Belt/Disk sander reviews

[Bill]

Thinking a stationary belt/disk sander might be just the thing for smoothing push sticks cut out of yellow pine with my band saw, I started reading reviews at HF on the 3.8 Amp one they have on sale for $59.99. I know this is a "mistake" (maybe, maybe not).

I kept reading reviews, of all related units, 1/3 HP, 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP...,

1.5HP (and even 2-3HP for people making knives, evidently they appreciate the *consistency* offered by greater power).

The only group that really seemed happy, leaving out the knife makers, were those that had the 1.5HP (say Jet, at $1400, with a closed stand). I guess this is what is known as the "slippery slope".

I could probably make due with my Nicholson rasp and sandpaper due to my "low volume". As Lew would say, my increased knowledge turned me into a "window shopper" for the moment. I just thought I would see how happy people here are with what they are using (particularly if it's still available in the market place).

Bill

[Bill]

OOPs, I just double-checked, that is 3.5 Amps, rated at 3/4HP (ha ha ha!)

[russellseaton1]

Not sure its a good recommendation or not. I have a Makita belt sander. 4 x24 inch I think. The big handheld belt sander. I have a wood contraption I can turn it over and use it as a stationary sander. Small stationary sa nder compared to the dedicated models. Kind of a dual purpose machine with the little homemade stand.

[dadiOH]

I have a Rikon. It is alright. I use the disk a lot, belt rarely. If I had it to do over, I would probably go for a 12" disk (only) sander and skip the belt.

[John McCoy]

"dadiOH" wrote in news:m6fgms$3r3$ [e-mail]:

I'd agree with dadiOH. I have a 4x24 stationary belt+disk sander (ancient Delta model) which very very rarely gets used. Generally only if I need to adjust the size of a piece of particle board or something like that that I don't want to use a plane on(*). The disk & table can be useful. More often the hand-held belt sander is more useful than the stationary belt.

(you can plane particle board, of course, but only if you don't mind sharpening the blade frequently).

John

[woodchucker]

I found a unit that I rebuilt. I use it a lot. I also recently aquired a Rigid belt and spindle.. haven't used it much, didn't like the belt as much as I thought, prefer my old one. I do like the spindle and oscilation, and dust collection.

But if I didn't have the old one I might appreciate the belt more.

I also have a 1" wide crapsman that I love too. I use it mostly for metal but also replace the belt for wood that needs a small belt or an inside done as this can be threaded through and remounted to do inside sanding.

[Sonny]

As a hobbyist, I've been using a 1975 Craftsman 4X24 handheld belt sander. I flip it over, as Russell, to use as a stationary. Just recently, it i s showing signs of the brushes or something wearing out. It's been making ugly groaning noises at startup. After a minute or 2, it sounds better, b ut it's not purring.

I vote get a good handheld, for now..... heavy weight and increase AMPs. W ith the handheld, let the weight of the sander be the applied pressure, i.e ., don't apply additional pressure, while sanding.

Sonny

[woodchucker]

I have a Ryobi handheld that is like the Bosch. It has a sanding frame so it can be used for large flattening. The frame is great.

The flat top on it makes it easy to flip over but I don't need to use it. Like I said b4.

[Lew Hodgett]

--------------------------------------------- It's a classic POS product, IMHO.

Better to get a 12" disk sander and a separate spindle sander.

Even at H/F, you are looking at $140 apiece, but at least you will have some decent equipment.

Lew

[John Grossbohlin]

I'd be curious to know the shape of these push sticks. This as my initial reaction was to use a jointer or a hand plane and/or spoke shave to smooth them. Pretty much any outside curve can be handled with a plane and inside curves with a spoke shave. Using these tools could turn out to be faster than the rasp or sanding...

[Bill]

Thank you for that insight, John! It had not occurred to me to use a plane or a spoke shave for the curves--and it was *never* going to occur to me to use a plane that way! I appreciate the lesson!

Bill

[Bill]

Tonight I worked my way from there. To the Ridgid oss/edge sander combo tool ($200) which I looked at long enough until it started seeming cheap (i.e. of somewhat low quality) to me. Then up to the Jet benchtop 12" sander and OSS which are about $1K for the two. The Jet OSS as well as the Ridgid OSS both have mitered (tilting) tables. It seems like a nice way to bevel off the corners (of many things). I will see how I do first with the spokeshave and hand plane (as John suggested). I am likely to enjoy the peace and quiet they offer.

Bill

[Bill]

Here you go Lew, here's both in one:

[Morgans]

These are good points. Get a heavy belt sander and use it upside down when you need to. Two jobs in one.

For a disc sander, make your own. I used an old motor and mounted a pulley > >>> Thinking a stationary belt/disk sander might be just the thing > >

I have a Ryobi handheld that is like the Bosch. It has a sanding frame so it can be used for large flattening. The frame is great.

The flat top on it makes it easy to flip over but I don't need to use it. Like I said b4.

[woodchucker]

The rigid is not a cheap tool. It's got an induction motor not universal and is surprisingly well made.

[John McCoy]

Bill wrote in news: [e-mail]:

To back up what John(*) said, if you don't have one of these:

node=4072

or something similar, you need one. It's the most useful tool in the shop, ideal for making tiny adjustments in length or thickness, putting a quick chamfer on an edge, making a square- section piece into a round section (I used mine to make the mast & yards for my sailing dingy)...you'll find it's always on your bench.

John

(* sometimes I think there's too many of us Johns)

[Bill]

Lie_Nielsen, huh? I have "something similar"! :)

Cheers, Bill

[Bill]

Thank you for your comment, Jeff. Coming back "down to Earth", that tool should probably be on my short wish list. Probably a common situation among those here, my wife was urging me to go to the store to choose a tool for myself for Christmas. I'll watch whether maybe the Ridgid edge/OSS goes on sale in the next few weeks. In the meantime, I'll try out my spokeshave! : ) I think my 2 spokeshaves, which I picked up at auction, are flat (as opposed to round), but it should be okay...

I ordered this book and gave it to my wife to wrap up for Christmas

"40 Power Tools You Can Make (Woodworking Classics)"

I hope she likes it! ; )

Bill

[John McCoy]

woodchucker wrote in news:6oGdnbZAT_hpDRHJnZ2dnUU7- [e-mail]:

Ridgid (two "d"s *) power tools are a bit unpredictable. Most of them are made by Ryobi, I beleive, with corresponding quality. A few of them are made by other vendors (some might even be made by Emerson Electric, who actually own the Ridgid name and make the Ridgid plumbers tools), which sometimes means a higher spec tool.

John

(* the founder's name was Ridge)

[Bill]

I'm curious how well it would work on polycarbonate, to "remove BS marks". I may have to buy one to find out... I think it would either work "great" or "crappy" (melting the poly). Interesting that NONE of the benchtop units are variable speed, unlike most of their handheld counterparts.