Defending the SS belt sander

[Ohgary]

There is a woodworker on Youtube named Matthias Wandel who has posted dozens of how-to videos: How to build your own band saw; How to make wooden gears; How to make a pantograph router; Making a wooden toy that marbles roll around in, and many more. They are usually quite clever and fun to watch.

Recently he posted a video replying to critics that said “anyone with a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of power tools could make projects, too.” So he went through the items in his shop, one by one, explaining how he bought them on closeout, or in yard sales or picked the main components off the curb or out of a dumpster.About halfway through this video he showed off his Shopsmith belt sander. He denigrated its performance, saying, “...belt tracking is terrible and the belt tensioning doesn't even work...” Of course he went on to say he uses it quite a bit...(He bought it at a yard sale,too.)

I have not seen complaints like this in other forum posts. I thought some of the well informed members of this forum might give Mr. Wandel some advice to help him adjust his Shopsmith belt sander and improve belt tracking and belt tensioning. I was excited to see the Shopsmith logo on the sander, not so excited to hear him give it a bad review.

screenshot from Youtube

wandel copy.jpg (122.63 KiB) Viewed 3690 times

[algale]

I suspect there is little chance anyone could convince that person he was wrong about much of anything. He is undeniably smart and clever but also a bit of a know-it-all who has shown himself quite unreceptive to questions about his wisdom.

My guess he doesn't have and never read the manual for the shopsmith belt sander and never tore his apart to see what was wrong with it.

By the way, he has a whole page on tool recommendations and specifically says to stay away from Shopsmith.

[rjent]

Huh, i use to like him.

[Ohgary]

Matthias Wandel:
woodgears.ca/beginner

"Do everything combination machines
Avoid machines that can be converted from one machine to another. The ShopSmith is a prime example of such a machine. Multi purpose machines are usually good at one or two functions, but other aspects are compromised. But the real problem is that every time you need to switch functions, you need to convert the machine. And the cost of these machines is usually high enough that you could get several single function machines for the same price."

I did not find this to be the case, but of course I bought a used one. An opportunistic purchase, as Mr. Wandel put it.

[dusty]

His very own comments indict him as someone with little experience and certainly not long enough to cast dispersion upon a machine concept that has been around as long as he himself.

Reference to the User's Manual would be good.....ooops....no owner's manual for wooden machines.

BTW The Shopsmith equipment needs no defense team. It does well on its own. The people who do not know that already are people who, for whatever reason, do not want to acknowledge it.

[masonsailor2]

Ask him when the last time he cleaned it. Every time mine starts to track poorly it means it's time for a cleaning. Other than that I have two and they track perfectly.
Paul

[wespex]

On the one hand I don't like when people bash Shopsmith like they do but on the other hand I think it helps keep the prices for used Shopsmiths low which I do like very much!

[reible]

It took me two videos of his to decide he had no idea what he was talking about, well at least for the most part. I have no desire to hear/see anything more from him nor do I want to add to his hits by going back. There are plenty of good presenters out there that I do like to watch so I check them out and follow them.

I got my belt sander early on and if I remember right that would put in 1976 or 1977. I have the crowned drum but the tension is not an issue, but you have to follow the instructions when installing new belts. If you don't then tracking can be a problem.

I want to pull mine apart and clean and lube it, not sure if I want to do some thing about the drum or not.........

Ed

[JPG]

Since he has built his own versions of various tools, it stands out that he has not made himself a belt sander.



BTW tis easier by far to make a Single function tool.

[charlese]

I bet new idler wheels would put an end to his tracking problem.