Belt/Disk sander reviews

[woodchucker]

you would melt the polyc.

that's because they are induction motors while the hand held are universal motors. The induction can not be speed controlled by voltage.

[Bill]

Thank you for that short lesson about motors, it is worth remembering! I went and visited the Ridgid sander at Home Depot tonight, and went to Menards too, as long as I was driving by, for the stated purpose of checking sanding tube availability, as well as window shopping the pneumatic tools. I have to say that the MasterForce (Menards brand) tools appear that they would hold up better than the Ridgid brand tools to me. I'd pay more to get more. I think the Ridgid sander is intended to be a "consumable" much like Swingman described the 3-6 gallon air compressors. I think the same applied to all of the "plastic" handheld power tools at Menards, I suppose--that's just about ALL they have. I don't argue that they don't provide good value. I saw someone write, "they won't remind you of your grandfather's tools...". Somewhere tucked in the back of my memory is a Porter Cable belt sander from 1978, or so--that someone was Proud to show me. They didn't have anything bigger than a 3" plastic handheld belt sander at Menards. The salesman said that's what the "average joe" wants. Lew has told me before, I was shopping in the wrong places. I'll give my hand tools a spin.

Cheers, Bill

[dadiOH]

I have no idea what "BS marks" might be but it sands OK to remove/shape material. All plastics do but you get a buildup of fused particles along the trailing edge. Easy to knock off with a file or knife.

[John McCoy]

Bill wrote in news: [e-mail]:

FWIW, a 4" handheld belt sander can be tedious to use. For most applications a 3x21 is sufficient and easier to handle.

John

[John McCoy]

"Mike Marlow" wrote in news:m6k1rc$rvb$ [e-mail]:

As I mentioned elsewhere, most Ridgid tools are made by Ryobi.

I leave it to everyone's individual opinions as to the quality of Ryobi tools, and whether Ridgid branded tools are better or worse than Ryobi branded ones.

(but I agree that Menard's house brand is unlikely to be of any better quality).

John

[John McCoy]

Bill wrote in news:m6i5lb01mq7 @news7.newsguy.com:

Not so long ago, if you wanted a plane your choice was either rehabilitating an old Stanley, or buying from Lie-Nielsen. Now there are more choices in quality planes, but out of habit I always recommend L-N. (plus many of the Veritas planes are just plain ugly, whereas the L-N all look like a tool should look).

John

[Bill]

Sorry, "BS marks" = marks left by a band saw. Thank you for your answer!

Bill

[woodchucker]

Most hand held tools today are plastic Bill. In many ways it's superior. It's lighter, it's self insulating (electrically). It can drop without cracking the case to some degree. Even the Festools are plastic Bill. I think you are being too critical. With your experience I think most will work for you.

[woodchucker]

I have both. They are both good quality.

The veritas have some nice features. I like the set screws that center the blade so you don't chip the blade on the corner. Wish the lie nielsen would have that. I don't have any bronze castings, but a friend does and he claims that they color his wood as he works with them and curses them out. my bronze is in the handle on an 60 1/2 block plane, I have the pre-nicker model.

I love my LN dovetail saw. Would like some of their bedrocks... But I like my Veritas low angle #5. I like having multiple blades.

[Bill]

You are probably right, in that most would work for me. But think about the edge sander being otherwise unsupported except by the main spindle, rather like a flag. The vibrations will start increasing from there, starting as soon as you use it. That's what I meant earlier by a "built-in defect". I think the unit is okay as a consumable. It's lightness is a convenience. The unit I am comparing to is the Jet JBOS-5 which is closer to $400 on sale. So adding $100 worth of sanding abrasives, the Ridgid is $300 and the Jet is $500.

Best, Bill

[Bill]

I fully-believe that's what the manufacturer's were thinking. I studied the parts diagrams, and picked up the pieces of plastic with my own hands. There are too many of them.

Bill

[Bill]

I understand. I probably collected at least 5 or 6 planes (including a block plane and a low angle block plane), all for less than the $115 of that one block plane. I do enjoy admiring the Lie_Nielsen tools though, and others. Woodworking show will be coming around next month.

Bill

[John McCoy]

woodchucker wrote in news:UuSdnf8gY4z3RRDJnZ2dnUU7- [e-mail]:

Agreed, by all accounts they're fine planes and the other Lee Valley stuff I have is good. Just some of them don't have the classic look that a plane should have.

Can't say I've observed that. Years ago L-N occasionally did planes in "German Silver", a nickle-based bronze. I have a #2 (which I don't use) and the small block plane in it, and it's probably the ideal metal for planes, except for the cost.

John

[krw]

Not really (made by Ryobi). Both are made by the parent company, TTI, (the other name in the TTI group is "Milwaukee"). Ryobi is meant for the low-end consumer market, while Ridgid is intended for the higher end consumer and low end contractor. Milwaukee, of course, is intended for the pro-sumer or industrial markets.

AIUI, Ridge (Emerson) owns the (Ridge and Ridgid) trademarks but they're licensed to TTI, who actually manufactures most of the tools.

The tool biz is really convoluted.

[Bill]

In case anyone needs this (I see they are sold as a two-pack):

[Bill]

Just add In 2014, Tenex Capital Management New York City, NY acquired the JET, POWERMATIC AND WILTON brands from Walter Meier and changed the company name to JPW Industries where they continue to grow and outperform their competition with innovative, quality products and services.

As if you didn't know, all of this consolidation is no good for us!

[Leon]

Buy the thousand dollar one Bill. You will want it to out last this thread. :-)

[John McCoy]

[e-mail] wrote in news: [e-mail]:

I'm not sure if the Ridgid name is licensed to TTI or to Home Depot (who in turn contract it to TTI).

But my main point there was that Emerson still makes the plumbers tools (which was Ridgid's original claim to fame).

John

[G. Ross]

I have a disk sander (as well as belt sanders, and others) and I find that I seldom use it. Seems like I alternate between needing coarse grit for evening something out and fine for other uses. I HATE changing the disk, and often cannot use it again because the glue sticks to the metal instead of coming off with the sandpaper. It is much easier to change a belt. Maybe I need several disk sanders with different grits on them.

[Bill]

Sorry if it got annoying.