Hi,
Would purchasing a belt/disc sander or oscillating sander for the shop be a worth while investment? (I realize that depends on the type of work I’m doing). How does the delta bench top oscillating sander stack up to other brand names such as Ridgid? I was interested in buying the Delta 6″belt/disc sander. What features should I be looking for when choosing an Oscillating/ belt disc sander? (What distinguishes the better quality sanders from the lower end sanders)
I sure would have saved a lot of time today had I had access to a belt/disc sander or oscillating sander. But I did manage to get the job done without them. Sanding chair parts by hand wasn’t much fun! I am not the best when it comes to cutting curves on the band saw. So I had a few areas that needed some extra sanding. I had to use my orbital sander to smooth the edges on the long leg sections. and I used a dowel with sandpaper wrapped around it to sand down the curved parts.
Wanda
Replies
A spindle sander is useful for inside curves, a belt can be used for outside curves and straight pieces. I don't find much use for a disc sander because of the circular marks. Ridgid makes a combination spindle/belt that is inexpensive. I haven't used one but reviews are positive. It looks like a good option for a small shop for occasional use. A vertical belt is easier to use than a horizontal one.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
"I don't find much use for a disc sander because of the circular marks. "
What - you never had to "tweak" a miter? ;-)
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
Tweak a miter? What makes you think I ever need to tweak a miter, heh heh!? It wouldn't be with a disc, or any sander, if the need were to arise.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
"What makes you think I ever need to tweak a miter, heh heh!? It wouldn't be with a disc, or any sander, if the need were to arise."
Oh, I dunno. I don't have a disc (though I used to have one to mount on my TS -- Heaven knows where THAT got to!), but there have been times where I wouldn't have hesitated to use one just to put that final tiny adjustment on an angle. Especially on trim stock.
Other than that, I can't think of a good use for a disc.
Guess that's why I don't have one! ;-)
Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA
I do have an old disc that is a little different. It goes on the table saw and it's tapered, convex. You tilt the arbor just a few degrees so the face of the disc is perpendicular to the table. Your work only touches a small portion of the disc. Where it touches, it leaves straight sanding marks. I think it's a Craftsman from the seventies. You can use it with the fence or miter bar for straight cuts. There was a time I used it quite often, before owning a jointer. I also have a belt/disc combo but I don't use it for woodworking, more on metal work.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I've bought the Rigid Oscillating Spindle Sander in May. It also includes an oscillating belt sander. It recently won FWWs "Best Value" AND "Best Overall" in a recent review of oscillating spindle sanders.
I have used it primarily with the belt sander, rather than the spindle sander, and have found it to be useful and reliable. Setup is straightforward. I have not used the Delta, or really any other disc sander, but much prefer my Rigid for flat surfaces to my random orbital sander and handheld belt sander.
The main benefits of the Rigid over a disc/belt combination would be that the spindle sander allows you to sand inside curves and the oscillator extends the life of your sandpaper and reduces noticeable scratches.
Best of luck.
IMHO the little Delta disc/belt sold in Box stores will make a very good BOAT ANCHOR. It's way under powered and had a tough time keeping the belt going. For oscillating spindle sanders the little jet bench top is a workhorse, very heavy and stable with no vibration.(the weight is worth the inconvenience when you have to move it). Also no plastic housing and the table will tilt.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
I cannot say anything about the Delta machine (although I did look at it), my experience is only with the Rigid combination spindle and belt sander; I've used both the belt and spindle sander componets. Very easy to switch/set up, the table surface is large enough for most things; easy to use.
I've also used disks that fit my table saw for some things that need the extra table surface, but truly prefer the Riged sander.
Gary
I have the Rigid and like it just fine as a spindle sander and as an edge sander for smaller parts. It's not accurate enough for touching up joints and the platten is too short for long pieces. I hardly ever use my 6x48 belt sander since I got the Rigid.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
The more things change ...
We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.
Petronious Arbiter, 210 BC
Hi guys,
Next time I'm at the Home Depot I will definitely have to check out that Rigid belt/oscillating sander. What is the model number of that award winning sander? I will phone my local tool shop tomorrow and see if they have one in stock. I'd rather buy off them than the home Depot because they service what they sell.
Just checked out the rigid webpage. One of the reviews I said mentioned that the only downfall of the Rigid oscillating belt/spindle sander was the size of the belt. He considered it too small. But other than that all the other reviews were positive. One person also mentioned that is was difficult finding replacements for the oscillating spindle sander.
