Belt or Disc Sander Recommendations?

[lilscorpion]

There is no specific thing, the most common is small drill bits, punches and tungsten's I usually have a fine belt on the Burr-king so not a lot of heavy material removal. I use the 14" grinder to rough out most jobs. I also use my vertical bandsaw to trim as much as I can on things before grinding. I have a small belt sander 4X24? The Burr-King, the disc grinder, two 14" pedestal grinders, a 6' pedestal grinder and, I am looking for a big belt grinder on/off.

The disc grinder and pedestal grinders are the most used of the lot. I do use the wheels to side grind on occasion, not a great idea and don't endorse that. The want of a big belt grinder is for a table to rest work on. As mentioned in previous posts having a large work rest is a big part of why the disc grinder is so useful. The big industrial belt grinders have a similar work table. To generate a flat plain on work a solid reference surface is a must. The Burr-King and small grinders just don't have a large flat that is well suited to that work. For off hand and odd angles they are fine, for square(square here is perpendicular) a nice big flat at 90 to the grinder is my choice.

Steve

great information...it's sinking in! I agree about having a rest/work table. When I think about the times I've needed a larger format sander, it's most always to square something up. I'd like to have a guide on the work surface as well (square to the belt/disc). That's what I'll hold out for. I'm actively hunting..

 

[Cruzan80]

Just pm-ed you a couple leads. In case you get rrplies to the threwd, but not PM notifications

 

[Renegade1LI]

Picked up this powermatic last year for 200$, needed some loving but it's 1 1/2 hp 3 ph running off a vfd gives nice speed control & has a built in dust collector.

 

[csp]

Dammit I wish I had seen this one earlier than I did Matt.

Hammond Belt Sander

Model VH-6WP-B 6" x 14", SN 9566 as photographed. Please utilize inspection for full review. There is not any material handling equipment available on site.

dickensheet.bidwrangler.com

 

[lilscorpion]

For whatever reason my thread alerts/notifications aren't firing...

Just pm-ed you a couple leads. In case you get rrplies to the threwd, but not PM notifications

Got 'em thanks. Any of the floor units that look like they weight like 1000lbs I won't be able to pickup right now...or it needs to be wicked local. Probably a bench top like the powermatic in the springs. That one looks like a beast but I could get it into a smaller vehicle ok (jeep).

Picked up this powermatic last year for 200$, needed some loving but it's 1 1/2 hp 3 ph running off a vfd gives nice speed control & has a built in dust collector.

Thats an awesome deal! SCORE...3 phase kinda ***** but I do have a phase converter.

Dammit I wish I had seen this one earlier than I did Matt.

Hammond Belt Sander

Model VH-6WP-B 6" x 14", SN 9566 as photographed. Please utilize inspection for full review. There is not any material handling equipment available on site.

dickensheet.bidwrangler.com

That's a beast. A real machine. Dang it, I thought the Dickensheet auctions usually ****. I'll have to start watching them as well...

 

[Steve from Socal]

That Hammond grinder was a steal. That is about what I am looking for!

Steve

 

[Cruzan80]

Glad I wasnt watching. Otherwise the mill for $10 may have gotten added to the pile.

 

[lilscorpion]

Glad I wasnt watching. Otherwise the mill for $10 may have gotten added to the pile.

A friend of mine bought a bridgeport from the high school shop in Castle Rock for $300 a few years back. He was so excited. All I saw was junk. The table did feed but the quil was frozen. Power wasn't wired up so "I swear it runs" was the condition. Couldn't shift it out of low gear...

I'll be more than happy to pay a few grand for a mill that runs and I can verify all functions work. For $10 I'll pay the seller to move on.

 

[csp]

Dang it, I thought the Dickensheet auctions usually ****. I'll have to start watching them as well...

That's always been my impression as well. Roller seemed to get really popular last year and 2020 when more people were working from home. Items have definitely been selling at higher prices. They were definitely better when most of their sales were live.

