Best Oscillating Spindle Sander?

[ear3]

Just a note on the Ridgid -- I had a very baaaaad experience with the machine.  I went through three units over the space of about 48 hours.  I kept on having to swap them back at the store because of some weird motor issue that made the motor either completely non-functional or tempermental (found out later looking more extensively online that there was a spate of motor issues with some recent productions of the machine).  On the third try at last I got one that worked,  except that I found that the cheap plastic insert that sat well below the level of the table made the machine useless for doing any kind of small or precision work.

So I ended up getting the Jet benchtop model, and have basically been happy with it, except for the fact that some of the spindles included with the machine were warped.

 

[ear3]

Just bumping this thread with an update on by JBOS5.  Somewhat remarkably, the 3" spindle sold as an add-on does not come with its own throat plate (at least with the supplier I got it from), so I had to manufacture my own.

Quick work with the Shaper Origin -- took literally 30 seconds to sketch out the circles in Fusion 360 and export the file to my Shaper Hub.

From there created a plywood template:

View attachment 1

Which I then attached to some hardwood I had thicknessed to be level with the table at .165, and routed out the pattern:

View attachment 2

Created the little notch with a rat tail rasp:

View attachment 3

And in short order, we have a proper throat plate:

View attachment 4

Incidentally, the OEM metal throat plates actually sit slightly below the table surface -- I had to make them flush with tape attached to the underside.  So the wooden throat plate is in fact a better fit than the stock ones:

View attachment 5

 

[Bob D.]

I have had the Jet benchtop spindle sander for over 10 years now, and it has performed very well. I read [member=10952]leakyroof[/member] 's post and I echo all that he said. I did get the 3" drums about a year after I bought the tool. Found them on Amazon, no one had them in stock locally. They are taller than other machines so not interchangeable as leakyroof  stated, but I am OK with the extra work height.

Don't know what the quality level of the current crop of Jet tools is but mine has been fine and I don't regret the purchase.

I keep hoping that someone will come out with a horizontal oscillating edge sander that uses 6x48 belts. There is a gap in the edge sander selection that if someone would fill I bet would sell like hotcakes. The RIDGID and other mini edge sanders have virtually no usable surface unless you're building small projects, and the next step up is to a 6x89 size machine. I don't have the space in my shop to dedicate to a machine that big, but a machine that used a 6x48 belt would be the sweet spot for many shops I bet.

 

[ben_r_]

I ended up going with the Shopfox W1686 and do really like it. I’m not a fan of bench top tools personally and this particular model offered the best bang for the buck IMO.

 

[butzla]

What Claimdude says

David,

I have had and enjoyed the Ridged Oscillating sander. Here is the linkhttps://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Oscillating-Edge-Belt-Spindle-Sander-EB4424/100061671

Jack

 

[Chris Cianci]

I have a Rigid based on two avid woodworker friends recommendation.......they have had theirs for years, one of them uses it daily as he is a pro, Mine broke after 5-6 uses as a hobbyist......Home Depot gave me a new one no questions asked...I didn’t have a receipt So apparently there was a bad run of them because Home Depot was used to the returns. I’d keep all of your paperwork......no one else I know had my problem Other friends have had the same unit for many years with zero troubles
Best

 

[Bob D.]

I like the RIDGID sander but I wish someone made a model that used 6x48" belts.
That would be a better size for a small shop. The RIDGID EB4424 uses 4x24" belts
which yields a small work surface of about 10 inches. Other than that I think it's a
good tool, and have heard no complaints about them.

I have been tempted to buy one many times, but keep holding out thinking that
6x48 sander of my dreams is coming out next month.

 

[ear3]

That was exactly  my experience, except I cycled through 3 rigid spidle sanders in the space of 24 hrs, each with the same electrical problem, before finally giving up and getting the Jet.

I have a Rigid based on two avid woodworker friends recommendation.......they have had theirs for years, one of them uses it daily as he is a pro, Mine broke after 5-6 uses as a hobbyist......Home Depot gave me a new one no questions asked...I didn’t have a receipt So apparently there was a bad run of them because Home Depot was used to the returns. I’d keep all of your paperwork......no one else I know had my problem Other friends have had the same unit for many years with zero troubles
Best

 

[Rob Z]

I had the Ridgid model for years and used it and abused it and never had a problem with it. I bought it to sand and grind to shape pieces of stone and tile.  We had a large bathroom project and I figured it would last only for the duration of the  job.  Amazingly it held up and never had a single issue.  Three years ago it was stolen, along with my truck  [censored].  Otherwise, I would still be happy to use it if needed.

 

[RDMuller]

Make sure it tips.

 

[zapdafish]

I have a Delta Boss and really like it but after watching this guy, it seems so inadequate, lol.

he uses it throughout and it seems so much safer than a shaper

Boris

 

[Michael Kellough]

The guy in the video is using a shaper.  [wink]

 

[egmiii]

He is using either an 80 or 100mm carbide helical head spinning around 10k. Provided you watch the grain and use a suitable template, they work very well.