Help with my sanding

I have learned the hard way to get quality in a OS Sander. You tend to use them hard and they wear out quickly if you get a cheap one. I hear good things about Portle Cable. Rigid and Dewalt look good too. Craftsman makes one with great dust collection that’s worth checking out. As with any tool, search the internet for user reviews. I expect anything in the $80-100 range would be a good investment.

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.I’m sorry. I removed my response because I read the question wrong. The response I had given was for a very different tool than the one you’re asking about.

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I have used the jet floor model for several years, never had any problems. There are better more expensive ones out there, but for small shops, I think the jet is fine.

-- Lynn "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right". Henry Ford

I absolutely Love my Grizzley floor model Oscillating Spindle sander.
I used mine quite a bit with out a single problem. (Daily for several years)
The only shortcoming I could find is the factory dust chute, they necked it down a bit much where it takes the bend coming out from under the table and turns down.
Some reduction in thickness is required to accommodate the tilting table – but not that much.
I simply cut mine open with a die grinder and cutoff wheel, opened it up and welded in small pieces of sheet metal to fill in.
They may have changed it since I bought mine about 10 years ago. I think it was a good tool for the price.

-- Folly ever comes cloaked in opportunity!

If you go to “Search” in the Upper Right Corner and put in “Oscillating Sander” you will get at least 3 or 4 “Reviews”. ALL of then on the “Ridgid, Oscillating Spindle/Belt Sander” Model EB44204. The one Ridgid has on their Site right now is Model EB4424. I don’t see any difference actually. RIGID Link Below.

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/Oscillating-Edge-Belt--Spindle-Sander/EN/index.htm

ALL the LJ Reviews are Glowing and Highly Rated. Fine Woodworking also Rated it as a Best Buy and Top Quality. If you go to RIDGID’S Site you will see ALL the Specs and you can download, as a PDF File the Owners Manual & A FULL Parts List.

I’ve had mine for 2 years now. Being a Dual Purpose Sander I’m getting FAR more use out of it than I ever thought I would. My Shop Vac, attached to the Dust Port gets ALL the Dust other than a bit that lies on the Sander Table. It is one of my BEST TOOLS. I Highly recommend it!!

In Canada it’s about $249.00. In the US It’s about $150.00 to $200.00 at Home Depot.

It only weighs 40Lbs. & is easy to move around. RIDGID also offers a “Lifetime Service Warranty” on it and I think all their other tools as well. You MUST Register Your Tool after Purchase, to get the Warranty.

Another GOOD, small investment along with it is a Crepe Block to remove accumulated Sanding Debris from the Spindle Drums or the Belts. I believe they are around $6 or $8 Dollars. Lee Valley has them, as well as other Tool/Hardware Stores.

Hope this is of some Help to you John.

Regards: Rick

-- ENJOY YOURSELVES GUYS!!!

I had one of these that I got for free! The motor would not run and I am not sure why, switch was good! I was not ready to spend what they wanted to “repair” it as I already had the Grizzley I mentioned above so I gave it away.
I wouldn’t consider a benchtop machine for production work unless it was for “occasional” use.

-- Folly ever comes cloaked in opportunity!

Hey Dez:

Well. What can I say? You got it for FREE because it wasn’t working! Then you gave it away and never used it.

I’m not sure what “Production Work” means, maybe a straight, solid 8 hours? John said he uses it “Daily”, how many Hours at a time I don’t know. I’ve used mine for up to 3/4 Hours at a time. No Problems at all.

Granted, I don’t use it every day. So. You could very well be right. We’re also talking $700 Apprx. Versus $150 to $200.

The Function I like most about it, is the Multi Purpose Spindle/Belt aspect. In fact, I probably use the Oscillating Belt more than the Spindle because I can accomplish what use to take 2 machines to accomplish before. i.e. The Left Hand Edge is also a “Partial” Spindle Sander. So you can “Flat Sand” as well as Curves and Inside Corners on the Same Piece at the Same Time.

Rick

-- ENJOY YOURSELVES GUYS!!!

+1 for the grizzly flloor model, I am extremely happy with mine.