Calling all owners of the Rigid spindle sander

Hook it up to a 2” dust port…the dust collection is actually not bad for a sander. As for the sleeves, I’ve been using my sander with it’s stock sleeves and belt for three years…I suppose I should have some spares on hand. Get an abrasive cleaner and they last a really long time…mind you, I’ve never used one of those on my sleeves either. Everything just seems to last fairly long on this unit. I really enjoy using it and look forward to it’s use on projects as it has a predictable outcome and is quite easy to master. I don’t really have any tips and tricks as it’s one of the really great values in woodworking. It’s simple to use, works very well and has idiot proof operation. I’m immediately concerned about your switch issue though and just that alone is worth trading it in for a replacement.

Enjoy!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Like Tom, I would be concerned about the switch. Unless it is one of the newer types that start under reduced power (like on routers), I would say the switch is bad. I have not heard anyone else have anything but compliments on this sander.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

I agree with Tom. I don’t own this sander, but I wouldn’t take any chances with that switch. I’d get that thing replaced before the warranty is up. What is the warranty on those things anyway?

-- JP, Shelbyville, KY

I see one of these in my future.

-- Maplewood, MN

never had a problem with the start switch… take it back.

sanding sleeves: we bought extras, just in case, at Rona (Home Depot equivalent)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I love mine – I didn’t have any switch problems either.

Ridgid sells replacement sleeves in a couple of different grits. I’ve never tried other sleeves. I have put other belts on with no problems. Dust collection is surprisingly good.

Suggestion: try to keep your fingers off the belt! :)

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

Does it oscilate, too, or is a stationary spindle?

-- Paul, Texas

Paul, it’s an oscillator…I think the stroke is 3/4”

I got mine last night, so I’m still waiting to unbox it. Maybe tonight, after the kid goes to bed!

-- Living on the square...

I love mine…I use it often. The only problem I have had with it is the smaller sleaves don’t tighten down well, the larger ones work fine. I mainly keep the belt sander on. You can find replacement belts pretty easy, I haven’t looked at replacement spindle sleaves yet. I would recommend hooking it up to a dust collector, a shopvac just doesn’t seem to have enough power to get the dust down. You will enjoy it.

-- Greg - Charles Town, WV

Brad, mine is the older colored machine prior to the private label.
I have used it off and on for about 5 years without incident. I am guessing but the SPST switch is probably not contacting properly with the switch. Take the whole machine back or get them to toss you a new switch. They install really easy on spades on the wires. As for the sleeves, they last a long time but they do get dull so don’t waste a lot of time on dull paper.
The one nuisance on the machine is that it does not want to align to vertical properly so be careful to check it with a square prior to ruining a piece.

It’s pretty good value none the less.

Cheers
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Thanks for all the info everyone! I have had it plugged in for a while now and have turned it on and off every time I walk by it. So far it has fired every time. I think it might have been the power strip I had originaly plugged it into. I really like the design, how all the accesories store on the machine. It seems well built, and the table is sturdier than it looks in the photos.

-- Women love me.....trees fear me

I’ve had one for about a year now, and it’s what i used to remove the saw marks from the round table i posted a couple of weeks ago, and “carved” the spatulas that i’ve started making. I love mine and use it a lot more than i thought i would. Practice alot with it and develop a feel for how much wood you’re removing. The sleeves are sold at Home Depot with the rest of the sand paper, and i think you can get them online. The belts are just standard 4”x24”. You can pick them up anywhere. One of the woodworking magazines, can’t remeber which one, rated it a best buy. Mainly because it is so much more versatile than a standard spindle sander.
Hope you enjoy your’s as much as i do mine, and I would consider exchanging it, before that switch becomes a problem.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

small spindle sleeve: the small one sets up differently than the rest. I forget now.. but once I put it on properly I had no problems with it staying put.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Brad, you may not have had the removable safety key(yellow doohickie) completely inserted into the switch.
Give it a good push to be sure it seated. The machine will not run with out it.

Almost forgot. You can get the extra sleeves at Home Depot. I picked up a couple extra packs when we bought the machine.

-- .

Deb…yes, the smallest sleeve goes right on the spindle shaft, no rubber tube. You have to put the small 1/2” ID washer on the shaft first before you slide the sleeve on.

-- Women love me.....trees fear me

Don’t overtighten the knob when you use that little spindle. The larger spindles have the rubber core, so when you tighten down the knob the rubber expands against the inside of the sleeve. The smaller sleeve, the washer pushes down on the top of the sleeve and will crush it if you overtighten.

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com