Thinking about a belt sander....

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mbellek

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Circleville, OH, USA.
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I am thinking about a belt sander, and I think a little table top model like the one above would be good for my needs. I make hair sticks and I do quite a bit of sanding that MUST be done off-lathe. So far I use a dremel, but it's not as good as I think something like this would be. I have an electric sander for like, sanding floors or walls, but I've tried and it does not suit my purpose.

I've read good things about this model on Amazon, epinions, etc.

My only concern is that I am buying just enough tool for what I need, but maybe I should be buying a little more than I need, room to grow? You know?

If someone knows of a better belt sander for me from what I've told you, I'd love to hear about it.

Also I'd like to keep the price range to $200/250 and less, if possible.

Thanks to all of you for always helping so much!

Melanie
 
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I have a similar 1" belt sander from Grizzly. Even though I use it frequently, I often wish I had a much larger [e.g. 4"] belt. The 1" is more suited for sharpening than parts sanding. It is too easy to allow the edges of the belt to cut into parts you are sanding. Check out something like this: http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0547
They are about the same money and you will get tons more use from it.
 
I got mine at Lowes.

There are two types.

1" x 30" = belts are easy to find.

1" x 42" = belts are harder to find. (this is what I have but I found that Lowes and Sears has belts for them 3 belts run about $7.00)

You might want to also look at the 4" x 36" belt sanders. You might find it better suited to what you want to do and they are a lot less expensive.

A Google search brought up a slew of them for well under what you want to spend.
 
Originally posted by Rifleman1776
<br />Check out something like this: http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0547
They are about the same money and you will get tons more use from it.
Click to expand...

I have this 4" combo belt sander...I won't recommend it. [V]
 
I have the 1" sander (delta) you're talking about, and have absolutely no complaint with it. I use it every time I'm in the shop, and it performe excellently. As for the edges of the belt cutting your part, the backing plate for the belt is very easily removed, letting the belt float more freely. Belt change is simple, as is initial assembly. "So easy a caveman could do it."
 
I have the sander in your picture. It works, but it's kind of junky. The disc sander backing plate rubs against the body of the machine and makes a nasty racket. It's not well made.
 
Well, so some are saying that both sanders (the 1" and 4") are shoddy and some say its wonderful.

Could it be that the nay-sayers got bad models? Or do the people who like the sanders just have a higher tolerance for noises and less-than-perfect construction? I'd consider myself a low-tolerance person for those things. I mean, if I am going to buy something like this, I want it to be at least a little bit of an investment--I want some mileage out of it.

BTW I have googled belt sanders and I've seen the plethora available for less than $100, but I don't want to buy something sight-unseen just because I like the price. I want some opinions first before I proceed. (Preferably opinions from people like you, who share the same hobby)
 
I own Grizzly G0547 and the reason I don't recommend it is it is very noisy!!!

I have high tolerance to noise...for example, I turn with my DC without any hearing protection. I also chainsaw for hours w/o wearing my hearing protection without any problem. Using the sander, I cannot do it. Did I say it is VERY noisy? It does the job but the belt also keeps on running either to the left or right. I have to keep on adjusting to keep it on track.

It is so bad...when I moved, I actually left it in my old garage (and this is a gift from LOML). I will eventually get it because I can still use it but I actually brought other junks ahead of it. Not sure if all of them are like it or I just got a bad one.

This is the first power tool that I am sorry having.
 
Man! It seems like every small sander has a downside, but I really REALLY don't want a gigantic one!

Hmmmmm... If they are available at Lowe's I might just stop there on the way home from work... I didn't think I saw them there, but maybe I was just not looking in the right area since those places are so damn big.
 
With luck...your Lowe's might have the sander on discount. I heard they are stopping carrying Delta and shifting to Jet soon.
 
Hi Melanie,
Before you buy one, I have one I use very little and will offer it to you at a real good price, if your interested. I will get you all the info on it later today. I live in Cincinnati, I don't know how far that is from Circlville or maybe you know someone in this area that could get it for you and save on shipping. Let me know if you are interested.

jim
 
I just went through the same thing. Based on the price range I would and did go for the combination sander. I purchased the Rikon 50-110 for about 149.00. You can also get the 50-120 for about 249.00. The sander was easy to put together, and very easy to get everything square. It is quite and works well. I am very happy with it.

Joe
 
Originally posted by Dario
<br />
Originally posted by Rifleman1776
<br />Check out something like this: http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0547
They are about the same money and you will get tons more use from it.
Click to expand...

I have this 4" combo belt sander...I won't recommend it. [V]
Click to expand...

Why, Dario? I was considering one to replace my aging 4 incher.
 
Originally posted by Dario
<br />I own Grizzly G0547 and the reason I don't recommend it is it is very noisy!!!

I have high tolerance to noise...for example, I turn with my DC without any hearing protection. I also chainsaw for hours w/o wearing my hearing protection without any problem. Using the sander, I cannot do it. Did I say it is VERY noisy? It does the job but the belt also keeps on running either to the left or right. I have to keep on adjusting to keep it on track.

It is so bad...when I moved, I actually left it in my old garage (and this is a gift from LOML). I will eventually get it because I can still use it but I actually brought other junks ahead of it. Not sure if all of them are like it or I just got a bad one.

This is the first power tool that I am sorry having.
Click to expand...

Dario, I posted a question to one of your previous responses. Understand dissatisfaction.
Now, I have to scold you. There is no such thing as "tolerance" to noise. You may not think the loud noise is bothering you but, in actuallity, your hearing is being destroyed. Hearing protection is a must while machines are running.
I most often use silicone ear plugs and have for many years. Sadly, many-many years ago, I didn't understand this and was an avid shooter, doing so without protection Price? Last week I got hearing aids. Wadda pain to mess with.
BTW, my 1" Grizzly is very noisy and I do use without the belt backplate. The 1" belt is used for very little sanding but it is an excellent sharpening tool.
Is noise the only complaint you have with the 4" Grizzly?
 
Frank,

Thank you for the scolding...I know I should always use hearing protection and will most likely pay for it in the near future.

Re: other complains, the motor really sounds like it is struggling always and that sounds like it will conk out any time. My opinion is, it is not worth the price. Let me put it this way...even if you offer to give me a NEW one for FREE now and I only have to pay for shipping, I won't take it. How's that?
 
Originally posted by Dario
<br />Frank,

Thank you for the scolding...I know I should always use hearing protection and will most likely pay for it in the near future.

Re: other complains, the motor really sounds like it is struggling always and that sounds like it will conk out any time. My opinion is, it is not worth the price. Let me put it this way...even if you offer to give me a NEW one for FREE now and I only have to pay for shipping, I won't take it. How's that?
Click to expand...

Message received. [;)] Now put on your ear protectors. [:D]
 
Well I went to Lowe's and (can I get off-topic for a second? Is it just my local Lowe's or is the quality/amount of knowledge in salespeople there in serious decline? The first Lowe's popped up in my area when I was a teenager, and my mom would take me there for whatever project our family happened to be working on at the time--putting up our fence, building a trellis out of the fence, knocking down a wall and re-building it a different way, whatever and those guys knew EVERYTHING about ANYTHING you could ask them. The guy I talked to yesterday couldn't even wrap his brain around what I wanted the belt sander FOR. He had no idea what woodturning was.... At All. [xx(])

ANYWAY,

They had the delta model for $129, +20 if I want them to put it together, + tax, so probably more like $150, I'd guess.

Then they had 2 4" sanders, one was $150 and the other was $99. The 99$ was Hitachi. Know anything about those?
 
Melanie, our local Lowe's, a relatively new store in town, seems to have a huge turn over in employees. One day service is great, the next you can't get their attention with wild tigers. Knowledge levels vary from zip to pretty good. I won't even go into our local Home Depot, they are so untrained that they express rudeness and actually seem to resent the customer being there. That is one big reason I do most of my tool buying from Grizzly. Help there is top notch, knowledgable, friendly. And I like the tools and prices.
 
Originally posted by Jim15
<br />Hi Melanie,
Before you buy one, I have one I use very little and will offer it to you at a real good price, if your interested. I will get you all the info on it later today. I live in Cincinnati, I don't know how far that is from Circlville or maybe you know someone in this area that could get it for you and save on shipping. Let me know if you are interested.

jim
Click to expand...

Melanie, do yourself a favor and take Jim up on his offer. I have the sander in the picture and it works very well for me. I have mine over ten years, maybe the older ones are made better, who knows. I would go for a larger belt, if I were going to buy a new one, but to get a deal on an older one, if I needed one, I would jump on it.
 
Melanie, I have no experience w/the Hitachi sanders, but many of the professionals I know swear by every Hitachi power tool they own. I just looked the 4" Hitachi over on there web site and it appears to be a well built machine. The only problem w/combo sanders like this (I have a 3" x 6" and the Hitachi is a 4" x 8") is that the disk table is only supprted on one side. This makes it nearly impossible to square up if you use the disk for anything requiring accuracy. Other than that, it should do what you need and the price seems quite good for the product. JMO

Oh, and Amazon lists the sander at $150.
 
Well I ended up going for a Craftsman 4"... Jim's offer was great, buy by the time I factored in the distance to drive to get it, I spent the same amount on the one I got--I was out the door for less than $100 with a 2-year replacement plan because they were having a sale.

If anyone is in the market, I'd recommend it. The thing is a lifesaver!! I can't believe I used to use a tiny Dremel head for my stuff! I don't know how I ever lived without it!! And it's very quiet too.

Of course I can't tell you anything about its longevity, but other than that, I would definitely recommend it for anyone considering one of these.

Thanks for all the advice. I'm sure I'd have bought one of the plastic-cased 1" no-names that don't even have a disc by now without all of you!! [:X]
 
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