Has anyone had experience or information on Volpato woodworking machinery? I have a 5hp 240V sander that I inherited. Volpato is out of Italy and this was made in 1987. I am curious about their reputation etc…. I may be selling it as it is pretty large for my shop. It currently has a 6” x 104.5” belt on it but it can handle a couple inches longer or shorter.
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I can't help answer your questions, but it does raise one for me... What were the designers thinking the purpose would be for such a tool? The only thing that comes to mind for me would be sanding dovetail drawer box sides after assembly in a production shop which is a pretty specialized task for such a large machine.
This came from a school district originally. I think it was used in place of drum sanders, planers etc.. that we have today.
Their website (volpatolasm.com) indicates that they are indeed an Italian company, in operation producing wood sanding/“finishing” machinery since 1957, and specializing in sanding/smoothing/“finishing” machinery, including custom solutions for industry large and small, etc. Seems to me it would likely be a good machine, though its use might be slightly unusual from an American perspective. I glanced through some of the machines in photos on their site, and didn’t see anything that looked quite like what you’ve got (which I just see as a horizontal belt sander), but lots of larger, more complex, more industrial-looking machines.
Good luck with it. I’ve no idea how to place a value on it. Be nice if it found a good home.
Volpato makes oscillating edge sanders, horizontal and verticle and specialty
light industrial sanders. Italy makes some nice machinery and Volpato is supposed to be one of them. That from the looks of it is just a large(ish) belt sander but does it oscillate as well? Variable speed? Lots of uses for that either way but it would be a really handy small shop addition if it does oscillate. It looks like it has a set up for a fence attachment, do you have it?
This runs very smooth. Unfortunately it is single speed, does not oscillate and there is no fence with it. If my shop was bigger I would definitely keep it. I am still thinking of keeping it anyway.
It would be really handy to have a fence. You could maybe find a fence- good luck finding THE fence though. Maybe you could fabricate one from an old tilting jointer fence or, you know,wood even.
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