Author Topic: Table-Top Belt Sanders (Read 2029 times)

Curtis Haden · « **on:** February 27, 2009, 02:07:00 AM »

Ok guys, need some friendly advice here. Is a 4x36" table top belt sander / 6" disc sander combo enough to be worth anything for bow building? Both Craftsman and Grizzly have affordable models in that size. No tools go to waste around here, but if my primary reason for buying it is to work on bows, do you think one that small is worth spending $120-$150 on? Both the Craftsman and Grizzly have adjustable beds on the belt sanders, 0-90 degrees.

My primary interest is in building t/d bows, so nothing really long to work on at once... I figured for shaping and reducing limbs, etc, you could work an angle across the bed.

greyhawk39 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 27, 2009, 04:13:00 AM »

That's all you need my friend,I thought at one time I needed a longer one but a grand for a 86"long belt sander isn't justafiable,for a hobby.The only thing with a short length like this you have to watch when you shape your limbs you only do quarter of the limbs at a time or you will get wear groves at the other end of the belt sander.Or only put pressure on the place you want to sand and leave the other end off the sanding surface,or like you said go angle wise or across the bed...

Pat B · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2009, 10:10:00 AM »

I started off with a Craftsman 4x36 belt sander with a 6" disc and used it for quite a few years. The one I have now is a Grizzly, 6x48 with a 10" disc and it is just right for me. If you are planning to use it a lot, I would rather have a bit more power than I need instead of one that was just adequate.

DCM · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2009, 10:10:00 AM »

I used the heck out of a $89, 4x36 Craftsman for 5 or 6 years. Replaced it w/ a Delta 6x48 for about $220. Then I build a table for the 4x36 turned onto it's side so I can sand square to the table, like riser fades. It still runs 10 yrs later, although one of the bearing squeels occasionally. I shoot it w/ a spray silicon or whatever and it's good to go for a while more.

I do 90% selfbows and the 6x48 w/ a 50 grit belt will throw a rooster tail out the back of my shop. Darned handy sometimes when you want do to a big reduction. 4x36 I could only find 80 grit. A little slower but will serve for most tasks.

I would not spend over $250 for a belt sander personally.

mq32pa · « **Reply #4 on:** February 27, 2009, 10:10:00 AM »

That should be ok for you. I use the Grizzly bandsaw,spindle sander,4x36 belt/disc sander to make lam bows. I would love to get the Grizzly 80" beltsander, I used a friends and it was awesome for sanding down limbs, but it is about $400.00 more than 4x36.

ChristopherO · « **Reply #5 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:11:00 PM »

I have one of those small craftsman sanders in my shop that keep breaking belts. It finally died when the motor went kaputz. I think there are better units to purchase. I am currently using an old, strong hand sander tighten down into a portable Workbench stand. It is held in upside down. It has been less hassle than the old craftsman was.

Apex Predator · « **Reply #6 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:13:00 PM »

I started with one like that, then moved on to a 6"X48" for most of my work. I use mine to side profile limbs, and dress up riser blocks. Actually, I use it for much more. I still have the smaller one, and use it for overlays and such. The larger surface makes the larger one easier to use on long limbs that you don't want to gouge on the end of the belt.

Eric Krewson · « **Reply #7 on:** February 27, 2009, 01:51:00 PM »

Sent you a PM David on where to get any grit belt for your 4X36, complete with a link.

The link won't work because the word Fleabay was edited out of it.

Bradford · « **Reply #8 on:** February 27, 2009, 03:47:00 PM »

I picked up a craftsman 4x36 used for 30 bucks off of craigslist. Works great. I also made a wood bed for it to grind down lams and to make taper lams as well. Around here I can get 40 grit on up for it no problem.

I actually would not mind one smaller for doing some of the tight stuff. But so far no problems and does everything I need it to! I have built one bow on it and almost done with my second.

sulphur · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2009, 03:55:00 PM »

i have been using a 4x36 ryobi for a while. i set it up to grind my own lams. Its broke quite a few drive belts but i replaced the belt with one of those a adjustable vibration dampening ones from woodcraft. it does what i need, but don't think i wouldn't get a bigger grizzly if i could justify it. i would love to get a performax drum sander, saving up for that one.

mq32pa · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2009, 04:02:00 PM »

sulphur, the performax drum sander? it that a thickness sander for making lams?

