ones were 650W in for 360W out) and heavier in weight (5.6kg vs. 2.8kg or 2.9kg).
Quite soon after DW discontinued them, the old Elu designs seem to have reappeared as the
Draper Expert BS75A - PDF link and a Wickes `Professional' model. If you compare the spare parts diagrams for the Draper and the Elu, you'll find more than a passing resemblance, although I have no idea if these clones are being manufactured to the same quality standards as Elu themselves did.
Hope that's of interest/use.
Cheers
Neil
