I want to get a new Sander, but I'm not 100% sure which one. I'm thinking about the 6" Belt Sander but I think i might could use the Strip sander. I"m looking for opinions which one do you use the most the 6" belt Sander or the Strip Sander. I know it depends on what type of woodworking I will do. For now I'm looking to build a table and a few bookcases and some Adirondack chairs and a couple of table lamps, over the next year. I like the idea of having the Disc, Belt and Drum sander running at the same time. But I'm not sure if i would use the belt sander that much.
What do you guys use the most?
Looking for Opinions
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Re: Looking for Opinions
I use the belt sander more, by far. But, as you surmised, it would depend on your own individual needs.
Just judging from your projected builds, the strip sander would probably not be very useful.
Just judging from your projected builds, the strip sander would probably not be very useful.
Re: Looking for Opinions
Joe
I have had by belt sander for a long time and would not be without one. I also have the strip sander. They are different machines with different applications. Different strokes for different machines. :-)
I bought one for my son and when I asked how he liked he said "I don't know how I ever got along without it". If I had to make a choice I would opt for the 6X48 belt sander.
Bill V
I have had by belt sander for a long time and would not be without one. I also have the strip sander. They are different machines with different applications. Different strokes for different machines. :-)
I bought one for my son and when I asked how he liked he said "I don't know how I ever got along without it". If I had to make a choice I would opt for the 6X48 belt sander.
Bill V
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paulrussell
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Re: Looking for Opinions
All I know -- which is very little, but I make up for it with opinions -- is that Nick Engler commented that the strip sander was not highly useful for working wood, but was an excellent sharpening tool.
On the other hand, I use my belt sander constantly.
On the other hand, I use my belt sander constantly.
Re: Looking for Opinions
A lot of people think that the strip sander is not a very useful tool. I would humbly disagree. When our club makes toy cars and trucks for the Toys for Tots program the strip sander is used quite often. It is particularly useful for sanding inside corners on a lot of the trucks. The sanding strips can be moved side to side on the platen to get to the right angle corners. Another good and useful aspect of this tool is the rounded platen for sanding long convex curves
Bill V
Bill V
Re: Looking for Opinions
I have both and do quite a few small box projects as well as scroll saw projects and use the belt sander the most. Still love having the strip sander but if I had to choose, I'd go with the belt sander first.
Re: Looking for Opinions
Here is my story. The belt sander came on the heals of my purchase of a new shopsmith back in 1976. That along with the jig saw. I already had a bandsaw and jointer, non-shopsmith stuff and a table saw. Parted with the table saw and still have the other items.
In my early years I used the belt sander a lot. It was a tool we didn't have back in the home shop and never used it in the HS shop. I did work in a machine shop where I was introduced to the metal working equivalent used to clean up castings and deburr all manor of product. This was the typical newbie job which was what I was. It took about a week before while still the newbie it became clear I had more talents that could be put to use. These commercial machines were far superior and that introduction made me want one for my wood shop.
The belt sander can be much more then a sander, it can be a shaper of wood. Now I wouldn't pick it as the most effect way in most cases but I've seen people make almost a whole projects by removing the wood via sandpaper. I know one person who did duck decoy bodies and then finished with carving tools.....
Of late I have not been using belt sander as much. A couple of reasons, one being the I need to rebuild mine. I was going to do that last year but it never happened, perhaps this summer??? Second is that I've started doing a lot less sanding almost across the board (sorry I had to say that). I've also starting using the strip sander more....
So I use to have a non-shopsmith strip sander, 30" size but it was under powered. Towards the end I just kept a leather belt on it and used it for sharpening. I then got a shopsmith strip sander, world of difference from the older thing I had. I later got the sharpening jig for it and got tired of swapping the table and jig back and forth so I picked up a second strip sander.
So one advantage of the strip sander is the fact that it can be swapped to a nice sharpening station. It is also lighter so taking it on or off the shopsmith is really easy to do. This makes doing jobs that I use to just do by hand to avoid the belt sander mounting to a job I do with the strip sander.
The two machines of course have over laps and place where it clear one or the other is the way to go. Ideally you could have each of them and feel free to decide right there in your shop which machine to use for that particular project.... or maybe both would be used....
And it always comes down to each of us having our own opinions. I would say the strip sander and then the belt sander, yes both of them. So start saving up.
BTW I feel the bandsaw is a must have and I do that purchase before any of the other STPs.
Ed
In my early years I used the belt sander a lot. It was a tool we didn't have back in the home shop and never used it in the HS shop. I did work in a machine shop where I was introduced to the metal working equivalent used to clean up castings and deburr all manor of product. This was the typical newbie job which was what I was. It took about a week before while still the newbie it became clear I had more talents that could be put to use. These commercial machines were far superior and that introduction made me want one for my wood shop.
The belt sander can be much more then a sander, it can be a shaper of wood. Now I wouldn't pick it as the most effect way in most cases but I've seen people make almost a whole projects by removing the wood via sandpaper. I know one person who did duck decoy bodies and then finished with carving tools.....
Of late I have not been using belt sander as much. A couple of reasons, one being the I need to rebuild mine. I was going to do that last year but it never happened, perhaps this summer??? Second is that I've started doing a lot less sanding almost across the board (sorry I had to say that). I've also starting using the strip sander more....
So I use to have a non-shopsmith strip sander, 30" size but it was under powered. Towards the end I just kept a leather belt on it and used it for sharpening. I then got a shopsmith strip sander, world of difference from the older thing I had. I later got the sharpening jig for it and got tired of swapping the table and jig back and forth so I picked up a second strip sander.
So one advantage of the strip sander is the fact that it can be swapped to a nice sharpening station. It is also lighter so taking it on or off the shopsmith is really easy to do. This makes doing jobs that I use to just do by hand to avoid the belt sander mounting to a job I do with the strip sander.
The two machines of course have over laps and place where it clear one or the other is the way to go. Ideally you could have each of them and feel free to decide right there in your shop which machine to use for that particular project.... or maybe both would be used....
And it always comes down to each of us having our own opinions. I would say the strip sander and then the belt sander, yes both of them. So start saving up.
BTW I feel the bandsaw is a must have and I do that purchase before any of the other STPs.
Ed
{Knight of the Shopsmith} [Hero's don't wear capes, they wear dog tags]
Re: Looking for Opinions
Thanks guys for your opinions, I think I will go with the belt sander first. I already have a bandsaw and jointer. My plan is to order it from the lowes demo if i can this weekend. We are suppose to get 4 to 8" of snow tonight so i don't know if the demo will still be on or if it will be canceled, or if i can get to it. We got about 1/2" last night and it took my normal commute from work from 45 min to 2 hours and 15 minutes 
and the Lowes demo is just 10 minutes from my work
and the Lowes demo is just 10 minutes from my work