Spindle sander advice

[steve-norrell]

Has anyone had any experience with these tools?

http://www.woodpeck.com:80/sander.html

http://www.porter-cable.com/index.asp?e=547&p=2796

The total cost of these two items would be a lot more that a table-top sander, but space and dust issues preclude getting one.

Pictures are attached.

Any advice would be most welcome. Best regards, Steve.

[atgcpaul]

I have nothing to offer on the products you have there, but this Ridgid sander
always get good reviews here and in the magazines. You'll get the OSS and
an edge belt sander with this one. Probably a little bigger than your proposed
setup but also more functional--unless you want to use it freehand. $200 at HD.

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/Oscillat...nder/index.htm

Paul

[JR]

FWIW, dust collection on the Ridgid is very good.

JR

[LCHIEN]

As an option you could mount the Porter Cable hand held osc. Spindle sander to an adapter plate that would mount in the BT3x auxiliary table. Just like a router.

I don't really know if this is an idea that just popped into my mind or I've seen it before. Know I've seen router plate adapters like you showed. Could not find it in the BT3central forum archives,
the issues might be:
Size of the opening for the larger spindles might be bigger than the opening in the Aux table.
Dust collection.

Just an idea, but i think those PC (model 121) OSSes are expensive nowadays. ~$250?

P.S. A bit of brief research on the net - (1) this thing has maximum 2" spindles so it will probably fit the Aux table hole
and (2) it has a dust collection port. So, no real issues except cost. And to add insult to injury in the cost dept., this only comes with one 2" spindle and sanding drum, the other sizes are extra!

[drumpriest]

I don't have any opinion on the porter cable, sorry, but I agree with JR that the DC on the ridgid is very good. I keep mine on the floor under a shelf and get it out when I want to use it, it's very manageable in weight.

[steve-norrell]

I have looked at, and indeed, coveted the Ridgid EB4424 sander. If only I had the space . . . .

I was attracted to the PC sander and Woodpeck mounting plate because it would fit in the router table that I built on to the BT3100. Also, the combination could be enclosed in the same dust box that encloses my router, making it almost dust proof. My idea is to replace the router and its lift plate with the sander and its mounting plate -- as a drop-in - - when I need to do some sanding. The total cost for the sander plus plate would be about $325, plus shipping, which is shamefully more expensive than the Ridgid EB4424.

My concerns were related to the durability of the PC sander and whether or not the vibration of the sander would cause problems with router table inset.

It is beginning to look like relatively few folks have used the PC Sander. (Is it relatively new?)

[LCHIEN]

...

It is beginning to look like relatively few folks have used the PC Sander. (Is it relatively new?)

I think it is relatively expensive.

Have you tried reading the reviews on Amazon or ePinions?

[JoeyGee]

I may be missing something, so take this FWIW. The HF spindle sander does not appear to be too much larger than the setup in your first pic, and would be a lot cheaper. That would give you more spindle sizes and also includes a DC port--although a small one. For that matter, the Rigid is also not much bigger than what you have pictured, and also includes a DC port (or so I assume).

[thestinker]

I reluctantly bough the ridgid belt / osc that I needed for a project wondering how often I would use it. I ues it a lot more than I ever thought I would, if nothing else than cleaning up small items or removing a small omount of thickness from something small. You can also use it to hone chisels and clean crud off putty knives. Also, once again, the DC is real good.

RS