Disc/Belt Sander Question

[dankc908]

I currently have a 2" belt/6" disc sander that I bought at Sears several years ago. About a year ago, or so, I was trying to replace the sanding disc and, in order to get to the disc, I had to break the piece that wouldn't allow the disc table to move. I put it back and it work just "ok". I am now thinking that I want a 4" belt/6" disc sander but am hesitant to go back to the Crapsman junk at my local Sears. My question is: would this be an improvement or am I better off waiting until I can afford something more substantial. My shop is "space challenged" and this Grizzly model would replace my current sander.

 

[randyrls]

My question is: would this be an improvement or am I better off waiting until I can afford something more substantial. My shop is "space challenged" and this Grizzly model would replace my current sander.

I had one of these. The tool rest is too flimsy and the screw that holds it in is a hex cap screw. Notice the past tense in the first sentence? I wanted to use the tool to sharpen my lathe tools, but it didn't work very well.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[dankc908]

I have the PSI sharpening system. I will want this for doing some sanding of 3-4" wide boards and to help remove 'excess' wood from bandsaw boxes, etc.

 

[larryc]

I currently have a 2" belt/6" disc sander that I bought at Sears several years ago. About a year ago, or so, I was trying to replace the sanding disc and, in order to get to the disc, I had to break the piece that wouldn't allow the disc table to move. I put it back and it work just "ok". I am now thinking that I want a 4" belt/6" disc sander but am hesitant to go back to the Crapsman junk at my local Sears. My question is: would this be an improvement or am I better off waiting until I can afford something more substantial. My shop is "space challenged" and this Grizzly model would replace my current sander.

I had a Porter Cable something like your Sears but I was very unhappy with the dust collection. Since I had good dust collection at the lathe I came up with this unit that will allow me to sand just about anything.

 

[jdmyers4]

I have a Byrnes 5" disc sander, and it is a sweet little machine. It's pricey ($325), but a high quality disc sander for use on small items, such as pen segmenting.

 

[jd99]

I have the craftsman 6x48 /9" belt sander and have no issues with it, I looked at the 4" and didn't like the way it was constructed so I went to the larger model.

I build band saw boxes, and having the wider belt helps out a lot. The only thing I did was get an extra table so I didn't have to keep swaping it from the belt to the disc, and back.

 

[PenMan1]

I have a Byrnes 5" disc sander, and it is a sweet little machine. It's pricey ($325), but a high quality disc sander for use on small items, such as pen segmenting.

When I get rich and famous, the Byrnes is the disc sander that I will buy. In the meantime, I use a $99 Ryobi combination disc/belt sander. It is one step better than nothing, BUT with enough tweaking you can make it square a pen blank.

 

[Richard Van Hulle]

I have used the Harbor Freight 12 inch disk sander and I am very happy with it. They have two models, 12 inch @ $140.00 and 10 inch @ $90.00. I use a disk lube and they last for ever doing my pen blanks.
Richard Van Hulle, Aiken Pen & Pencil

 

[Wildman]

I think you can do better buying locally than Grizzly model. Not sure if still current but Amazon.com had this model for $59.99+$24.49 shipping.

Few years ago bought Hitachi 4" x 36" with 8" disc on sale for about $130 with tax from Lowes. Not sure this model available anywhere anymore. Made a wood coupling to connect sander to Shop Vac didn't like the bag dust collector.

Sears at the time had same style looked like it came from Harbor freight.

Just ordered a Alumina Zirconia Planer belt & 5 pack of 8" aluminum oxide cloth PSA discs from Klingspor. Like AZ belt hope will outlast AO Belts from Lowes.