As a teacher, I bought the HF model years ago. It performed pretty well until the bearing on the upper pulley got packed with dust and went bad. Run it with a shopvac and occasionally open it up clean the dust build up out around the wheels.
I have the Harbor Freight equivalent unit. I like it, BUT it is easy to bog down. I wish it had a 1/2 HP or even 3/4 HP motor to avoid the bogging down from pressure. I might try to change the motor if I can find one of the right size. It does the basic job and is worth what I paid.
I got one even cheaper, when a buddy's dad gave me his old Delta 1x30 😂. I don't use it a ton but it can be handy. At that price seems like a no brainer. Thanks Art!
I got virtually the same one from Busy Bee a couple of years ago - like most guys here, it doesn't get used a lot, but it always works consistently and well :) Very handy to have when needed. PS - latest use is to clean up the parts for Theo's Castle, for my great grandson from Santa!
Hey Art- I've had an old Delta model of this that someone gave me eons ago. I keep those blue (oxide?) sanding belts on it and use it for cleaning up burrs and stuff on metal projects.Works great.It did have a disk on the side but I took it off and stuck a cork over the shaft to satisfy the safety police! I never use it for wood as I have various other sanding macines.
If you take a piece of 1/8” aluminum about 6” long, bend it in half leaving room between the two sides the same thickness as the metal strip behind the sanding belt. Then sand a gentle curve on the face of one side. Then just slip it over the metal bar behind the sanding belt and now you can sand curves 😊😊😊😊😊
Thanks for posting, Art. I went and checked out your 12" disc sander build video, very impressive. A 12" disc sander has been on my wishlist for a long while now. If I can find a cheap motor, I'll give building one a shot.
I've got the HF version of that. I picked it up to sand some tight corners on some holiday crafts. I don't do craft stuff often so it's normally on the floor under the bench. super light and easy to grab and plop on the bench to use.
I also have multiple disc Sanders...but I keep a high grit paper on the tiny 5” one that came with the 1x30 sander....sometimes it’s good to have a gentle sanding action instead of the aggressive 80 grit disc I keep on my 6” disc sander. The 1” wide belt sander has been very useful for crafts and such, it also allows objects to go “around behind it” vs the flat fat belt sanders.
Sometimes cheap is alright. I purchased a Task Force Belt Sander from Lowes 30 years ago. I think I paid about $20.00 for it. I still have it and use it. The spec are the same as the one you just purchase, different color, different name. So, Art don't sweat cheap. Enjoy your good fortune. Cornbread John from South Alabama.
I have Matthias' strip sander plans but haven't built it yet. Someday I'll come across a suitable motor and get motivated to make it, I actually could use one.
I actually found a motor, but it was not suitable, which frustrated me. I think Matthias plans would have been great, but for the price of a tank of gas, I don't think I'll regret putting this one through it's paces.
Art, I have a belt/disc sander combo like you have, I purchased it at Canadian Tire over 25years ago and it still works fine. I was wondering what this new sander do that the other one won't? Please don't misunderstand me, I NEVER have a issue buying more tools :) I was just wondering how you think you will be using this one. Cheers and stay safe!
I want it to KEEP spinning that strip of sandpaper even when I apply considerable sideways friction on it with wood. I want it to work for years with no maintenance. I want it to not have sharp exposed edges. I want to be able to square the table to the paper. I want reasonable dust colllection. A decent paint job and finish. A solid proper gauge of power cord. What do you want from a tool?
@Wordsnwood (Art Mulder) yep gas prices are crazy. I only used mine once on some mild steel plate, rounding the corners off. It worked all right, but you got to go super slow and gently, or it will just stall out
