Stationary Belt/Disc Sander Recommendation

[Adrien]

I'm in need of a benchtop/stationary belt/disc sander combo unit. I'm going to primarily use it for custom fitting recoil pads and spacers to shotgun stocks. Not really interested in footing the bill for a JET unit, so I guess I'm wondering which of the cheaper options are the best.

I found a sweet deal at a local pawn shop on an old Dremel 1731, but it was missing the table for the disc sander and parts aren't available for that machine that I'm aware of.

Thanks,

Adrien

 

[Elroy]

Disc sanders are like air compressors and garages

You can't have them too big

 

[Adrien]

Definitely big enough. Maybe too big for my particular application however.

Adrien

 

[Keep]

Definitely big enough. Maybe too big for my particular application however.

Adrien

No such thing, you will buy a small one, then ***** that it will not do what you need.

I have been through 4 so far, the Grizzly 1x42 belt, 8 inch disc unit, not powerful enough for anything other then thin wood.

Next up was a 4x36 belt 9 inch disc unit, worked alright but the plastic did not like the metal sparks, so it melted.

Now I have a 12 inch direct drive disc and a 2x72 1HP belt sander. These two are work horses.

If you watch you should see older 6x48 12inch units come up on kijiji or craiglist. They are real nice machines.

 

[Brad54]

I've got this one, mounted on one side of my Craftsman bench grinder.

It's the most used tool in my shop, and I've never needed a bigger one.
http://www.vansantent.com/Grinding_Sanding/multitool_video.htm

I don't know why they show the tool only half assembled in their lead photos... the open wheel in the back actually has a cover, turning it into a platen to mount a sanding disc too.

-Brad

 

[Adrien]

I've got this one, mounted on one side of my Craftsman bench grinder.

It's the most used tool in my shop, and I've never needed a bigger one.
http://www.vansantent.com/Grinding_Sanding/multitool_video.htm

I don't know why they show the tool only half assembled in their lead photos... the open wheel in the back actually has a cover, turning it into a platen to mount a sanding disc too.

-Brad

Very cool. Does it come with a table for the disc sander?

Adrien

 

[Lightfoot]

I bought a Wilton at a closeout tool auction last year, and so far i've been very satisfied with it. It's the only one i've ever had, so i can't compare it to others, but it suits my needs for just around the house.

 

[ZRX61]

I have a 12in Grizzly disc sander, does what it claims to do

If you use it it for metal & wood, be sure to clean the sawdust out before using it on steel to avoid unintended excitement

 

[Adrien]

Well after some poking around I'm considering building my own disc sander. I need to check Gramps' surplus for a suitable motor.

Oh boy, here we go.

Adrien

 

[Adrien]

So I'm considering buying one of these: http://www.shopsmith.com/ownersite/catalog/sn_sandingdisc.htm

The other option I would imagine would be to search some parts catalogs for existing production disc sanders and buy the disc. Any thoughts?

Adrien

 

[Trucky]

I'd just recommend to buy a cheapie from HF. Their 12" is only ~$120 I think, and it looks like it'll work just fine, as long as you're not throwing 3" cold rolled into it, which you aren't. Throw a few coupons into the mix, and you have a sander for 100 bucks that'll do whatever you need. I have no clue on how to build one however, I just like the thought of buying premade things.

 

[Adrien]

I just like the thought of buying premade things.

Too easy.

Found a somewhat suitable candidate. She doesn't look like much now, but I'm going to clean her up and maybe throw a coat of Rustoleum on her.

Took a little persuasion to get the pulley off.

After a quick wipe down.

Adrien

 

[Trucky]

Too easy.

Found a somewhat suitable candidate. She doesn't look like much now, but I'm going to clean her up and maybe throw a coat of Rustoleum on her.

Where the heck did you find that?

I went to TSC to look at motors and they cost more than that 12" sander from HF so I said screw it

 

[Adrien]

Haha, well...my Grandfather has quite the collection, of everything. Pretty sure this one came out of a swamp cooler. I found a whole slough of motors but decided on this one. I found a near-new condition 3/4 hp, but it had a different type of shaft, rather small with a short left hand thread on it. Probably was designed to fit directly onto some sort of pump. There was another 1/2 horse similar to this one that was a single speed (this one is a double speed). Not quite sure if I'm going to wire it up for both speeds or just at high-speed yet. I ultimately chose this one because it already had a pigtail on it so we could easily test it. Besides, the other motors aren't going anywhere, anytime soon.

Adrien

 

[TOOL MASTER]

http://www.burrking.com/catalog/p-100004/model-960-250-2.5-x-60-two-wheel-belt-grinder

 

[Brad54]

Very cool. Does it come with a table for the disc sander?