 

[lilscorpion]

That's always been my impression as well. Roller seemed to get really popular last year and 2020 when more people were working from home. Items have definitely been selling at higher prices. They were definitely better when most of their sales were live.

Agreed. That's where I got most of my stuff much of which still functions perfectly well since I purchased it. Probably the only thing I don't use is the large rotary wheel. Things heavy as **** and I've never picked it up off the floor and put it on the mill. I've done everything I can to find another way. That purchase turned out to be a stupid one.

 

[rmack898]

I always wanted a Burr King for my shop but could never find one for a price I was willing to pay.
Then I worked in a shop that had a Jancy Radius Master and that was an amazing machine but it too was well out of my price range.

Radius Master Belt Grinders - The World’s Best Belt Grinders - Australian Made

Radius Master belt grinders are the most versatile and accurate belt grinders in the world. Australian made belt grinders designed and built from high quality parts.

www.radiusmaster.com.au

One day I noticed that Baliegh had an import version of the Radius Master at a price I could afford so I bought it. I was still working at the shop that had the real Radius Master and we put them side by side and could not see any differences. The import performed exactly the same as the Jancy.

I've had the Baileigh knock off grinder in the shop for over 6 years now and I still get a smile every time I use it. With a 60 grit belt and it's 1-1/2HP motor, it will really hog some metal off. Being able to change the diameter of the upper belt wheel just by rotating the carousel makes it pretty versatile.

 

[Cruzan80]

A friend of mine bought a bridgeport from the high school shop in Castle Rock for $300 a few years back. He was so excited. All I saw was junk. The table did feed but the quil was frozen. Power wasn't wired up so "I swear it runs" was the condition. Couldn't shift it out of low gear...

I'll be more than happy to pay a few grand for a mill that runs and I can verify all functions work. For $10 I'll pay the seller to move on.

Yeah, I understand that portion too. At a certain point, the risk/reward is worth it for me. But I also spend most of my time rehabbing stuff, and occasionally on projects, so things like that call to me.

The $350 I spent on my Comet (BP Clone) will be completely worth it though. It is a cream-puff, that only handled phenolic and was only in service for about 15 years total, mostly low use prototyping.

 

[lilscorpion]

I always wanted a Burr King for my shop but could never find one for a price I was willing to pay.
Then I worked in a shop that had a Jancy Radius Master and that was an amazing machine but it too was well out of my price range.

Radius Master Belt Grinders - The World’s Best Belt Grinders - Australian Made

Radius Master belt grinders are the most versatile and accurate belt grinders in the world. Australian made belt grinders designed and built from high quality parts.

www.radiusmaster.com.au

One day I noticed that Baliegh had an import version of the Radius Master at a price I could afford so I bought it. I was still working at the shop that had the real Radius Master and we put them side by side and could not see any differences. The import performed exactly the same as the Jancy.

I've had the Baileigh knock off grinder in the shop for over 6 years now and I still get a smile every time I use it. With a 60 grit belt and it's 1-1/2HP motor, it will really hog some metal off. Being able to change the diameter of the upper belt wheel just by rotating the carousel makes it pretty versatile.

Looked at their site. Is it the one that's about a couple grand now?

Belt Grinder - BG-248-3

Belt Grinder - BG-248-3

www.baileigh.com

 

[lilscorpion]

Yeah, I understand that portion too. At a certain point, the risk/reward is worth it for me. But I also spend most of my time rehabbing stuff, and occasionally on projects, so things like that call to me.

The $350 I spent on my Comet (BP Clone) will be completely worth it though. It is a cream-puff, that only handled phenolic and was only in service for about 15 years total, mostly low use prototyping.

There's a bunch of J-head parts out there. I'm certain that a machine could be brought back to live with some elbow grease. I'm sure mine would appreciate a full go-thu.

I keep looking on Craigs and at local auctions for mills just to see what's out there. The used market is really thin OR they're not selling via the traditional outlets anymore. Not sure which.

 

[rmack898]

Holy ****, I had no idea that the price went up that much.
I paid just over $1,200 when I bought mine.

 

[slowtwitch73]

go big as u can on a disc. Keep in mind you only get half the dia for sanding... I have a 15 and wouldn't want smaller. I agree with what others have said.. you can do very controlled sanding with one, flats, angles, whatever. Disc change out can be a bit of a pita.

 

[BD1]

Maybe consider a facing machine ? We had those at work for Stainless . Depends on how much you want to spend.

We had an ELLIS 1600 for cutting tube. The swivel head is great.

 

[lilscorpion]

Maybe consider a facing machine ? We had those at work for Stainless . Depends on how much you want to spend.

We had an ELLIS 1600 for cutting tube. The swivel head is great.

What's a facing machine? Tried to search but only got back pics of facing on a lathe.

 

[steel 35]

I have 3 Belt grinders 2"x 36", 2" x 48", & 6" x 48" with a 12" disk,

# 1 Stainless Tube = Disk
# 2 get a 2 X 72 with 2 + HP that lays flat .

 

[Honch]

Jett Belt/Disc sander - govdeals.com

GovDeals' online marketplace provides services to government, educational, and related entities for the sale of surplus assets to the public. Auction rules may vary across sellers.

www.govdeals.com

 

[Honch]

I bought my Wilton 4204 at auction two years ago for $400 with a "Bad" motor. The motor was fine, the motor pulley was loose. I chose to purchase a single phase motor versus using a VFD.



My good friend was literally coming over to use it at least weekly so I started searching for one he could buy. I found this one at the site I linked in the post above, which he won for $269.00



His also came with a very nice matching Wilton dust collector with a .5hp single phase motor.



He bought the same 2hp motor I did, instead of going the VFD route. The 2hp motor was not because of its size, it was cheaper than any of the 1.5hp motors I could find.

 

[lilscorpion]

I bought my Wilton 4204 at auction two years ago for $400 with a "Bad" motor. The motor was fine, the motor pulley was loose. I chose to purchase a single phase motor versus using a VFD.



My good friend was literally coming over to use it at least weekly so I started searching for one he could buy. I found this one at the site I linked in the post above, which he won for $269.00



His also came with a very nice matching Wilton dust collector with a .5hp single phase motor.



He bought the same 2hp motor I did, instead of going the VFD route. The 2hp motor was not because of its size, it was cheaper than any of the 1.5hp motors I could find.

That’s a smokin deal!

 

[Honch]

That’s a smokin deal!

It’s a smoking deal if you live near the site having the auction, shipping can get expensive.

 

[lilscorpion]

It’s a smoking deal if you live near the site having the auction, shipping can get expensive.

Yeah, no $hit. I looked, the only thing up for auction close (enough) to me was a street sweeper. Would take way too much work to convert it into a disc sander. #ImOut

 

[slodat]

I have a Burr King 760. I wouldn't be without it. I had a 2x72 with all sorts of attachments and sold it when I got the Burr King. I've been very pleased with it. I bought it used for $360 off CL 6-7 years ago. I jumped in the truck when I found it. Haven't seen one for near that since, of course. If I were going to add anything to the shop for grinding, it would be a 3 or 4" x 79" belt grinder. Had one years ago and loved it.

 

[lilscorpion]

I have a Burr King 760. I wouldn't be without it. I had a 2x72 with all sorts of attachments and sold it when I got the Burr King. I've been very pleased with it. I bought it used for $360 off CL 6-7 years ago. I jumped in the truck when I found it. Haven't seen one for near that since, of course. If I were going to add anything to the shop for grinding, it would be a 3 or 4" x 79" belt grinder. Had one years ago and loved it.

Dang it, need a truck too now.

 

[67CarGuy]

Dang it, need a truck too now.

Ain't that the truth! I've got a station wagon currently, great for lots of things, but there are plenty of times where a pickup would have been a better choice. And now with prices going crazy....

