Teach me a bit about 6x48 Sanders please!

D

Don Nguyen

Joined
Oct 4, 2011
Messages
1,043
Heyo everyone,

Yesterday at the local pawn I picked up an old 6x48 Craftsman sander. Works pretty well, only dusty so far. The motor is below the actual sander, driven by a belt. 1hp 115v.

What can be done with this? I intend to use it for handles, knife sharpening, saya shaping, etc, but what ELSE can it be used for? Can I throw on some different belts and start grinding some metal (it wouldn't be a primary grinder, I use Wilton square wheels at school)? Can I later convert it into a 2x72? Since it's driven by a belt, I don't THINK it would be that difficult.... but I'm always wrong.

923.jpg


Similar to that one, but no disk sander or work rest. Total $76.



Thanks!
 
a 6 x 48 has been a mainstay in my woodworking shop for 20+ years. As for converting it to a 2x72... my guess is that it would be easier to just build a 2x72 from scratch vs trying to convert the 6x48
 
I use mine for completing the flat grind on kitchen knives, you also have a 12" disk which is great for blades and such. I dont think converting would be worth while. Keep it and you will find plenty of uses.
 
With decent belts you can grind metal. One like that but without the disc was what I learned on.

Wayne Suhrbier
 
Used to use the same sander. With good abrasives that wide belt is nice for flat grinding. However, the shape of the left side of platen does interfere somewhat.

Ron Richard used to use a home made (wheels turned from hardwood, plate/frame billet aluminum) 6x48 for his flatgrinding even tho he had a couple of 2x72's - his results speak to its usefulness.
 
I lucked into one like that for $30 this summer. I wasn't sure what I was going to use it for but couldn't pass it up. In my short experience with it I've not used it for grinding blades but more for working on handles. If it were all I had then I would MAKE it work to grind blades.

- Paul Meske
 
That is a work horse in my shop.
 
I had that exact same 6x48. It was my dad's and he had the platen machined to true and flat. Used that old beast till it finally died, motor and tracking adjustments finally quit. I've had 1 HF, 2 Craftsmen and currently have a Grizzly right now. That old Craftsmen in your pic was the best. Really useful for handle shaping, material prep, and also flat grinding if you have a flat platen. Of the five 6x 48s I've had, only that old one and the HF had a flat platen. I also use that sander alot in sheath work. Sands a nice clean edge prior to hand rubbing.
 
Quick note: don't know if it was just mine (mid '80s mfg) but it ate I think 2 sets of bearings until I switched to a higher grade. Then they never failed again.
 
Nope not just you Steve I changed bearings on all of em except the old one. About 16 months or so on the HF, on the 2 new Craftsmen about a year and then couple months later motor too. That's why I got the second one. It was cheaper to get a new one then motor, bearings and shipping. The Grizzly I did the bearings at about 9 months and going strong ever since.
 
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