Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi Guys/Gals!

Couple questions,

-Edge sander versus Belt/Disc combo sander, which one?

-Any of you use this Rikon Belt/Disc sander linked below?
Do you guys have better recommendations for other brand/model at or around this price?

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5385

I going to Woodcraft tools show tomorrow and am thinking of picking up a sander.

Thanks, David

I bought the same one from WC early last year. It's OK, just adequate for my light duty needs. It could use more power, and the dust collection is a joke. But I like having the disk down low, below the working surface of the belt. Quality is decent: well finished, tracks well, belt change is easy.

If you need a sander with a lot of punch, this isn't it. Good for what I paid, about $200 for their floor model. I'm glad to have a sander in the shop, but I don't know if I'd pay $349 for this one.

Hope this helps,

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I have one that's the same as the Harbor Freight model. It's a Reliant and isn't made anymore under that name. I think you can pick them up for around $150 or less when they go on sale. Alu. tables but they work ok. There's a picture of mine in the Shop Made Jigs discussion that's going on now.

I'd look closely at the Ridgid oscillating spindle/belt sander that's in another thread right now. I just got one, and I'll be seeing how well it would work as a complete replacement for my Jet belt/disk. I find I have almost no use for the disk on the Jet, so I'm going to see if I can use the oscillating belt on the Rigid and get rid of the Jet. The Rigid is also only $200, compared to the $300-350 for most of the belt/disk models. Harbor Freight may be cheaper, but I've had quality problems with several of their tools.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

I wouldn't recommend a tool if I had a problem with them. Quite the opposite. That's why I stated that the table was aluminum as not cast but it works and can be stiffened up easy enough if you fill the need. I don't use the disc for much but I do use it to bevel my magnetic pole pieces for single coil pick ups. I use the 6" X 24" belt sander for a lot of tasks for wood and metal. Sounds like you aren't looking for a spindle sander. As far as edge sander. I think I would like to have one for radiusing fret boards as well as trying to jig it up for shaping necks. They're pretty pricey though but I have a plan for one that I might try building one day after the other 20 jigs are through.

If you're looking for cheap, I don't have any recommendations. I have the Jet with the closed stand and I'm very happy with it. A belt/disc sander can be a very versatile and precise tool if you get a good quality one. I wouldn't want anything the slightest bit flimsy for all the things I use mine for.

I do have a second, much cheaper belt/disc sander, a Craftsman. I don't use the disc on that one at all. In fact, I removed the disc's table and the disc itself and just covered up the disc housing with a piece of plywood. So, it's just a belt sander now. I keep that one horizontal, and for all-purpose freehand sanding (plus a couple of jig-assisted operations) it's a decent workhorse.

On the Jet, I keep the belt vertical, and both tables are precisely set up for squareness and the slots being dead parallel to the disc and belt. That alone allows you to use the sander for precision shaping of parts. I don't know how I'd even square up small parts without this solid, high quality, and precisely set up machine (well, I do know how, but it would be a lot more time consuming). On top of that, though, the possibilities are endless for jigs and fixtures on such a machine.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

I don't know what I was thinking. It's a Delta.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/