mbshop
Well-known member
Has there been a discussion on this belt sander and its many derivatives ? I find it sold under many other names. Some look better than others. So just wonering if the more expensive ones are actually worth it. Thanks.
1"x30" hf belt sander discussion
- Thread starter mbshop
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If not on this site, on plenty of others. Knife making guys discuss it ad nauseum. There are You tube videos on using and improving it. I cannot say if the similar ones are any better. I have considered buying one. The HF low seems to be around $35. The QC is not that great on that cheap stuff so I would buy from a local HF in case it has to go back for a refund or exchange.
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Cope
Well-known member
I have seen visual differences in HF and other import sanders. I like Grizzly for the money.
I was looking for something better and without resorting to questionable inmports there is a big jump on price to the Kalamazoo 1 x 42 with 1/3 hp Baldor at $280 give or take. There is the Canadian built Viel for about $150 US plus shipping from Canada. Or the same one with a user supplied motor for around $85 from Lee Valley who does business on both sides of the border. The drive pully is 1/2" bore instead of the more commonn 5/8" for 1/4 and 1/3 hp motors. That could be a problem. If anybody has a specific reccomendation and not just some HF competitor from Uncle Mao's Dollar Store, like Grizzly please chime in.
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Yea, I have read and watched a lot of youtube videos. But what I have not found is actual comparisons. My use will be occasional light use. But as I read I find that there seems to be qc issues and constant "fixes". So I would spend a bit more for less fiddling but as has been said, there's a big jump in price when getting near qc. Guess I will just deal with the hf freight one and hope for the best. Thanks guys.
derosa
Well-known member
The delta version pops up on Craigslist around here on a regular basis. Still seem to get about 50-80 depending on overall condition. I paid 40.00 for mine but it was a lucky yard sale find.
Nowater
Well-known member
FWIW, I have one. Sometimes when I turn it on, I need to manually start the sanding belt to get the motor running. I have not built anything to add on to it yet, and may just wait to get a higher quality unit that does not vibrate so much. I can somewhat use it to sharpen knives.
So much for a real 1/3 hp. I have heard they were weak and only good for only sharpening knives without enough guts to shape a blade or remove any serious amount of metal.
Know Wosad
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SteveL
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I have the HF version and like it a lot for the price. Made a few mods and improvements after visiting other sites for pointers and it works very well. Granted, I don't use it every day and mostly for light duty stuff, but for $39 it was hard to pass up.
It truly does seem that there is a serious inconsistency in the hf ones from one unit to the other. Some seem to have little power while others seem to have more than adequat power. Vibration seems to be an issue mostly due to imperfectly round pulleys or loose or sloppy drive pulleys, etc. So it seems some need more work than others. On the one that needs a yank to start, check a contact tightness or belt adjusted a tad tight.
Know Wosad
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Stay the hell out of HF.Depot. Quit voting against your survival. Not one comment on the pic I posted ? You're a lost cause.
Sorry to have hurt you in some way.. what you showed would be major major overkill for me plus take up space I do not have. Maybe you are lacking in the knowledge that I'm in a wheelchair so weight and movability is an issue. Also I did not know I had to reply to every post that folks make. So again, sorry for hurting your feelings.
There's a machine shop here in town that buys the 1x30 and 12" disc sanders by the pallet for their tool room. One by every machining center for deburring. The scotchbright belts they run are almost as expensive as the machine itself.
Except for the fact that unless you have a basic machine shop at your disposal, one could buy a kalamazoo sander cheaper and not have to fiddle with putting it together. The three biggest costs in a home built grinder are the motor, wheels and bearings.
Also the lack of platten, contact wheel and table on that thing is just asking for problems.
Except for the fact that unless you have a basic machine shop at your disposal, one could buy a kalamazoo sander cheaper and not have to fiddle with putting it together. The three biggest costs in a home built grinder are the motor, wheels and bearings.
Also the lack of platten, contact wheel and table on that thing is just asking for problems.
Last edited:
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
There are a lot of things that can be down to improve them, for not a lot of money.
Just a reminder that my op was about the quality of the same unit sold under differing looks and names. Just was wondering one of those was actually better and worth the money. I'm getting the feeling that for my use I should buy the hf, fiddle a bit with it and just move on. Certainly better belts will be the better of any modifications. Thanks,
I won't claim that my HF 1x30 feels like a $200 unit or anything ridiculous like that. It is put together solid, no stripped threads or anything. Doesn't vibrate the table when used, doesn't bog when I sharpen with it though I just got it recently I'm not an expert. Overall it is an ok unit, though I'm sure it's not 1/3 hp its probably 1/8 hp but I haven't pushed it to the point of slow or stall. On an el cheapo kabar copy, I have got a 'splits paper' type sharp out of freehanding it with the 80 (?) that came with it, but nowhere near 'really' sharp with that.
What are you guys using as belts for these? the texas sharpening or red label are the top on amazon is there another source for good ones?
What are you guys using as belts for these? the texas sharpening or red label are the top on amazon is there another source for good ones?
I haven't really studied the belts much. Just know that the higher the grit the faster the metal heats up so one has to be carefull doing thin stuff specially knives. I think aluminum oxide is best. Also get belts that are slant cut butted together types. Let us know what yoj find.