Adrien

Yes, it does.
That photo on their website *****! Don't know who is in charge of marketing, but they need to be fired.


-Brad

 

[Trucky]

http://www.burrking.com/catalog/p-100004/model-960-250-2.5-x-60-two-wheel-belt-grinder

Is it just me or do those cost about the same as a small used car?

 

[Adrien]

Is it just me or do those cost about the same as a small used car?

Hehe. If I didn't want to "spring" for a JET I definitely don't see me spending the money on one of those. Especially now that I'm projecting this project to cost me only the price of a used Shopsmith 12" disc and some time. That is considering I can find all of the other parts I need laying around, which is more than likely.

Adrien

 

[Trucky]

Hehe. If I didn't want to "spring" for a JET I definitely don't see me spending the money on one of those. Especially now that I'm projecting this project to cost me only the price of a used Shopsmith 12" disc and some time. That is considering I can find all of the other parts I need laying around, which is more than likely.

Adrien

I'm guessing you have piles and piles of not very useful things, but if you combine a bunch of parts together, you can get worthwhile stuff out of it?

And those piles have been there forever?

Sure wish I had some "junk" to mess around with.

 

[Adrien]

I'm guessing you have piles and piles of not very useful things, but if you combine a bunch of parts together, you can get worthwhile stuff out of it?

And those piles have been there forever?

Sure wish I had some "junk" to mess around with.

Something like that. However, there's a few piles of useful things, too.

And yes, they've been there for a very long time. I'm fortunate enough to have 60+ years of accumulated "junk" at my disposal. Tools however are another story. I still have to borrow those, and put them back where I found them, haha.

Adrien

 

[Trucky]

Borrowing tools? Go buy some (Like that ~$4000 belt sander grinder thingy-ma-jig!), it'll make you happy until you go and check your bank account balance (Terrible idea by the way!)

I hate borrowing, but just in case I have a special drawer I keep open to put that kind of stuff in there. I don't like keeping a $500 mic set for too long in case I manage to chip an anvil or something, so I try not to.

I haven't built anything myself in a while, but it seems like I might just try to make my own sander as well. Can't be that hard. And I have google on my side.

See that, you've inspired me. Hah.

Also, how's that shop build going? Looks like fun. Your supervisor gets paid well I bet. Milkbones right?

 

[Adrien]

Also, how's that shop build going? Looks like fun. Your supervisor gets paid well I bet. Milkbones right?

The build is going, slow. Putting anchor plates in this weekend for the mobile home so we can go forward with the building. Actually he doesn't like Milkbones. He's a bit spoiled by the Chicken and Duck breast treats from Costco.

Anyway, got some more progress on the disc sander project.

Cleaning off the old paint and rust from the motor mount. Using my trusty homemade project "cart."

All clean.

Also cleaned up the motor. I don't want to dismantle it to paint it, which will be interesting. I have a plan though, sort of. I also found this steel plate out back covered in rust and I cleaned it up. The plan is to cut a slot in it for the disc and build a base underneath it.

Adrien

 

[Trucky]

Nice cart, reminds me of Kennedy stuff, for some reason.

That's rather clever of you just build the base around it instead of trying to attach it. Is this going to be on some sort of pedestal?

I'd recommend that you make sure you reinforce the bottom of that plate though, I can't really see from here but it looks rather thin. Maybe put a few "ribs" on the bottom and connect the ends, like what you'd see on a drill press table. If it's pretty rigid though, you could probably leave it as is. Make sure you leave room for a water pot too, if you're going to be using metal on this (I forget -.-)

Are you sure you don't want to disassemble it for painting? It'd be one hell of a pain in the **** if you manage to slip some paint into the internals. Given the age though, it might just be easier to do a careful job. I don't trust myself around electronics anyways.

 

[Adrien]

It's an old Kennedy chest that I partially restored (painted the outside). Then I painted some shelf brackets to match and added the 3/4" MDF on the side for additional work surface and something to clamp things to. I'd like to add some more stuff on the other side like a spray can rack and some tool holders or something.

As for the sander, I haven't decided if I'm going to mount it onto a stand yet or just a 3-4" base and set it on a workbench. I'm not too familiar with steel thicknesses, but it's pretty thick. There's no flex to it or anything. The water pot is something to consider, I'll look into it.

I'm planning on masking the holes on the case and the caps and spraying the case. After that I'll brush paint the caps and around the holes. Doesn't need to be perfect, my main interest is protecting the case from rust.

Adrien