Wanda
Edited 8/10/2007 5:08 pm by Wanda200
I have the Ridgid and it is a great tool. It is used in a comercial shop and I would gladly spend more for it.Pardon my spelling,
Mike
Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.
I go to a craft center that has a horizontal belt sander about four feet long and about 6 inches wide. One use is for beveling table legs, but there are many more uses. The machine is great. In operation the belt also goes up and down along with the horizontal motion. It may have cost in the thousand dollar range. My instructor said that the vertical belt sanders are not nearly as useful. Spindle sanders seem to have a limited use.
I bought the Rigid a while ago... it has really nice features, plenty of power, storage for all of the drums and belt attachment.
One feature that, in my opinion, is under rated is the abilty to tilt the table, meaning that you can sand curved angles, especially useful when trimming the forms for aluminum wing ribs for my metal project...
Hi,
I think that portable belt/oscillating sander by Rigid would be ideal for my small tool room. Where space is at a premium. Plus it won't cost me an arm and a leg! I have an angled back slat cradle on my chair.. so a tilting table would make sanding a lot easier.
If FWW gave it their stamp of approval you know it has to be pretty darn good. After looking at the GI oscillating sanders and belt sanders I think I'll go witht he Rigid. I don't do enough sanding to warrant dishing out over $500 dollars for a GI.
Wanda
I picked up the Ridgid sander a few weeks back after reading some good reviews. I love it.
Wanda, each sander has its function. If you do that type of wordkthen you need that function.
I have the best disc sander: my lathe with a 12" plywood disk on faceplate. Variable speed is a great advantage. I have a table that stands on the lathe bed.
Tom
I have the Rigid combo sander. I hoped to not have to buy a disc sander by getting a belt/spindle unit. I seem to have trouble sanding long edges without gouging the work. Someone might tell me if I'm doing something wrong but it does not seem good at long straight pieces. Perhaps I'll have to learn how to use that hand plane I bought.
Otoh, its great at shorter pieces and curves -- especially inside curves.
Andy
Hi,
I was wondering the same thing.. I have a few 3' long leg pieces that need to be sanded. Guess it's best to touch them up using a smoothing plane. I think the Rigid 24" belt sander will be fine for my needs. Shop really isn't big enough for one of those heavy duty 48" belt sanders.
Now to call and find out how much that Rigid belt/ oscillating sander costs. I wasn't able to find that model number on their website. I'll have to call the store tomorrow find out if they have the Ridgid EB 4424 in stock.
Wanda
The Rigid oscillating spindle/belt sander is $199.
Hi,
The Home Depot has the Rigid oscillating/belt sander .. Price $249.00 Canadian. Add provincial sales tax .14% = $283.86
Wanda
If you own a lathe you can very easily make your own disc sander. take a piece of plywood or MDF and cut a 12" diameter circle, apply a self sticking 12" sanding disc to it and attach a face plate to the back. Make a box that will sit on your lathe stand and screw the face plate on your lathe and you'll have a home made 12" disc sander that works great. I use my constantly and it's variable speed!!! In fact, I use my lathe more as a sander than to turn wood.
mike
oops... I posted before reading all the other posts.... Yeah what Tom said
Edited 8/14/2007 11:24 am ET by mvflaim
I bought one of the Rigid's years ago because I needed one in a hurry and HD had those on the floor. I have used the heck out of it and am very happy, does everything I have asked it to do. The sanding belts are available locally but I have also bougth belts and the various diamter sanding tubes from Kilingspor with no problems. Someone earlier mentioned that they are hard to find, and it is pretty dumb that HD won't even carry them.
I also built a 12" disk sander from scratch for my lathe like others have talked about above, it's not for a finished surface but is very useful at times. If you already have a lathe it is cheap and quick to build, but I personally probably would not purchase a large disk sander otherwise. I would recommend the Rigid for general use, not really commercial grade but neither is the price.
I've had the Ridgid oscillating spindle sander (with the belt attachment) for about a year and love it.
I know a little bit about Delta 6’’ Oscillating Sander. Some of the parts didn't fit. I think that they have changed motors and the dust collector didn't fit but I altered it to go on. Wish they made on that didn't oscillate the belt.
If you want to know about top 10 disc/belt sander's reviews go to the link Best Disc/Belt Sander In 2018.
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