Disc/Belt Sander

There is a reason we like the EB4424. It does what it does VERY well…

-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!

I have a 6” x 48” belt sander from Harbor freight ($200) and use it a lot. It has a disk sander with it but I never use that. (Burns the wood ). This is the most used tool in my 10’ x 25’ shop.

-- In God We Trust

I had a Dewalt 6’‘X48” disc/belt sander. I used it some the first year and I could never get good results. It sat idle in my shop for 10 years and I just gve it away. I now use hand planes, BS, spoke shaves, scrapers, etc., and do much better work.

-- Jerry

go for a belt/disk with a mobile base. The base will let you pull it away from the wall to get at all those angles you need around it. Also if you do, go for a 6×48 because most of the 4×36 sanders are crap and underpowered.

I use my 12” disk about as much as the belt.
Would hate to be without either.

If I was starting over, I’d carefully consider the Ridgid EB4424 Oscillating Edge Belt / Spindle Sander and still get a separate disk sander. They all do different jobs and I presently don’t have a spindle sander except for my drill press.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.

I have an OLD Grizzly 6×48 sander and it gets used on every project. The belt gets used a lot more than the disc as I get less burning on the belt. i also have a Hatichi 4×36 that has held up well but is a toy compared to the old Grizz.

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

Andy, and others,

Get yourselves a belt cleaner:
http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2000271/8/abrasive-belt-cleaner-2-x-2-x-12.aspx
I’m sure Rockler has them also. Or just use an old tennis shoe.

-- Backer boards, stop blocks, build oversized, and never buy a hand plane--

I was going to ask yesterday, why do I need one of these? My next tool purchase will either be something like this or a drill press. I guess I don’t really understand their use. What makes these better than just a regular old ROS?

-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/KandJWoodCrafts

Joe, Put a 36 or 50 grit on the belt and you can do some shaping in a real hurry that will take a long time with a ROS. It has a purpose that is different than a ROS. It also has a table that gives you 90 degrees from the belt to square up corners if you need that. Grits are easilly and quickly changed.

-- Backer boards, stop blocks, build oversized, and never buy a hand plane--

Ridgid in my shop. Its a keeper.
Bill

-- bill@magraphics.us

I have recently put $250, including tax, and extra warranty, into a Harbor Freight belt disc sander. So far it’s been a good deal. I was considering a $500 sander that Grizzly sells. However, I was really pushed for money at the time. So far I haven’t been sorry. If it will last me a couple of years I will be happy because I was doing a whole lot of hand sanding and I consider it has already paid for itself in time saved in the last 6 weeks. I would probably still not have any sander yet so getting this cheaper one has helped me a lot. BTW, I put mine on a plywood base with casters because my shop is small too.

helluvawreck
https://woodworkingexpo.wordpress.com

-- If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau

Rance, a Art eraser does a good job also.

-- My terrible signature...

Rance, I have three of the big gum erasers (one near every sander). They save a lot of paper. Joe, These sanders do so much more than a ROS: sand a perfect circle, true up a miter, round corners, take the excess ‘pin’ materiel off box joints, etc and they do it FAST!

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

I’m just having trouble visualizing how they work, especially the belt part. I will probably get one this weekend. Woodcraft has there 10/15% of sale Saturday and Sunday

-- http://www.etsy.com/shop/KandJWoodCrafts

Joe, A big advantage to the larger sanders is a much longer platen under the belt. This allow you to sand/flatten longer pieces. The platen on my Grizz is 17” so check this before spending your money.

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm