Old Belt / Disk Sander Died
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I recently looked at quite a few belt sanders. Porter Cable has a very nice one but it was either $200 or $300 and thought I'd rather get a better band saw. In the end I bought a Harbor Freight sander with a coupon for about $55. I really wasn't expecting much and figured I can always pitch it if it doesn't work out. I didn't use the belt they provided but immediately replaced it with one from Woodcrafters. I have been pleasantly surprised. The table is flat and it has done a very nice job. Much better than the Rokon at Woodcrafters.
I don't expect this sander to hold up to hard use or last all that long, but you can get an extended warrenty. For me it was good enough and should be fine for occassional use. After this I think the niceest one out there is the Porter Cable. Grizzly also makes very nice stuff. In reality they all most all come out of the same factory. They are just built to different specs.
Let us know what you decide to get and best of luck.
I don't expect this sander to hold up to hard use or last all that long, but you can get an extended warrenty. For me it was good enough and should be fine for occassional use. After this I think the niceest one out there is the Porter Cable. Grizzly also makes very nice stuff. In reality they all most all come out of the same factory. They are just built to different specs.
Let us know what you decide to get and best of luck.
- Nov 24, 2011
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I use a $50 Black & Decker hand held. I built a fixture to hold it downside up and it works fine. If I were you, I'd remove the motor and have it rebuilt at a local electric motor shop.
I have the same Harbor Freight combo model as Norway. It works fast and real well for flat areas, but it throws screws out regularly - so there is some maintenance. My best sander is a drum sander that I inherited which was a home made special. It consists of a sub-pump motor and shaft in a sliding box frame so you can adjust the height of the drum. I can mount various other drums and have the corresponding sanding cones. It's a dream to use on curves on the side of cars (see my Spor-T unlimited), as well as any other curves, and actually does fine on straight areas. When you combine these with a table saw, small band saw, scroll saw, a couple of drill presses - you can get a PWD body in shape in very little time and for not much money (well the portable table saw cost a few bucks).
There is actually a young scout at my house today using many of these
There is actually a young scout at my house today using many of these
The old 2' & 4" Sears Belt 6" disk sanders are real durable, if you decide to replace it rather than fix it I would be intersted in it. Let me know
Get a Rijid (sp) at . Depot. Best sander I have owned. Oly about 100 $'s and change. And great for making fenders, or quickly reducing block size.
These are all reasonable choices. One note - Don't forget that Home Depot often accepts the 20 % Off Harbor Freight coupons, should you go there for anything big (I spread out my table saw and DP at two nearby storesOPARENNEN said:
MWDracing said:
That's the one I have - everyone loves it when I bring this to PWD build days for our outpost. Having both belt and spindle sanding available on one machine really makes a difference. The only bad thing is that I have NEVER seen this sander on sale. I waited about 3 years for a sale before finally breaking down and buying it for full price. Still a good buy, IMHO.
That wasn't the team build one was it?
renegade said:on second thought after this sander decided to sling my new unlimited across the shop and break it into 3 pieces I hate this sander.
I had the guard in place but it wedged in between the guard and belt. Lucky it didn't hit me in the head.
rlb1961 said:renegade said:on second thought after this sander decided to sling my new unlimited across the shop and break it into 3 pieces I hate this sander.
Yeah, you have to hold onto the workpiece - did you have the guard in place to prevent that?
I was at Home Depot last night and saw a Ryobi for $120. It looked like the nicest of the ones I've looked at and I've looked at quite afew. If you find a coupon in a magazine the Harbor Freight is only $55. Add in a good belt and it is a reasonable way to go if you are only doing cars and light projects. I've been surprized by mine.
If money wasn't a considerationn or i anticipated high use I'd get the Porter Cable or Ryobi, other wise Harbor Freight with the three year replacement warrenty.
If money wasn't a considerationn or i anticipated high use I'd get the Porter Cable or Ryobi, other wise Harbor Freight with the three year replacement warrenty.
renegade said:it was.
Quicktimederby said:That wasn't the team build one was it?
renegade said:on second thought after this sander decided to sling my new unlimited across the shop and break it into 3 pieces I hate this sander.
Guard ????
I bought my Rigid sander used along with a band saw and a jig saw. Someone was parting out their fathers wood shop after he passed away.
MWD
DD4H and I use the Rigid from home Depot. It is an excellent sander.. Table is big and tilts. you can easily change between oscillating drums "5 provided" with the belt sander. I use it for furniture building as well as PWD
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