Need some insight. I am looking to purchase a sanding machine for my shop. I first started looking at just the 12" disc units then got to looking at the belt/disc combo units and now someone had said in one post that an oscillating edge sander would be of more use in the shop. Anyone got some suggestions. I will be using the sander for many tasks not just for pens. One more question though. Do you guys who have the jet 12" disc sander find the miter slot that goes straight at the disc of any use? Thanks.
Which sanding machine?
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GouletPens
Member
I have the Rikon belt/disc combo and it's tough to beat for the money Under $300 gets you a 10" disc and 6x48" belt. I use it for pens but all kinds of other things too including making a couple of long bows. If you're going to be into serious furniture making, an oscillating edge sander would be nice, but they also take up quite a bit of space.
jttheclockman
Member
All sanders have a purpose. To me I could not live without my Performax 16/32 drum sander. But I do scrollsawing and I resaw alot of wood. I use my Jet belt/disk sander alot also and yes the miter slot is great. They all come with one so you will be surprised what jigs you can make to incorporate the use of it. I also have a Clayton oscillating drum sander that is useful. I did buy the Dewalt oscillating drum belt sander but have not used it as much so to me that is not high on my priority list. If you are strickly using it for pens then a combo belt/ disc sander is a good bet but all you need is a table top model. Blanks are small.
RHunter
Local Chapter Leader
I have a simple (cheap) Ryobi Belt/Disc sander I got as a open box special at the BORG.
It suits my purposes well enough 6" disc and 4 x 24 belt. It came with a cheesy miter gauge that I beefed up and use to square resin blanks if I need to (Circuit Board Blank) or make one edge flat with my homebrew resin blanks so I can cut to size in my table saw.
Yea I know its a Ryobi, but for $50 it doesn't have to do alot or very often- almost the perfect HF mentality...
For the record, I also have the Ryobi OSS and it works pretty good too... (I'd rather have had the Ridgid OSS/Belt, but didn't have the $$$).
But I'd love to have a 22/44...:biggrin:
It suits my purposes well enough 6" disc and 4 x 24 belt. It came with a cheesy miter gauge that I beefed up and use to square resin blanks if I need to (Circuit Board Blank) or make one edge flat with my homebrew resin blanks so I can cut to size in my table saw.
Yea I know its a Ryobi, but for $50 it doesn't have to do alot or very often- almost the perfect HF mentality...
For the record, I also have the Ryobi OSS and it works pretty good too... (I'd rather have had the Ridgid OSS/Belt, but didn't have the $$$).
But I'd love to have a 22/44...:biggrin:
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dasimm
Member
I have a standard 12" disk sander which I use extensively, but I also do alot of flat work and segmented turning.
FWIW - The Miter slot comes in handy with the Jigs I use which are critical to the precision segmented work.
I "need" a 16/32 drum (which is on my wish list) and I have my eye on the Laguna version http://www.lagunatools.com/sander.platinumdrum.aspx mostly because it is half the cost of the Jet version. Grizzley also offers a version of the drum sander as well.
The edge sander would be nice but is not critical.
Good luck in your search.
FWIW - The Miter slot comes in handy with the Jigs I use which are critical to the precision segmented work.
I "need" a 16/32 drum (which is on my wish list) and I have my eye on the Laguna version http://www.lagunatools.com/sander.platinumdrum.aspx mostly because it is half the cost of the Jet version. Grizzley also offers a version of the drum sander as well.
The edge sander would be nice but is not critical.
Good luck in your search.
GouletPens
Member
I almost exclusively make pens (and stoppers) and rarely do flatwork. I had a Jet 16/32 drum sander and sold it b/c it was collecting more dust than it was making. I don't have a HUGE shop, so the space was too valuable for me. Unless you're planning to do a lot of resawing, don't bother with a drum sander.
VisExp
Member
I have the Ridgid combination oscilating belt/spindle sander. It works nicely but is a comprimise on a dedicated oscilating sanded. The stroke is fairly short.
I also have a Performax 16/32 drum sander which I use all the time. It was expensive but one of the best purchase I made for my shop. Hard to imagine not having it.
As far as a disc sander goes I have a home made 15" disc sander. It is a 15" diameter piece of plywood with sandpaper glued on it with spray adhesive. On the back it has a tenon with a 1 1/4" x 8 thread tapped into it. Screws right on my lathe. Cost me less than a buck. Variable speed as well :wink:
I also have a Performax 16/32 drum sander which I use all the time. It was expensive but one of the best purchase I made for my shop. Hard to imagine not having it.
As far as a disc sander goes I have a home made 15" disc sander. It is a 15" diameter piece of plywood with sandpaper glued on it with spray adhesive. On the back it has a tenon with a 1 1/4" x 8 thread tapped into it. Screws right on my lathe. Cost me less than a buck. Variable speed as well :wink:
mickr
Member
eaxh task requires different process..get the belt/disc that you can afford..that would be my first purchase..when you find a project you cannot do with that one, look into the next type
Druid
Member
I have the same Rikon belt/disc combo as Brian and I'm more than satisfied with its versitility and performance. It's commercial quality grade equipment that you will pass down to the next generation... highly recommended.
nava1uni
Member
I have a small work space and have the smaller Rikon model with a 6" disc and 4" belt. It works great. The miter was not great, like on most tools, but it was easy to beef it up. I use several different jigs.