Ridgid EB4424 question

[dbhost]

Okay I just couldn't stand it any longer, and I finally pulled the trigger on one of these sanders. But I have a stupid question... What is that black bracket thing?

I am talking about the bracket that has the thumb screw that goes behind the spindle, and the whole thing sort of looks like a big fancy way of setting up a stop or something?

[drumpriest]

It's a stop, so that you can hold things against the flat portion of the sander.

[Knottscott]

It's a stop, so that you can hold things against the flat portion of the sander.

Yeah, it's a grabby cuss! It comes off in seconds if you need more space.

[JR]

Yeah, it's a grabby cuss! It comes off in seconds if you need more space.

I wonder how long it takes to put it back on. I 've never tried.

JR

[Knottscott]

I wonder how long it takes to put it back on. I 've never tried.

JR

YMMV, but I'd guess it's in the range of 5 to 20 seconds!

[dbhost]

I took it off, and reinstalled it trying to figure out what it is for. I think I might find a bigish Ziplock bag and stow it in one of the drawers in my tool box.. I just don't see a need for it. Of course having said that...

As far as reinstalling it. As fast as you can drop the locating tab into the slot, line up the hole, start the thumb screw, and screw in about I think it was about 8 threads / turns on mine...

[Larryl]

Yeah...what they said. Actually I find it handy to set the piece against it and just let it hold the piece steady instead of me fighting against the pull of the sanding belt.

[LCHIEN]

Yeah...what they said. Actually I find it handy to set the piece against it and just let it hold the piece steady instead of me fighting against the pull of the sanding belt.

Yeah, without the stop, one slip and it becomes like a rocket launcher.