oscillating sander

For a little more than your top budget amount, you can invest in a Grizzly stationary OSS. I bought one 2 years ago and it is very heavy duty, with a cast iron top, a STRONG motor and well made in general. I put it on a Shop Fox mobile base. You get a wide selection of spindles with it, and the sanding sleeves from Grizz are very value priced. I would reccomend this unit if you have room for a larger footprint stationary machine and you plan on using a OSS a lot. If not, go with a benchtop model

-- Improvidus, Apto quod Victum-- Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

I agree with woodbum, mine has been pretty good. 250.00 more than what your considering but a lot more machine. The work surface is a plus (25in. X 25in). Wish you well with your decision !

My regrets Lucyanne. The Grizz floor model has gone way up. It is $750 compared to $479 at Woodcraft for your model Jet. Oh well, as usual I put my mouth in gear before fully engaging the research portion of my brain.

-- Improvidus, Apto quod Victum-- Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

What’s wrong with the stupid old Ridgid OSS?
Mine has been a workhorse, but I don’t do production work.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

I still use a Ryobi benchtop model that looks a lot like the Grizzly G0538. I bought it many years ago. I would be curious to hear what advantages people find in using the larger floor-standing machines. My spindle sander is one of the few tools in my shop that has never been upgraded.

-- Kelby

For $300 the best you can do is buy a new Ridgid. or a used Grizzly.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

The one feature I would not be without is an oscillating belt sander. I have the Ridgid, and would have a hard time switching to a Jet because I would be losing the belt option. The Jet is heavy duty with a cast iron top, so you can’t go wrong with it. I just know that the belt feature is on my Ridgid for 90% of the work I do, such as fairing gentle curves or general sanding tasks.

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush

I have had for ten years the powermatic version of this little sander I love it I know it is built better than the Grizley and the ridgid fells like a toy in comparison to this sander. I dont like Plastic tools never have so the choice is yours one thing for sure is the jet is well made. I know a lot or Ridgid owners who love the belt on their sander but on straight sides i finish with a good hand plane

-- when I am not on Lumberjocks I am on @ http://thisoldworkshop.com where we allow free speech

I will also chime in on the Ridgid Belt/spindle sander. I bought one a few weeks ago and love it. I would recommend it to anyone. Having the added capability of an oscillating belt as well as a spindle is awesome. You can’t beat it for 200 bucks at HD and you can even find factory refurbs on Amazon for 150. It is also light enough to take on and off the workbench when not needed. I have a small shop and not having to dedicate space to a heavy spindle sander and a separate belt sander is a premium.

-- Save lives, ease suffering, reduce morbidity and mortality, stomp out pestilence and disease, postpone the inevitable, and fake compassion. The Paramedics Creed

I’ll add Kudos for the Ridgid sander. It has performed well for me for several years.
It only has 4” sanding sleeves and I often need 5 1/2 for some band saw boxes. I had an extension milled by a machinist so that I can now use 6” sleeves.

-- Gene 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I have the JET that I bought used (once) on CL for $350. I didn’t dicker over price as I figured I was still saving a couple hundred after shipping. Only complaint is that the three inch spindle is an expensive add on. It is quiet, has a stout motor and metal gears running in an oil bath. Rigid and the Delta BOSS are plastic gears. You decide which one will last longer.