Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Feb 01, 2009 07:36am | #1

   Bugsy, I was curious about the machine so did a quick search.  There are a couple of owners over at Lumberjocks.  You could probably find more Googling flatmaster sander.  Looks like it's a sturdy (or at least sturdier) version of the Sandflee.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   Bugsy | Feb 01, 2009 03:37pm | #2

   Thanks, I just read what they had to say ( LumberJocks) and put a post on the Flatmaster.It seems like everyone likes it and it works. My concern and hope is that the Flatmaster can be used in  conjunction with an in feed table. They say there are cabinet shops that buy the Flatmaster specificlly or that purpose. Still hoping to here from those folks. I still like the machine and think it has it's place A touch expensive for the construction and materials of the machine.

    

1. 
   forestgirl | Feb 01, 2009 08:10pm | #4

   "A touch expensive for the construction and materials of the machine."  How much do they cost?  I didn't delve into the details.  Do they give a satisfaction guarantee?  I'd want a 30-day "no questions asked" trial period if the dollars are high.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   Bugsy | Feb 02, 2009 03:09am | #5

   Foerestgirl: The Flatmaster was $569.00 at the show, it included 2 rolls of sandpaper, 4 feather wheels and 2 fences. you need to supply the 1/2 hp. motor. Otherwise the price is $ 819.00. I question the cost because of the simplicity of construction the machine. It airs to a portable router table from Sears. yet the thing does work.

   Rick; This machine at the right price does have a place in most shops. There are a multitude of small parts that could be pre sanded. I would say in my own world I would use this on 75% to 85% of the parts. What a time saver it could be. For some reason I think I saw this contraption in a early edition of Popular Mechanics. I'll keep searching.

    

    

2. 
   RickL | Feb 01, 2009 05:49pm | #3

   No cabinet shop I know of uses a flatmaster sander. I've been in professional shops for 35 years and can't imagine any real shop would want such a toy. My first choice for a budget sander would be a stroke sander.

   You do realize that with a flatmaster sander you still need to random orbit sand the ripples out. Widebelt sanders typically have a platen between the drums which gives a finish sand so you can go right to staining. Without the platen a widebelt is essentially a drum sander. The stroke sander can also allow wood to go right into finishing.

   The hobby mags should do a good article explaining the differences between the types of sanders to end all this silly confusion.