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belt/disk sander questions
- Thread starter SE18
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2013
- Messages
- 1,448
I disagree the Atlas 5010 4x37.5 belt 10" disc is a very nice little machine. I have both that and a Powermatic 300 6x48 12" disc. The only problem with the Atlas is the odd size belts but Klingspor and others will make them for little more than the price of a more common 4x36. I thought I would get rid of the Atlas when I got the Powermatic but I tend to use it more than the bigger machine! The Delta is a nice machine also.
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 9,422
Whichever grinder/sander you get there are a few things to keep in mind:
1. It has to have a solid platen that doesn't flex. Sorry guys, but the Delta 1X42 sanders and others with platens attached on one end are not ideal for metal work in my opinion. The platen should ideally have a Pyroceram liner epoxied to it to greatly increase its lifespan.
2. It has to have a solid table adjustable to precise angles. This means a custom table large enough for your work that won't move or flex in use and can be moved to within 1/8-1/16" from the belt. Ideally, it should be made of steel so sharp edges won't catch when they're moved across the table.
3. The motor should be 1/2HP or more. For metal work, a 2HP motor would be great and variable speed is the best. Weak motors like the typical 1/3HP consumer grade Sears models are okay for light wood work but not for metal grinding.
4. The motor should be totally enclosed, fan cooled to prevent ingress of metal dust. Many of the 4X belt sanders don't have these and are not suitable for metal grinding/sanding.
I have sanders for metal and wood, in various sizes and HP ratings. In my opinion, the most useful is the 2" wide belt sander but I use it mainly for tool grinding and metal shaping so it may not suit your needs. For wood work, I find the simple 4X sanders and oscillating spindle sander indispensable. I don't yet have one but my ideal would be a KMG grinder with a 10" contact wheel and 2HP VS motor.
1. It has to have a solid platen that doesn't flex. Sorry guys, but the Delta 1X42 sanders and others with platens attached on one end are not ideal for metal work in my opinion. The platen should ideally have a Pyroceram liner epoxied to it to greatly increase its lifespan.
2. It has to have a solid table adjustable to precise angles. This means a custom table large enough for your work that won't move or flex in use and can be moved to within 1/8-1/16" from the belt. Ideally, it should be made of steel so sharp edges won't catch when they're moved across the table.
3. The motor should be 1/2HP or more. For metal work, a 2HP motor would be great and variable speed is the best. Weak motors like the typical 1/3HP consumer grade Sears models are okay for light wood work but not for metal grinding.
4. The motor should be totally enclosed, fan cooled to prevent ingress of metal dust. Many of the 4X belt sanders don't have these and are not suitable for metal grinding/sanding.
I have sanders for metal and wood, in various sizes and HP ratings. In my opinion, the most useful is the 2" wide belt sander but I use it mainly for tool grinding and metal shaping so it may not suit your needs. For wood work, I find the simple 4X sanders and oscillating spindle sander indispensable. I don't yet have one but my ideal would be a KMG grinder with a 10" contact wheel and 2HP VS motor.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2011
- Messages
- 3,585
What I did was up grade from a Delta to a Grizzly. I do not regret the change. The Grizzly was never used and I got it at a fraction the price of new off of Craig's List. I would never go back to the Delta machine. It did serve me well over the years but was very noisy and not very accurate. There is no comparison. Here is what I went from to what I have now.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2011
- Messages
- 4,142
I wish to distinguish between a belt sander and a belt GRINDER(which is what you need for metal). A belt sander goes about 1/2 the SFPM of a belt grinder. I use a Wilton 2x72" "Square Wheel" belt grinder. It is the most versatile belt grinder on the market,I think. It goes about 3600 SFPM.
Grizzly makes that 12" disc/6" x 48" machine in both wood and metal versions. The wood one has a 1725 RPM motor. The metal ones has a 3450 RPM motor(or close to those figures). I accidentally bought the metal version many years ago(I think it was the only one they offered back then). It would burn wood very quickly.
Grizzly makes that 12" disc/6" x 48" machine in both wood and metal versions. The wood one has a 1725 RPM motor. The metal ones has a 3450 RPM motor(or close to those figures). I accidentally bought the metal version many years ago(I think it was the only one they offered back then). It would burn wood very quickly.
I bought one of the HF combination belt/disc sanders a month or so ago. I've mainly used the belt for deburring things I make on the mill or lathe, and it's very handy for that. The disc part is meh, so I'm thinking of converting it to use a Scotchbrite wheel as another poster mentioned.
As you can see, it's small enough to sit on my bench and light enough to move easily.
As you can see, it's small enough to sit on my bench and light enough to move easily.
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2012
- Messages
- 961
Hey guys hope its not against rules to mention I posted my Dayton belt/disc on the classified section here a couple weeks back. I have a 1x42 Kalamazoo belt unit I use mostly. Never use the Dayton thus the FS. Any interest just PM
BTW
Randy the pics of your shop just gave me a great idea for making a dusty area partition!!! Thanks !
BTW
Randy the pics of your shop just gave me a great idea for making a dusty area partition!!! Thanks !
I think a 2” wide belt grinder would suit you quite well. Grizzly sells one they call a knife grinder, while Craftsman has a less expensive 2” X 42”. If you’re partial to made in the USA, Enco sells several of the reasonably priced Kalamazoo machines. Coote is another 2” X 72” belt grinder and you can supply the motor. These two are just a couple of the lower priced quality domestic machines. There are many more at much higher prices.
One of the nice things about a quality 2” belt grinder is that it can replace conventional wheel grinders for metal and still take care of small wood needs. To supplement a strip grinder you might try and pick up a 12” disc sander. At auction a Delta should run around a $100 and sometimes less.
One of the nice things about a quality 2” belt grinder is that it can replace conventional wheel grinders for metal and still take care of small wood needs. To supplement a strip grinder you might try and pick up a 12” disc sander. At auction a Delta should run around a $100 and sometimes less.
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