John

bigcountry · « **Reply #11 on:** February 27, 2009, 04:03:00 PM »

What do you guys mean when you say "beds" on a bench sander? Reason I ask, is I have a craftsman 4X36. And its difficult to grind long pieces due to the belt is not exactly nice and flat. Not sure if I explained that right.

Curtis Haden · « **Reply #12 on:** February 28, 2009, 01:42:00 AM »

Mark, when I used the term "bed" I was referring to the surface and area between the belt rollers. I believe it is called a "platen" but I used "bed" for simplicity's sake. "[dntthnk]"

Holm-Made · « **Reply #13 on:** February 28, 2009, 02:16:00 AM »

Sometimes the belt rollers are a touch higher then the platen (bed as someone called it) That can be a problem and should be avoided when purchasing.
I have a Ridgid osselating(sp) belt sander that Home Depot sells for 200.00 that has a lot of miles on it. It takes a 4 x 24" belt and also drums. It has 2 different size rollers which is really handy for shaping grips.

You can square blocks up, profile limbs, shape grips, make nice square fadeouts, etc. with it. I use it more then any other sander in my shop. If I only could have one it would be it. It is light weight so you can carry it outside on nice days as well.
Home Depot also is good about standing behind their stuff in my experiance. Also sometimes Ridgid offers a lifetime warrenty on this sander, at least they did when I bought mine 3 years ago.
Chad

skeaterbait · « **Reply #14 on:** February 28, 2009, 07:28:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Bradford:
I picked up a craftsman 4x36 used for 30 bucks off of craigslist. Works great. I also made a wood bed for it to grind down lams and to make taper lams as well. Around here I can get 40 grit on up for it no problem.

I actually would not mind one smaller for doing some of the tight stuff. But so far no problems and does everything I need it to! I have built one bow on it and almost done with my second.

Bradford, can you show some pics or drawings on how to build the bed for lams? I would guess the same design would work for a Ryobi 4X36. Which BTW (to stay with the thread) is all I have ever needed.

kengineering · « **Reply #15 on:** February 28, 2009, 11:02:00 AM »

Being new to the hobby money was definately an issue. A 20%off coupon from the internet along with thier weeekly sale I picked up a 4X36 from harbor freight for $54.00 the 2 year replacement was 9.99. no frills all cast iron base with steel constuction. except for the on / off switch not a bit of plastic. So far so good.

kengineering

Bradford · « **Reply #16 on:** February 28, 2009, 01:14:00 PM »

http://www.geocities.com/salampsio/glass3.htm

Try this website. This is where I got the idea from and followed what he had. I will take some time and try to break it down on another thread.

The unit takes some getting used to, but once you do.. wow. I just made a veneer.. paper thin

I did realize that I had to use a piece of hard wood to eliminate any flex for the "bed".. but the rest I built out of mdf board from Home Depot.
I just bought a 2x4 piece for 6 bucks and a piece of 3x36 ash for the bed. Used my brad nailer gun and tight bond 3 to put it together.

Like I said, I will do a break down on a seperate thread for everybody.

Walt Francis · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2009, 01:41:00 PM »

Somebody mentioned the Rigid ossciliating sander here on Tradgang a couple of years back, so I bougt one. It is the best piece of equipment for the price that I have, and I am close to having a complete wood working shop. It is a toss up between the Ridgid Sander and my Grizzly bandsaw as to which machine in the shop gets used the most when building bows. Like Chad, I highly recommend it to anybody that builds bows. It would take a deadicated 84" for shaping the limbs and and deadicated oscilliating spindle sander for working the handle, at close to ten times the cost, to replace my $200 Rigid.

Curtis Haden · « **Reply #18 on:** March 03, 2009, 06:39:00 PM »

Went to Springfield today and bought the Rigid Belt/Spindle Sander... Yippee!!! Also made the mistake of going over to the Grizzly Store with less than a couple thousand $$$'s in my pocket...

Now, if that Bingham's order would just get here, I could start messing some stuff up!

str8sh2ter · « **Reply #19 on:** March 03, 2009, 10:51:00 PM »

I had another bowyer tell me about that Ridgid sander. With all the positives here,i'll put that at the top of MY list.Thanks guys.

News:

Author Topic: Table-Top Belt Sanders (Read 2029 times)

Users currently browsing this topic: