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So I had my sides and backs taken to a guy in town to thickness sand them. His manufacturers warnings said not to sand anything less than 1/8th of an inch for safety. This is a 24" grizzly heavy duty lookin sander. So he just made a quick sled for the pieces. My question is, I am planning on my next investment and the thickness sander was it. I know Robbie O'brien goes way thin on his sander and seems not to be worried at all in his thicknessing videos. Is my guy just being on the safe side or are there sanders out there that do not go that thin? If you guys could point me in the right direction that's be amazing. We had to tape my wood down each time and I don't wanna deal with that if I plan on spending a pretty penny on a good tool.

Thanks you all!

-Maks-

I have a grizzly widebelt -- I think it is the 18" model. It is perfectly capable of sanding down to about 0.020". However, anything below about 0.050", I put on a sled. Tops and backs can be passed through with no sled.

I have a jet 10 - 20 ...works great, not too expensive...I have it hooked to a harbor freight 2hp dust collector which is a must.

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MK5acoustics.com

I have a Grizzly 10-20 and it will not sand thinner than 1/8th. I use a sled for backs and sides, but I don't tape the wood to the board. The pressure of the rollers and the drum keep it still as it feeds through. No problems with the machine at all so far.

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PMoMC

One of their 24" belt sanders was developed with the aid/endorsement of a luthier. It had it's rollers modified specifically for doing tonewood. I can't remember who the luthier was but remember seeing it the catalog several years ago.. I'd check for the old catalog but my girlfriend made me throw out all my outdated/"useless" catalogs/magazines when we moved in together.. lol

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I have a performax 16-32 an I have no problems taking wood down to 0.040", I haven't tried going thinner. A sled is a perfectly acceptable solution though, just put some 120 grit sandpaper on it, or make a stop at the end (glue it down) and it will work just fine for you.

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I have an 18 inch wide grizzly belt sander and before that a double drum Grizz 24 both will sand down to the belt if I let them. I will run the belt sander to .010 for making shim stock.
Sleds can be ok just never stand in line to them from the feed table.

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