Which belt sander?

N

nemesis27

Joined
Jan 22, 2008
Messages
149
Hey fellas I'm looking at these two, more so the first one BUT my concerns with the first is that it would be difficult getting the finer grit belts/wheel sheets for it. Tell me what you think and choose. Either one I'll be using a rheostat for the speed.

This one can go from 0-60 degrees, which I like.
93981.gif

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93981

or

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http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2485
 
Use the 1X30. Better belts are available for it. Not sure the rheostat will work. Let us know if it works.
 
Yeah i did a bit more research on the available belts and it seems there are so many for the 1" one so I bought it today. I was hoping for that little wheel deal but maybe Ill just buy that one too or something similar in the future IF I end up needing it. thanks for the clarity, I'm glad I asked first.
 
Let us know how it performs after you use it a bit.
Im looking for an inexpensive one myself.
 
The HF 1"x30" works great. My first 'tree-topping' edges were got with that sander and a leather sanding belt from Lee Valley.
 
I have both and the 1x30 gets used 10 times more often. I've found a large assortment of ceramic belts from 24 grit on up to 120 and beyond that if you want to special order something and others in aluminum or silcon carbide from 40 grit on up past 600 grit from A&H Abrasives for that machine also. 1-800-831-6066. They tell me they can make special belts in any length also so I would think if you ask and don't mind a little longer wait that you could get higher grit from them for it as well. Most of their belts are bi directional for that little grinder also which I've found is not the case from a lot of others selling that size.

http://www.customsandingbelts.com/

STR
 
STR said:
I have both and the 1x30 gets used 10 times more often. I've found a large assortment of ceramic belts from 24 grit on up to 120 and beyond that if you want to special order something and others in aluminum or silcon carbide from 40 grit on up past 600 grit from A&H Abrasives for that machine also. 1-800-831-6066. They tell me they can make special belts in any length also so I would think if you ask and don't mind a little longer wait that you could get higher grit from them for it as well. Most of their belts are bi directional for that little grinder also which I've found is not the case from a lot of others selling that size.

http://www.customsandingbelts.com/

STR
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Thanks alot man! I did find quite a few belt up to 1200 here http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&cat=1,43072&p=48040 as well so combined with yours I think it'll set me right. See I was figuring that nice little angle set would make sharpening accurately easier but unfortunately there is not many finer grits for the first one lol.


Thanks for all your input guy's and right now I'm waiting on the belts and as soon as I get them I'll do a little review and demo if your wanting that :)
 
One little tid bit of recommendation. If you have a HF store front near by buy the machine at the store but take it out and check it first. I went through three to find two good ones. Bought one for the wife as well and when they arrived here one was missing screws to hold the motor down on the platform which meant I had to make the 100 mile round trip run to Tulsa to get it replaced anyway since that was easier than returning it by mail. I bought them on the net trying to save having to make that trip. You'd think I'd have learned because I did that with my bead blast cabinet also and got one that was bent and dented causing me to make the trip then. Last time I returned something by mail to HF they took so long to show the refund to my account that by the time it showed up I had forgotten about it completely.
STR
 
I bought a 4X36 because it was what the store had, they had belts, and so on. I am not sorry I bought the one I did, but will say that I am looking for a deal on a 1" belt grinder.
 
i agree with STR on getting on in person if you can, and checking before you leave. i got one online and it came missing the toolrest. not a big deal, since i don't use the one that came with the replacement grinder, but its good to have if i want it.

i get amazing results with the micron belts from leevalley, and do some very heavy stock removal with their 40 grit belts. their blue belts are great, they cut for a long time and even when dull they are still sharp enough to keep going for less important jobs. out of 15 belts i have used from them so far, i have only had one snap on me (and it was mostly my fault...i wasn't paying attention to the tension and so i caught the edge of the belt with the edge of my blade...guess who won). these can also be run backwards, so can get some more life out of them.
 
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Another tip: Be careful with using a rheostat. If it's not meant for use with constant voltage/amperage motors, you'll fry the sander motor. Variac's were initially used to bring electronic equipment up to load slowly. You can't do this (for long) with a constant demand motor.
 
SPXTrader said:
Another tip: Be careful with using a rheostat. If it's not meant for use with constant voltage/amperage motors, you'll fry the sander motor. Variac's were initially used to bring electronic equipment up to load slowly. You can't do this (for long) with a constant demand motor.
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Ahh nice heads up man. I never thought about that and just went today to pick one up from HD. Ill have to rethink this and double check the motor itself. Thanks a ton SPX!!

Well luckily I do have a Harbor Freight here and I always make them run it and I inspect it before I buy it. I'm a picky SOB and like to make sure it's good-to-go before I make any purchase.

That is nuts STR! You know man, sometimes you get great deals in places like these but a guy really does have to check out the goods I guess. Good thing im a bit finicky due to similar results as you've had. Shoot I make them open that up, plug it in and I inspect the little things because of that exact reason.

Siguy: yeah man I cant wait for these babies. Ive been beatin' up the knives just so I have some testing out material when it gets here hahaha. About the belt snapping, about a year ago i knew never to put the edge side towards the grinding wheel but that didn't stop me from doing that to my Kershaw Outkast on the paper wheels. I though "heh, im good enough to get close to the edge and not kill myself" I was dead wrong. Caught the wheel and it flipped right before it hit my left cheek bone, hitting me with the spine. It immediately left a blue welt (and Im a dark guy) and still cut me a bit from the edge of the spine. I yelled like a little baby cause I thought I cut my face off from the force of the hit haha and I couldn't see out that eye for a minute or so. Anyhow I was a miracle away from being seriously injured. It hit me with some serious force (1hp motor) Anyhow I more than learned my lesson.
 
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nemesis, most single phase electric motors are constant demand. Check the output specs on the variac. It must be able to deliver the constant amperage the motor needs even as voltage drops (slowing the RPM of the output shaft). If you're still not 100% certain test it a on a cheap garage sale grinder, do it outdoors so you don't burn the house down, and use a heavy gage extension cord. That way you don't have to get anywhere near a flaming motor to unplug it or turn it off.
 
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The Twin Cities Harbor Freight has prices higher than the website, but they tell me if I bring in a printout they will match the web price. One time this would have saved me $10 on the 1" belt sander. I passed it up instead of paying the higher price. I'm still meaning to get one.
 
Look for a discount coupon and print that off the web site or a coupon that is in the mail flyer and take it along with you to get some additional % knocked off it. Sometimes if they didn't mail it to me I'll look in the ones there as you walk in the door and cut one out with my pocket knife if it applies to what I'm doing that day there. ;)

I didn't see any for the sander but it looks like they may be running a special on some belts to get you by until your good ones get to you. I've used these. They are not the greatest but they'll sure work for a lot of things. These are all my wife ever uses and she thinks they are just fine for wood and man made materials. Since I'm usually grinding titanium or some other metal I use ceramic.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ct...pricetype=S&categoryname=Power Abrasive Belts

STR
 
SPXTrader said:
nemesis, most single phase electric motors are constant demand. Check the output specs on the variac. It must be able to deliver the constant amperage the motor needs even as voltage drops (slowing the RPM of the output shaft). If you're still not 100% certain test it a on a cheap garage sale grinder, do it outdoors so you don't burn the house down, and use a heavy gage extension cord. That way you don't have to get anywhere near a flaming motor to unplug it or turn it off.
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Sure thing SPX, I do have a cheap grinder I never use anymore. Damn good thing I mentioned the stat, might have had to find out the hard way. Thanks again for your input brotha'
 
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