Replies

1. 
   JeffKurtz | Apr 24, 2003 06:20am | #1

   Jon,

   Powermatic still makes a 20" model, but the price is rather prohibitive for a small shop.

   http://www.southern-tool.com/store/ds20_disc_sander.html

   I suppose the industrial suppliers still have the larger units to which you refer.

   Jeff

2. 
   StanleyNiemiec | Apr 24, 2003 06:24am | #2

   I do not know why these tools are seemingly such rarities in most shops  --  when fitting miter joints on trim pieces, they are almost a necessity in my opinion (if you want to have the pieces fitted properly). 

   I personally cannot make saw cuts to the desired accuracy required using either chop saws or table saws.  Maybe others can consistently make cuts to tolerances of less than 0.0156" (1/64th of an inch) but I can't.  It is much simpler to make a saw cut and then take it to the disk sander for final fitting.  A touch or two on the disk insures both accurate angles and accurate dimensions.

   And for smoothing band saw cuts on large outside radii, they are unequaled especially since they allow the finished curve to remain perpendicular to the faces.

   But I guess I am "old school" in my thinking!

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 24, 2003 05:17pm | #5

   One of their best uses is for flattening warped lumber as you can control where the material is removed and confine it to just the high spots. Even as a prior step to joining, significantly less waste.

   Jon

3. 
   DJK | Apr 24, 2003 03:35pm | #3

   Jon:

   I agree whole heartedly. Price is a big deal with the resurgence of "hobby" woodworking. Most pro shops into solid wood have large sanders and they are a mainstay for many. I have a Master 24" pot belly I picked up at auction for $350. Belt drive, 2hp and weighs over 750 lbs. Totally vibration free and unstallable.

   A large spindle sander is great to have also.

   Dave Koury

1. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 24, 2003 05:07pm | #4

   Price is a big deal if you buy new. I paid $75 for my Porter Cable 15". (see attached pic)  It did need a new motor though, so the final cost was $225. Not that much money. With all the pattern shops that have been going out of business for the past 25 years, you would think that they would be everywhere. I've been looking for a 24" Master in good shape for awhile myself. It's by far my personal favorite. Now those large spindle sanders were expensive new. I think around $15K 15 years ago for a tilting spindle (arbor?) State. I paid $750 for my MAX about 7 years ago, but it was in like new condition.

   Edited 4/24/2003 10:10:25 AM ET by WorkshopJon

   
1. 
   DJK | Apr 24, 2003 09:40pm | #6

   Jon:

   There is a large local ( Warren, MI ) auction next week with two 24" State sanders and a State cabinet spindle sander as well as PM, Moak, Cresent and Northfield equipment. Every dealer around will be there but they have been crying about beeing slow so they won't pay much for the stuff. I should be able to get a few bargains on some great iron.

   At an auction a couple of years back, there was a Master spindle sander unused and still crated. It was made the last year Kindt-Collins was making them. I bailed out bidding at $1800 because that's all the cash I had. It had to be removed at once. It sold for $1900. The dealer that purchased it gave me $50 for bailing out of the bidding. He resold it for $7700. Still kicking myself in the ####. Now I take plenty of cash, never know what pops up.

   Dave Koury

1. 
   woodhawk2 | Apr 25, 2003 07:46am | #7

   Hi DJK,

   I'm new to the forum and have been just sitting on the sidelines for a while. Have gotten very good information just reading post. I also like good old American iron. I live in ST JOSEPH MI, and am curious where the auction is in Warren.

   Thanks

2. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 25, 2003 04:48pm | #8

   Dave,

   Warren is a little far for me (~7hrs. by land). Besides, not that the State sanders are bad, just compared to an optioned out Master, I would prefer the Master, simply IMO a much better machine and shop space is not unlimited. From your post it sounds like you go to auctions occasionally. Just curious how often and what type.

   Jon

1. 
   DJK | Apr 25, 2003 08:03pm | #9

   Jon:

   I live for auctions. Here in SE Michigan there is a small machine shop on

   ( almost ) every corner. Most are metal or plastic shops that have some sort of woodworking machinery, table saws, sanders, drill presses, jointers, planers. It's a big deal auction wise when a pattern shop goes under.

   I try to hit an auction every week or two. Most times I leave empy handed with a headache, some times kicking myself for not bidding more.

2. 
   WorkshopJon | Apr 25, 2003 11:20pm | #10

   "It's a big deal auction wise when a pattern shop goes under."

   Dave,

   Yeah it is here too, Especially when it was The Badger Patternworks (this past March 26; bankruptcy auction) They were the largest privately held shop in the country. Over 200 employees!

    I was planning on going, even went to the bank and withdrew mucho cash. Unfortunately, I could not get out of work that day. Rush job that didn't go according to plan, and I was the only one in my dept. not on vacation! (that happens too often in rapid prototyping) The auction list was like ten pages long. Would have been like a kid in a candy store. I heard from someone who went there what some stuff went out the door for. Should've quit my job just to take advantage. I think they had like a dozen disk sanders like I was looking for.

   If you think you might stumble across a 24" Master at some time, let me know (certainly willing to pay a finders fee). It might be worth the 7 hour drive for the right one.

   Jon

4. 
   kathy456 | Mar 01, 2018 12:01am | #11

   I am just a DIY person that likes to make sawdust. I had put off buying a good sander until I had done my research and read plenty of reviews. Wen 6502 is Belt and Disk combo is well worth the money. I find a use for it on almost every project I do. When I think of the time and elbow grease I have spent sanding over the years I feel fooling. This makes short work of 90% of my sanding needs. 

   If you want to know more details about the Disc/Belt Sander go to the link Best Combo Sander In 2018