Looking for a wide belt sander open end so I can do table tops, Sand maple without tearout from a planer. sand raised panel doors. I only have single phase power. I guess I should find a 5 horse pwr model. I’d Like tobuy something used, not to old though.
What do you guys and gals think is a good unit to look for?
Thanks, Lou C
Replies
I never have used an open end type, I wonder about flex and ridges in the material. If you are looking for something like a Timesavers in the 37” size that will be a bit more than 5HP and they do offer the lighter weight one in single phase. And remember the compressed air requirements.
http://www.speedsander.com/
Lou,
Look for a stroke sander. Best value for the money - and ideal for tabletops and raised panel doors. Used ones can be had for cheap - they are a way under appreciated piece of equipment.
Lee
I have one of these:
http://www.grizzley.com/products/15-Wide-Belt-Sander-Open-End-/G9983
It works great, I haven't had a problem with ridges. Sorry it's not for sale.
Scott
Lou,
I have a Bridgewood 15" open end belt sander with a 5HP 1PH motor. I am not sure you will find one of these Taiwan units used because when someone gets one they cannot believe they ever got by without it. I do 30" tops with 2 passes with no ridges and a perfect finish. I now run all my stock through it before I start construction. 150 grit right out of the planer and you wouldn't believe how much it has cut down on my RO sanding. All your machine marks are gone before you start sanding. Sunhill Machinery carries the same machine for about $ 3,000 and it is worth every penny. When I am in the shop I use it almost everyday. You can get belts for it for about $11 at Keystone abrasives, they are 16X48 and they make them in PA. Great quality and Grizzly wants $25 for Chinese belts. If you get one, get the one with a platen.
Mapleman is right about stroke sanders if you have the room. They are more versatile, but they can be a little quirky at times. I just don't have the room for one.
Edited 2/24/2008 9:02 pm ET by terrylee86
Are stroke sanders still made? I never see them in any of the ww catalogs.
http://grizzlytools.com/products/Stroke-Sander/G5394
Interesting. Thanks.
Don is right, the only new one I have seen recently is the one from Grizzly. I am sure others still make them, but I have not researched them in years. Stroke sanders have their place in a cabinet shop, but the wide belts have pushed them back to the dusty corners. They are a little quirky to operate, but once you have them down they are pretty easy. They are great on large flat panels, but on long flat stock they fall way behind because they have a limited space between the idler drums. Wide belts are unlimited just like a planer. I have run 12" X 16 ft. skirt boards through mine up to 220 grit, stained and lacquered right out of the WB sander. Makes some parts of WW a lot less tedious. Like most of us, I hate to sand.
Never used one but looks interesting.
Yes, I hate sanding. Wouldn't be so bad if it weren't a dust maker. I've looked at the Festool Rotex and collector, but a thousand smackeroos for the set up makes my pocket squeeze up a mite.
I can't believe what a difference it makes to use a vacuum with my finish sander. Use what you can afford but use something. I started out with a Bosch 6"ROS 3727 and a shop vac. I now have the Festool ROS
6"but I use the Fein vac and love the performance. I don't think the Festool vacs are as good as some others. Bosch and Fein were rated higher in the last tool review I read about vacs. If you can swing it get a vac that comes on with the tool, but Sears make a switch that will do the same thing. I have two of them and they work like a charm.
Oh I have a complete Fein set up but the hose coupling is lousy, comes off at will, and the hose is heavy and drags on the edge of whatever I'm sanding and scratches the edges of it. IMO, a sloppy set up.
I forgot to mention. Get the Festool hose with the rubber end fitting. It seems to work on other tools other than Festool,but check it out at a Woodcraft if you can. Like I said I have the Festool 6" finish sander and obviously it works on that. i did not like the Fein hose at all. I use it on my Miter saw pickup.Terry
Interesting suggestion. Nearest Woodcraft Store is about 40 miles or so, just south of Wilmington, DE. Will have to get over there.
They are in many catalogs from Grizzly, Minimax, Progress, Woodworkers Supply and more.
http://www.minimax-usa.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage_norm&product_id=53&category_id=26&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26
They do require some skill. They overlap with some operations of a widebelt and and excel in some things the widebelt can't do such as wider panels, radius work with J weight belts and other things that have popped up over my35 years of use of industrial sanders. We sanded the dovetails on drawers by hanging the drawer over the edge of the table. The widebelts are good at very long pieces. For a low budget and small shop ( you do need a bit more space area wise with the stoke sander ) I HIGHLY recommend a stoke sander over a drum sander. A drum sander is low on my list and for certain applications I might recommend a drum sander.
