Rigid Spindle/belt sander evaluation

[jcrenick]

Considering a purchase of a spindle sander and saw this. Wondered if anyone has one and if so what you think of it.

Thanks in advance.

[T-Bone]

I've had one for several years and really like it. I use it all the time - almost every time I'm in the shop. It makes quick work of an otherwise unenjoyable task. The dust collection works well attached to a shop vac. I got one of those big eraser things that clean belts and it extends the life of the belt some. It is very quick and easy to change from belt to spindle and the spindles work good. My only wish is that the the belt was wider so I could sand wider boards.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I don't have one but have been eye balling the market. I believe this unit is the value leader. It has a nice size table, can be stored away versus a floor standing unit, plus it has the small edge/belt sanding option included. It is highly rated in most WW magazine reviews versus typical Woodbridge, Grizzly, Jet, Delta Boss, etc oscillating spindle sanders.

[Tom Miller]

I've been very happy with mine; had it for a few years. I recently saw in the FWW Tools and Shops 2007 that it got a "Best Overall" and "Best Value".

Models tested include the Bridgewood OVS-5; Clayton 140; Delta SA350K; Grizzly GO538; Grizzly G9922; Jet JBOS-5; Ridgid EB4424

Regards,
Tom

[mpc]

Add another satisfied customer. I've used mine a few times and it has always done the job quickly, easily, and "nicely" - i.e. it cleans up projects the way you expect a sander to do.

The only gotcha with the thing is buying replacement spindle sanding tubes; for some idiot reason HD doesn't carry them! Sears used to; dad and I cleaned out a local Sears during their clearance sale of sanding tubes. A few folks recommend some online vendors; I haven't tried them myself yet since I have a (small) stockpile of fresh consumables.

mpc

[lrr]

Got one a few months ago. Great product. I looked at it several times in the store, thinking it seemed just a little pricey. I did not realizing it was a belt sander too. Glad to have both features in one product.

Every Ridgid tool I have purchased has turned out to be much better than expected.

[drumpriest]

I really like mine. I use it quite often, and have no real complaints. Tracking can be a bit finicky, but overall this tool was a great win.

[Kristofor]

Another satisfied owner. Sometimes I'd like the belt to be a couple inches longer, but it's versatile and a good deal.

Kristofor.

[LarryG]

Well, after all these glowing allocades, I guess it's time for someone to step forward and say they DON'T like the Ridgid OS/B sander.






But it's not gonna be me. Like everyone else, I love mine.

[JR]

I like mine, too. I might add to Jeffrey's comment that this unit is light enough to be stored away without difficulty, as oppposed, say, to my Ridgid planer. The planer is about the same size but is too heavy to move around easily.

JR

[softop41]

jc....
I just recently bought the Ridgid OSS. It is an extremely handy machine to have in the shop, esp. the oscillating edge belt sanding function. All those quick, little reshaping operations I used to try to do on a standerd belt sander now actually work right!
I highly recommend it as an addition to a shop. I decided that it was necessary after I made my first bandsaw box on an ordinary belt sander and ended up with a lot of hand work to straighten surfaces out and smooth curves, etc.
HTH,
Jerry

[Andrew Benedetto]

The new model, orange is actually better than the grey one in construction. I have used both and had a look inside them. Very good tool ,like the JP610.

Add a graphite patten pad from WWS, makes it and all belt sanders even better.

[drumpriest]

JR brings up an excellent point. I have a relatively small shop, and my sander lives stored away, I just lift it up to the assembly table when I need to use it.

[scmhogg]

I love mine. Had it for several years and I use it a lot. I sometimes think I use it too much. Is it craftsmanship to cut it big and grind it to shape or size?

Do not use frayed belts. The strings can jam everything up.

Try Tom Miller's chisel sharpening jig. I copied it and it works great.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...ght=sharpening

Steve

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I love mine. Had it for several years and I use it a lot. I sometimes think I use it too much. Is it craftsmanship to cut it big and grind it to shape or size?

You are being way to hard on yourself. Watch every single episode of NYWS or others and you will see this in every project. Sometimes its over ripping by a 1/16th so you can clean edges up on the jointer. Often you will see tennons over sized for the express purpose of hand fitting them later. The list goes on and on. I think maximizing the use of your hand and power tools is a sign of craftmanship.