 

[pyro3256]

I appreciate this discussion. I’m “in the market” as it were. I’d love to get a good deal on something on an auction site or whatever.
But I’m not opposed to buying new either.
My biggest issue is not knowing anything particular about the different brands.
I looked at jet & shopfox at a local store.
I have for a few used grizzly units.
How much truth is there in “they’re all the same” or is there a difference?

I can say while they looked identical, the shopfox had way more run out than the jet.
I have a Wilton horizontal band, chop. It’s been a good saw. So I’m looking at the Wilton units.

Just want to spend the money on the right unit.
Will be used for metal fab work 85% time.

 

[Monza Harry]

@rmack898 are you doing a mini-bike or maybe a new RC toy? I see that little con-rod in your pic, just curious! Harry LOL!


I always wanted a Burr King for my shop but could never find one for a price I was willing to pay.

Then I worked in a shop that had a Jancy Radius Master and that was an amazing machine but it too was well out of my price range.

Radius Master Belt Grinders - The World’s Best Belt Grinders - Australian Made

Radius Master belt grinders are the most versatile and accurate belt grinders in the world. Australian made belt grinders designed and built from high quality parts.

www.radiusmaster.com.au

One day I noticed that Baliegh had an import version of the Radius Master at a price I could afford so I bought it. I was still working at the shop that had the real Radius Master and we put them side by side and could not see any differences. The import performed exactly the same as the Jancy.



I've had the Baileigh knock off grinder in the shop for over 6 years now and I still get a smile every time I use it. With a 60 grit belt and it's 1-1/2HP motor, it will really hog some metal off. Being able to change the diameter of the upper belt wheel just by rotating the carousel makes it pretty tempImagePuLIRF.jpgtempImageJqF3M1.jpgversatile.

 

[csp]

My homebrew 6x48 fell while moving and broke parts of the casting. I haven't yet looked to see if it's repairable.

If you're still looking for one Matt I found the attached Rockell/Delta (same as the Wilton) belt/disc at an estate sale to replace the one that fell. You're welcome to take a look at the broken one and see if it can be brazed for a repair if you're interested. I can get pictures and send them to you.

 

[zmotorsports]

I appreciate this discussion. I’m “in the market” as it were. I’d love to get a good deal on something on an auction site or whatever.
But I’m not opposed to buying new either.
My biggest issue is not knowing anything particular about the different brands.
I looked at jet & shopfox at a local store.
I have for a few used grizzly units.
How much truth is there in “they’re all the same” or is there a difference?

I can say while they looked identical, the shopfox had way more run out than the jet.
I have a Wilton horizontal band, chop. It’s been a good saw. So I’m looking at the Wilton units.

Just want to spend the money on the right unit.
Will be used for metal fab work 85% time.

I had a friend who had the Shopfox branded one and I was less than impressed with the quality. I have not seen a Grizzly first hand but I know a couple people who have them and don't necessarily have anything bad to say about them.

I have an older Wilton and have been very impressed with it. I have had mine for probably 25 years or so now and is one of the most used pieces of equipment in my shop. Seems like there is always a corner or burr that needs to be knocked off or rounded and my belt/disc sander does a great job.

Couple things to watch for when looking at used ones, the nicer models have a 6"x48" belt and 12" disc but some have smaller diameter discs like a 9" comes to mind. I would suggest the larger 12" for better metal removal as well as grinding disc options. Also some models are only available in 3/4 HP whereas there was also a 1.5HP option. You will like having a bit more power available for hogging off material from thicker stock.

Just a quick search brought up this used one which is exactly like mine, although a bit rough but it looks like it could be cleaned up.

Wilton 12” Disc / 6” Belt Combination Sander - Vander Ziel Machinery Sales

Wilton Sander,Sanders,, ,Wilton,Wilton Sander,Vander Ziel Machinery Sales, Vanderziel, vanderzeil, vander zeil, used machinery dealer, buy, sell, new, used metal working machinery, tool room machinery, Alto, Grand Rapids, Michigan

vanderzielmachinery.com

 

[pyro3256]

Yeah that site looks great. I have found some, but like that one, are all up north. Unless I get a smoking deal on it. Add shipping, I might as well buy new.

 

[pyro3256]

I can not find a decent unit anywhere close to me. About to order one.
Most look at 6”x 48” belt 12” disk units.
Grizzly, south bend, shop fox are all identical in spec. And targeted at wood working.

Baileigh, and others targeted for metal work.

All units varied in rpm. But the “metal work” units are slower. And significantly more expensive.
How much does this really matter?
Or should I stop over thinking and just put better abrasives on the “woodworking” units?

 

[cvairwerks]

Pyro: Here's a couple in the Fort Worth area;

Used Rockwell Belt Grinder For Sale

Used Rockwell Belt Grinder For Sale

hgrinc.com

Used Dayton Beltdisc Grinder For Sale

Used Dayton Beltdisc Grinder For Sale

hgrinc.com

 

[RMERR]

All units varied in rpm. But the “metal work” units are slower. And significantly more expensive.
How much does this really matter?

Not sure about the other brands you mentioned, but Grizzly makes two identical models that are quite similiar in price. The metal working version #1183 actually has faster RPM as it has a motor that runs at 3450rpm. The woodworking model #1276 motor runs at 1725rpm. It makes a big difference. The faster metal working one will burn wood as it's just too fast, but does a great job on metal. They're good units, I have them both, quick belt changes, 1 HP, I like them.

I also have four Burr King machines which I absolutely love. So reliable, smooth, easy belt changes, US built with parts availability. The 760, 960, 960-200 (older version of current 960-272) and 1000 double wheel. I love them so much I made custom pedestals for all four.

 

[zmotorsports]

Personally, I started out with the same mindset on a couple of tools because the woodworking versions were cheaper. Back in the early 90's I bought a Delta belt/disc sander very similar to my Wilton unit at a quick glance. I had it for a couple of years and it just wasn't as sturdy or beefy as what I thought it would be. It flexed a lot as the stand was just angle iron legs and the cast section was not rigid enough as it vibrated terribly when pushing it trying to grind metal.

The other was a lighter duty Wilton 14" vertical bandsaw. While the bandsaw had the ability to make speed changes in the gearbox as an advertising gimmick to gear it towards metalworking, it really lacked the power and rigidity for anything other than wood.

I gave up on trying to "settle" with the lighter duty versions to save money because in the end I was disappointed every time and realized I was more pleased with the tools and equipment when I saved a bit longer and purchased the right tools for what I was doing.

 

[svtride]

I prefer the old cast iron domestic stuff…I found this Rockwell combo on CL, was a real dumpster fire but cleaned up well…still searching for a fence/table (anyone got any leads?) for the belt portion…Tool will out live me if treated half way decent...

 

[pyro3256]

RMERR if you’re anywhere close to Oklahoma City I’d be happy to lighten your load there! Thanks for response.
Svtride I’d love an older unit as pictured. I do believe they are better built. But I have yet to find a good candidate close enough to be worth it.

 

[GeoBruin]

I prefer the old cast iron domestic stuff…I found this Rockwell combo on CL, was a real dumpster fire but cleaned up well…still searching for a fence/table (anyone got any leads?) for the belt portion…Tool will out live me if treated half way decent...

That is really slick. I would rather not give up the storage cabinet to put a combo unit in but if I could find a beefy benchtop model like that, I wouldn't have to.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I also have four Burr King machines which I absolutely love. So reliable, smooth, easy belt changes, US built with parts availability. The 760, 960, 960-200 (older version of current 960-272) and 1000 double wheel. I love them so much I made custom pedestals for all four.

That is a nice 960 with the variable speed DC motor. I do not see those around very often. Has it been reliable?