Most people don't notice the stroke sanders in the catalogs because only a few of us actually put them through the paces. Old FWW did feature some articles on stroke sanders as it was the only game in town back then. Stroke sanders fell out of use mostly because of the Bill Green and his Performax and lack of understanding of the real nature of a stroke sander. In one shop we had a 36" widebelt and 4 stroke sanders and the stroke sanders were used daily.
You don't have a very high opinion of drum sanders. What about the wide belt stationary sanders.
Each machine has it's virtues but most of it has not been presented in the proper application.A drum sander in the proper application is great but it has limitations that would be better served with a stoke sander for general purpose applications. For light thicknessing of laminating strips it's great. I also know of other options to deal with this if one is willing to sub it out. The stroke sander will give a beter finish and require less handling. The drum sander will requre parts for a high quality finish, be random orbit sandedWide belt sanders are fantastic machines and will give a finish you can take right to finishing.My biggest qualm is there is no one really showing where each sander would be best used. The stroke sander unfortunately is off the map and undeservedly so because there aren't many with the experience to show the virtues of each machine in different applications. I couldn't fit it in a 3 page article.
Edited 2/29/2008 6:43 pm ET by RickL
If you won't use it all the time, it costs too much to buy and house one as big as you'll need. If you only need one occasionally, call to the cabinet shops in the area. Chances are that you'll find one with free time that will sand the top for $25 - $50 per hour plus some for belt wear. It's hard to beat the flat and parallel surface a 50" or 60" belt sander leaves.
Several years ago, I painted the kitchen cabinets in a rental and made new doors from some bargain pecan wood that I glued up into very nice dramatic panel doors. When I tried to plane them, they tore out and when I tried to sand them they acted like cast iron.
A few calls and I got them sanded at David Levy's old shop during some down time. He used a big sander and it cost a lot less than just hooking up a 5hp 3 phase sander. It took about 45 minutes for 15 doors through three grits!
I've use other shops in my area to sand pieces before. I want to be able to do things on my time and not have to wait for other shops. I just think it time!!! We have a nice size job coming up, I think its in the budget (3-4 K) Not a penny more.
Thanks, Lou
Like mapleman said get a stroke sander. You will find it's a far better deal cost wise as well as cheaper belts and far more versatile than a widebelt. Powerwise it's within range and used they are far cheaper than any widebelt and very simple in parts and maintenance. Don't forget you need an air compressor with a widebelt and very good dust collection. I've seen used industrial stroke sanders for as little as a few hundred dollars and still very usable.
Hi Rick,
I know you really like stroke sanders. I can see their usefulness, being able to apply pressure right where it's needed. But when comparing them to wide belt sanders aren't they more dependent on operator skill when sanding large panels with such a small platen? I've never used one or seen one in action so I'm kind of curious.
BTW, I've been using a slot mortiser, which you also like, for the past year. Simple, effective.
Paul
Edited 2/28/2008 10:08 pm ET by colebearanimals
Hi Lou -
Check out Accura dual drum sanders from Hamilton Tools in Beaver Falls, PA., 724-847-0800. They sell a 37" and 25" unit that is high quality and very effective. The Accura brand is the same manufactured unit as General International and Steel City, but hundreds less.
I personally reviewed the open ended units only to conclude that unless you spend several thousand dollars, the less expensive models are not rigid enough. I purchased the Accura 25" unit and when I have completed tables in the past, I simply glue up two halves, send them through the drum sander and then via plate jointer (biscuit jointer) glue the two halves together.
The plate jointer assures alignment of the halves and needs little touch up if any.
As a mechanical engineer, I inspected this unit with the machine covers off prior to purchasing to review the engineering, the castings, and the fit and finish quality of the parts. I was impressed and have used the unit now for over two years and thrilled with the performance and the repeatability of the output.
You will want talk to owners Fred, or Phil. You can also see photos of the product via eBay listing for Drum sanders, key word "Accura", hope this information is helpful.
Jeff
Sander
I have a sander for sale. It is a 54" dual drum Accura 12.5HP 3 phase and comes with a 15/30HP rotary phase converter, disconnect and 2300 CFM dust collection system. I purchased this in late 2007 and only used it lightly for 10 months. This is what you need if you are doing table tops. You won't have to worry about flex, ridges, and keeping it calibrated. I have over $15K invested in this equipment and will sell for $7500. You can email me at [email protected] if interested or if you have questions. Steve
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