Recommendation on for a belt/disc sander?

[snag]

I want to find a good 4"belt/6"disc combo sander for some projects. Can anyone stir me toward a good quality one?

[lpcjon2]

I would go to Harbor Freight if it breaks you can get a new one.and they are inexpensive.

[Jack Denbow]

I bought a Woodtek 4X36 from Woodworkers Supply to mount my Tim's taper tool on. I have been very happy with it.
Jack

[jeff vess]

I have a Rigid oscillating belt/spindle sander I got at home depot and it works great. About $200.

[StanM]

Hey David,

First one I got was as a gift, a Delta.  Fine machine if you are not going to put it through much.  I made a jig for grinding laminations on mine and it isn't enough machine for that.  What kind of projects are you doing?

Stan

[Fletcher]

I have a Craftsman that has been running well for quite a while.

[JRY309]

I had a Sears Craftsman for years until it locked up on me.I bought a refurbished Black&Decker Firestorm 4" belt/6" disc on E**y from the Black&Decker factory store for $77 with free shipping.It has been going strong for a year so far.

[NoCams]

snag,
Not sure what you are looking for, but the older Powermatic brand machines are ultra duty and last generations. They used to be made about 50 miles from my house in TN. HEAVY cast iron and again, bombproof. The older Delta stuff that used to be made in Mississippi was good too. I think that sadly they are now made in Mexico and not the same quality. I wonder how much longer companies think they can close a factory here, steal the quality name, move the plant offshore, cheapen up the product and still expect us to support them ??? Unsustainable........ JMHO

nocams

[MercilessMing]

I have the Rigid Oscillating Belt/spindle sander from HD.  Used it on arrow tapering, feather ginding and some general grinding.  The results are acceptable.  Some folks on Pow Wow also talked about making jig for sanding the bow limb lamination (both parallel and tapered).  It looks good from their post and I will try that idea too.

[metsastaja]

I also have the Rigid Oscillating. Works very well.  Lam grinder discussion over on bowyers bench

   lam grinder using Rigid

[Robertfishes]

I have a Craftsman 6x48 with a 9 inch side disk sander, it was arround $200 new last year. My sander has a cast iron base and is fairly heavy. I use the blue zirconium belts 50 grit for grinding smooth on off of freshly cooked bows and I also shape bow limbs with it, I can grind limbs to the line in just a couple of minutes. The 4x36 units would be a little under powered for me, but would be more portable if taking arround to different jobsites..One day I may get a 80 inch machine. I have heard that the Rigid oscilating units work well for bow making.

[snag]

Thanks guys. I want to do everything from feather grinding to arrow tapering to bow limb shaping.  So I guess I should get a pretty good one in order to take care of the bow end of it.

[Pat B]

I used to have a Craftsman 4x36 sander but it was underpowered for what I needed. I went with a grizzly 6x48 and never looked back. I don't think you can do better than a Grizzly for the money.

[Rob DiStefano]

my luthier shop is stocked with grizzly power tools - inexpensive and quite serviceable.  i use the g0547 for grinding feathers and woodie shaft tapers, cleaning up the cut ends on resized carbons, and the rare reshaping of limbs.

harbor freight will be cheaper, but so will be the quality of their sander.

[sw]

I use a rigid belt/oscillating sander with the option for th spindle sander roll... Works great for anything i have thrown at it. Put some 36grit belts on it and grind away to 120 belts for smooth work. It has shpaed many risers, limbs and stick bows.

[Straitshot]

Hitachi has one that is a 4"X36" belt and an 8" disc that is cast iron so has decent weight so it won't move around on you a lot that I have been looking at. It sells for around $170 and I have seen them on sale for $140.

[WVeer]

I have a 6X48 Delta I bought at Lowes for about $180.  Floor model and I love it.  I've had a couple cheap 4X36 models from HF.  They were OK but I should have bout the bigger one first and been satisfied from the beginning.

[lt-m-grow]

Snag,  Get a 6 inch belt for sure.  You will find many, many uses for it whether you are building bow and arra stuff or just doing stuff around the house.  e.g.  I use my to taper arrows and sharpen my lawn mower blades.

You will want to make sure you have access to is all the time.

[Shakes.602]

I have a Good Old Craftsman Bench Sander that was a Gift, and it has Served Me Well over the Years!!

[snag]

I'm going shoppin'...    One thing I have learned over the years is "don't under-buy". Buy a little more than you think you need and you'll grow into it and be happy you bought as much as you did. Thanks for the info.