Best 6 x 48 Belt Sander?

[dr_clyde]

I'm looking to replace my old Rockwell belt sander, its getting pretty tired and I would like to get a new one. Its a general shop belt sander, used mostly to deburr parts and edges, but occasionally I will do some shape contouring or something on the table and its really nice to have the back platen be square to the table so I get a square cut.

I want to get a nice unit that will last, I'm not interested in cheap **** like Jet or Baileigh. USA made is best for me, but I'm ok with a nice Euro unit if such a thing is available and comparable.

I was looking pretty hard at a Kalamazoo S6MS, but I would like to see if there's something I am missing before I buy one.

Burr King doesn't seem to make a belt sander with this size belt, and with the nice platen back and adjustable table on the front.

Not too concerned with price, just want a quality unit.

What else is out there?

 

[exmaxima1]

"Tired"?

Replace the bearings and use the Rockwell another lifetime. Doubtful you will find anything siginificantly better than what you already have.

 

[dr_clyde]

"Tired"?

Replace the bearings and use the Rockwell another lifetime. Doubtful you will find anything siginificantly better than what you already have.

Its more than just bearings. It needs replacing. Besides, I don't have time to overhaul a belt sander, they're not expensive enough to warrant it.

 

[bobcatdan]

I would think Kalamazoo would be your best choice if Burr King doesn't make what you want.

 

[matt_i]

If you are willing to move up, the Porter Cable G8 is an awesome and fearsome sanding machine (for removing metal!) I want to say its 8 x 108 but is powered by a 3 to 5hp motor. These are not new, I would say these are 1960s and 1970s iron.

A 20" disc can come semi-close but it sends metal grit everywhere whereas the G8 is a more controlled flow downward.

For more sensitive needs the 2" wide belt is my choice.

 

[dr_clyde]

If you are willing to move up, the Porter Cable G8 is an awesome and fearsome sanding machine (for removing metal!) I want to say its 8 x 108 but is powered by a 3 to 5hp motor. These are not new, I would say these are 1960s and 1970s iron.

A 20" disc can come semi-close but it sends metal grit everywhere whereas the G8 is a more controlled flow downward.

For more sensitive needs the 2" wide belt is my choice.

I wouldn’t mind some vintage iron if it is plug and play.

Finding one in nice shape can be a bit of a chore though haha.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

I have had a Grizzly for about 30 years. It works fine, but it looks very similar to the Jet you don't want, so that's out. I wouldn't reject the Baileigh so quickly though. I have never owned one, but that thing looks pretty darn nice. It ought to be nice, it costs $1300.

 

[dr_clyde]

I have had a Grizzly for about 30 years. It works fine, but it looks very similar to the Jet you don't want, so that's out. I wouldn't reject the Baileigh so quickly though. I have never owned one, but that thing looks pretty darn nice. It ought to be nice, it costs $1300.

I try not to buy tools and equipment based on price alone. Function, quality, manufacturing ethics and COO all come before price.

I’m looking for something that will hold up in a full time welding and machine shop, and in my experience, Jet and Grizzly are geared toward more light duty or infrequent applications. Nothing wrong with them for a home shop or a maintenance application, but I have never been impressed by any Jet or Grizzly equipment I’ve used in other shops.

I won’t own anything that Baileigh makes. They make some of the worst excuses for a machine tool that I have ever seen.

I’ve used Baileigh in the past, never again. I bought a brand spanking new cold saw from them about 5 years ago for a company I worked for, and that thing was the biggest POS I’ve ever touched. Friends of mine have their equipment and I see the same bad engineering and manufacturing in their stuff as well. They ruined their reputation in my eyes based on my numerous bad experiences.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

I don't buy on price alone, either, so I'm with you on that one.

So, what are you going to get?

 

[dr_clyde]

I don't buy on price alone, either, so I'm with you on that one.

So, what are you going to get?

Dunno yet. Hoping there’s something out there I haven’t heard of yet.

I may chase down a lead on a cool old Porter Cable that has appeared on my radar.

The Kalamazoo would work fine, but I was just polling the crowd to see what else was out there.

 

[zkling]

The kalamazoo is a nice unit, one of the best they build. With a steel replaceable platten and almost all other components castings. It is a certain step above most of their other stuff. If you can get by with a 4" belt there is burrking, but their factory tables aren't much.

As mentioned a large disc sander may be an option if the table is priority. Especially when you say contouring work.

 

[zkling]

There is always this...

https://www.trick-tools.com/*******...-Vertical-Horizontal-Belt-Grinder-BGB-V-11557

 

[dontlifttoshift]

I like that one from ******** better than the Kalamazoo but have not used either one. I have a variable speed Burr King 760 and I love that feature. Hopefully tricktools has the ******** one at PRI next weekend, I would like to see it. I wonder what drives the contact wheel on the ********? The longer belt length should run cooler.

I currently have a Jet combination belt disc grinder. We have had it for nearly 15 years and it has been fine but the tracking on the belt ***** and is only overshadowed by how much the platen *****. I never use the disc.

 

[zkling]

I wonder what drives the contact wheel on the ********? The longer belt length should run cooler.

Pretty sure it is belt driven, just like the burr king 960 series. As in drive belt driven off the motor, not sanding belt driven like on a KMG or the like.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I like that one from ******** better than the Kalamazoo but have not used either one. I have a variable speed Burr King 760 and I love that feature. Hopefully tricktools has the ******** one at PRI next weekend, I would like to see it. I wonder what drives the contact wheel on the ********? The longer belt length should run cooler.

I currently have a Jet combination belt disc grinder. We have had it for nearly 15 years and it has been fine but the tracking on the belt ***** and is only overshadowed by how much the platen *****. I never use the disc.

Can you comment on what you dislike about the platen? I'm working on building a belt grinder, but don't have much working knowledge of them, so I'm trying to avoid some of the common pitfalls.

 

[dontlifttoshift]

They put a wear pad of some sort on it to protect the steel I suppose. It wore into a wavy mess over time making it nearly useless for truing up a straight edge.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

They put a wear pad of some sort on it to protect the steel I suppose. It wore into a wavy mess over time making it nearly useless for truing up a straight edge.

Gotcha. I'm just going to use mild steel and treat it as a consumable. I'm not doing any kind of precise work.

Sorry to derail the thread. In my research, prior to me deciding to build one, I was looking at the Kalamazoo.

 

[zkling]

You can put a glass or ceramic platen liner on it for a smooth and hard surface.