Replies

1. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 01, 2007 05:55pm | #1

   I have a Ridgid Oscillating sander. I use it all the time. It changes from a cylinder to belt sander in a minute or two. No disk but all in all I like it ALOT.

   Get what brand you like but a oscillating sander is hard to beat and you will probably never miss the disk type.

   Just my opinion. OK, so I like my Ridgid table saw also..

   Just me...

   
   

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   Edited 12/1/2007 9:55 am by WillGeorge

1. 
   genecoder | Dec 01, 2007 06:58pm | #2

   Thank you very much for the opinion if i buy it I hope I use it alot I'm  sure I will.

2. 
   forestgirl | Dec 01, 2007 07:14pm | #3

   GC, the Rigid oscillating/belt sander is one I've always wanted to have, but I already have a good-sized belt/disc combo (old Craftsman iron, 6" belt, 9"?? disc) and a cheap oscillating sander, so can't justify the Rigid.

   Oscillating sanders are incredibly helpful for thing like sanding out bandsaw marks from curved surfaces.  I'm not sure how useful the always-upright, and rather small, belt sander of the Rigid would be.  Depends on what kind of sanding you want to do.  One thing to check when you use it is whether the belt is 90° to the table surface -- that has been reported as a problem with the Ridgid sander.  With a larger belt sander like mine, you have a couple of feet of belt, oriented horizontally if need be, to sand larger pieces with (such as a box).  It can also be tilted up and used with the table.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 01, 2007 07:28pm | #4

   Forest..and a cheap oscillating sander.. Oscillating is what I was driving at.. Not necessarly the brand name..You are one cool lady.. I bet your hubbie LOVES you ALOT!

2. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 01, 2007 07:32pm | #5

   and rather small, belt sander of the Rigid would be.Gee.. Sure takes ALOT of finger nails off if you are not carefull!

3. 
   mudman | Dec 01, 2007 08:20pm | #6

   I have never understood why woodworkers use those. They sand cross-grain, the contact area is too small so gouging is a problem. The disk side is even more useless. the only use I have ever thought they were good for is sanding small parts for toys and small boxes.

   The Ridgid is a great machine. It sands with the grain and ossilates. The spindle sander is very usefull as well. the table is not all that accurate or flat, but it has served me well for a couple years.

   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.

1. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 01, 2007 10:07pm | #7

   and ossilates LOL Yous spells like I do!

2. 
   WillGeorge | Dec 01, 2007 10:10pm | #8

   the table is not all that accurate or flat?Mine is almost spot on! Ok, so I flip the stick over and sand it again.. Maybe there is a hump in the middle but glues up well!

1. 
   mudman | Dec 02, 2007 04:35am | #12

   It is not flat like a table saw or jointer. High quality edge sanders (really big versions of the Ridgid) have very flat tables that can be adjusted accurately. The Ridgid is a stamped or cast aluminum deal with a weak angle adjustment feature. Now that I think about it, I'd say it is probably the most "out of whack" tool in my shop.

   Again I use it in my comercial shop and it is one of the best products developed in the last few years, so I give it very high marks. A cast iron table and better hinge setup would add a lot to the cost and weight, putting it out of the Home Depot market. I would love to see Grizzley or Delta make a better version. Although Grizzly already sells a small comercial edge sander that does not ossilate for some where around $400. But I am holding out for a ossilating version.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.

4. 
   Jimurock | Dec 02, 2007 12:17am | #9

   I'd second (or third or fourth) all those who voted for Ridgid.  I had one of those combo things before, and it gave me the most (minor) injuries of any machine.   When it's on, both disc and belt are moving, and it's easy to forget one while you're concentrating on the other.  And you have to concentrate, otherwise you'll lose more wood than you want to, and they're not very accurate.  You're always going to have to sand again with another sander to remove the marks.  The Ridgid doesn't have a disc, but you can always rig one up on the table saw or lathe if you need one.

   Somewhere on the FWW site there's a video of someone showing a fence you can make for the Ridgid that fits over the spindle shaper and gives you accurate flat sanding.  There's a review of the machine too. 

   The only thing I miss about the combo is that the belt was good for sharpening lathe gouges with a simple jig.  Probably the Ridgid can do likewise, but I've been too lazy to find out.

   Good luck,   Jim.

5. 
   JMartinsky | Dec 02, 2007 02:51am | #10

   Dear G,
   I stay away from HD pretty much at all costs. Lowes, I am not as familiar with, but for the sake of argument, I will lump them in with HD. That being said, I was in a spot a year or so ago and needed an oscillating sander NOW. I bought the Ridgid and can say that it has served me well. I ran it seven hours a day, six days a week, for about two weeks and then have run it periodically since then with good results.

   Best,

   John

   
   

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   Edited 12/1/2007 6:52 pm ET by Jmartinsky

1. 
   genecoder | Dec 02, 2007 05:48am | #13

   I will have to agree with you I also try to stay away from HD and Lowes, I usualy go tomy local lumber store but they don't have what I want. Thanks for the information!

6. 
   noBull4u | Dec 02, 2007 04:24am | #11

   I have a HF oscillating spindle sander and a Delta Shopmaster 4x36 belt with a 6 in. disc combo.  I was wondering which one I would use most.  I am tight for space.  They are both on the same portable stand, one on top and one underneath.  As far as general utility the combo wins hands down.  The spindle sander is only being used for those curved cuts, which I don't do that often.  I would still like to purchase a wider belt sander but the Shopmaster has a great unadvertised feature.  The table, though small, can be located for use with the belt or disc.  By tilting the belt and the table any sanding angle can be achieved, without a jig.  At less than $85 it should serve me well enough until I move up.

   Joe