Osc Spindle Sander Questions

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I know a lot of folks have and love the Ridgid OSS. I have also saw the Ryobi/HF unit out there. My question is what brand do you have and what is the max usable height of your unit? Are taller spindles avail for your unit? Where do you buy spindles/belts for your unit?
Thanks guys!

[LCHIEN]

I'm sure the Ryobi and HF units are not the same, you talk like they are...

[John Hunter]

I have an Enlon (Star) you can see a picture of it in this link to Norm's Shop http://www.newyankee.com/nwall_small2.shtml

[Brian G]

I have the Ryobi OSS500. I agree with Loring; the Ryobi and the HF OSS are not the same. Posters have suggested they are nearly identical whenever the HF OSS goes on sale, but they are not. For whatever reason, the suggestion that they are the same seems to have grown roots.

I can use the full 4" of the spindle, which means I can effectively sand something 8" thick if I flip the piece end-for-end. I'd have to find some way to extend the spindle if I wanted to use a longer sleeve, if that's even possible. I have not had to replace any sleeves, yet. Any purveyor of sanding supplies probably has 4" sleeves that would fit the spindles.

I bought the Ryobi on clearance, shortly after I received the Ryobi belt/disk as a gift. If that had not happened, I likely would have gone with the Rigid.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I'm sure the Ryobi and HF units are not the same, you talk like they are...

I stand corrected.

[Stan]

I have one of the Ridgid units that I've had issues with (bought it as a display model for sale missing parts -- but that's a different story).

The spindle height has been an issue for me in the past due to the depth of some of the BS boxes that I have made in the past -- and turning the box over to sand from the other side hasn't worked out too well as apparently my spindle is not exactly 90 degrees from the table. (It was checked by a local shop, and given an 'ok' -- but still doesn't seem right to me). If I sand something 5" tall, I will have a 'groove' about and inch from the top -- flip it over and try sanding from the other side -- I get another groove about an inch from the top.

Long story for what I feel might be a fairly simple solution in my case....

I have been tossing around the idea of going to a machine shop and have them make me a 'spindle extension'. Something that is threaded on both ends -- would thread on to the existing spindle, and then threaded on the top to accept the drum holding bolt.

Two different sizes would allow me to then go with the 6" and 9" drums from the Grizzly G1071 sander.

Just a thought.