Does anyone recall a FWW test on sanding stations ( belt/ discs) and what the results were?
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
” If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy……..yessa!”
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Replies
Those belt/disc combos are for wood butchering hacks that can't cut to ####line to save their butt. I wonder if we can get a discount for two of them! Ha Ha.
I'm not sure what you want to do with the sander. The belt/disc combos aren't the most useful in a wood shop, IMO. The disc cuts circular marks in your work and it loads up very quickly. You can only use half the disc.
The belts, laying flat or standing up require you to hand hold any work to keep the edge at 90. It's not easy. You are often limited to the length of stock you can run. Small parts may give you the occasional manicure.
I find an oscillating edge sander to be much more useful. For small parts, like your toy boats, you might want to look at the Rigid. It can be used with spindles or the belt. If you are doing larger parts, like tapered legs, rockers, bandsawn curves, you might like something like the new Steel City edge sander. The oscillation keeps the belt much cleaner and you don't have lines cut by the grit like you do with non-oscillating choices.
I bet you would find the larger edge sander rather handy for some of those beautiful chairs and tables you make. You could use it on the boat parts, too.
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/Oscillating-Edge-Belt--Spindle-Sander/EN/index.htm
http://www.toolking.com/steelcity_55230.aspx
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
As a wood butchering hack who uses these tools for a living I must take issue with your asessment of these tools utility. My 6X48X12 belt/disc sander gets heavy use in my shop as does my 20" disc and 108" oscillating edge sander. If your discs are loading up quickly, either you are working very gummy wood or are buying cheap abrasives.
I typically get 6 months to a year out of a belt or disc. I also use a rubber "eraser" to keep them clean.
My 12" disc gets considerable use in fine tuning miters, a task for which I find it unequaled. The 6X48 belt is very useful for sanding narrow parts with the grain.
My 1 hp osc. spindle sander also see's a lot of use.
The 20" disc gets a lot of use in finishing oval rosettes among other things. I would defy you to find objectionable marks on them.
While I find the Rigid spindle belt sander a cute toy for the wanna be wood butchers that use them a couple of times a year, you seem to think every wood butcher has your limited requirements.
If you cannot handhold a part on a belt sander or find yourself getting unwanted manicures perhaps you should stick to tools not requiring that level of skill rather than poo pooing their use.
Not everyone here makes a piece every few months or so.
I made 13,000 corbels this year not to mention the other valances,mantels, fluted columns and other parts and pieces with those tools you deem to be not useful.
Hoping you will take another look at these useful tools.
By the way I can cut to a line and saying you can use only half the disc is like saying you can only use one side of your backsaw.
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Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot
Dont dump on MC Hammer too badly.....he and I are friends so the rib punching was meant in a friendly fashion.
I regards to that Rigid OSS, I own one and I use it but not nearly as much as the sanding station. Therfore while it isnt exactly industrial grade it does its purpose and it is quiet.man is it quiet.
If a person does a lot of hand work like I do ( where is that Aleve anyway??) very few tools get as much use as that sanding station for the very same reasons you mention. Probably in the same league in terms of use in my band saw. The Rikon looks like a substantial piece with less cost than a Jet. Sp Im asking if there is anything I am missing here?
Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
Don, Cherry John is a friend of mine. My woodbutcher hack comment was meant humorously, to him. I thought my second sentence would have made that clear. John is no hack but I'll take the opportunity to razz him if I get the chance. I stand by my opinion about the belt/disc combos. You are entitled to your opinions, too. Two woodworkers having a difference of opinion, what are the odds?I don't know what to say in response to all your comments. Guess I must have set you off, unless you're just razzing me. I'd love to see some pictures of that corbel job. 13,000 is a lot of corbels. Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I should forego trying to be humorous when tired! No offense meant.
The cobels are an ongoing thing, coming up on year 6. They are my bread and butter but I see the damn things in my sleep!
I'd hate to do this type of work without the aforementioned tools.
I rarely get an unwanted manicure but the 60 grit inflatable drum I use on the curves has bitten me more than once.
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Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot
what do you have that inflatable drum attached to? Could I mount one on my Shopsmith? I use the shopsmith as a lathe and a back up drill press and disc sander on occasion. I use the output shaft as a polishing station. Could I mount an inflatable drum om that output shaft?Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
I have two Jet 577110K JSB-10L, one has a 60 grit drum one one side and a 120 grit on the other. The other one has 3 flap wheels one one end and a 120 grit drum on the other. This model turns 1725 rpm, they have another that turns 3450 rpm.
The arbor specs. are 1" diameter arbors, 8" longArbors have a 3" long threaded end, with 5/8" threads.
Jet has inflateable drums in two diameters, 4"X6" and 6"x6" that fit 1" arbors. As long as your output shaft is long enough and not over 1" dia. they should work on your Shopsmith.
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Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot
and just how much was that thing anyway? Im guessing Id need to add on to my shop and get a boat load of orders to buy it and set it upWicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
They were about $200 for the motor and $200 for the stand. The drums were around $35 each.
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Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot
interesting................ I might have a need for one ( I hope)Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
well well..........Its Hammer Time..........
I was asking about these tools because I currently own a Delta 4X36X6" disc that I have used for about 10 years. I use it all the time being the wood butchering hack that I am. Making toys requires a lot of sanding and fitting of small parts and these tools are perfect for this. The problem is knowing how much I use it the idea of it going to that great big scrap heap in the sky has me concerned. My wife asked me what I want for Christmas and I was thinking it might be good to get a new sanding station. I have that Rigid OSS and I bought it based on the review that FWW gave it. Therefore i was asking the "informed" of the group what they knew about specific tools. ( Informed may not mean you!!!!......... but, youre still my buddy) When you make toys like I do there is a lot of sanding so I was looking at a Rikon that they have down at Woodcraft in Newington. If I dont turn that tool on 20 times a day Im on vacation so I did want a good one that will last.
Im posting a couple pics of some of the toys I have been selling and with all the curves youll see what I mean about having to sand a lot.
In addition to toys I am restoring an antique pool table for a customer in Pa. Its an 1880"s J.E. Came table built in Boston and its mahogany. Dont need a sanding station for that but I like to have a lot of oars in the water so I try to keep busy with many projects. Come on over when you want to see a wood hack at work!Wicked Decent Woodworks
(oldest woodworking shop in NH)
Rochester NH
" If the women dont find you handsome, they should at least find you handy........yessa!"
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