Sand Flee

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:11 pm

How about we have some fun with this, by way of a bragging rights pool. We do this by taking a guess at what shopsmith is going to price the new tool at. Of couse members of shopsmith are not allowed to play. And as a second part what would be the price point that would get you to buy it in say 6 months to a year.

I'll go first with a guess of $549.99 as shopsmiths price.
For me to buy one soon $249.00.

Ed

Edit: The shopsmith price is what they first offer it at which might be like $100.00 off the list.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:11 pm

[quote="Nick"]I have to admit, I had exactly the same reaction to the Sand Flee that you guys are reporting. When we received our first one here at Shopsmith about 6 months ago, I thought, "What's the big deal? It's a drum sander in a box." But Drew and I dutifully put it through its paces. As we became more familar with it, we warmed to it.

Engineers often talk about the "elegant solution" to a technical problem. Usually, the elegant solution is not just effective but deceptively simple. And more often than not, it's elegant because of its simplicity. This is the case with the Sand Flee. It's a simple drum sander in a box that makes a very effective finish sander for flat surfaces.

It's the only sander that I have found (other than my own two hands) that offers both the gentleness and the control needed to sand plywood and other veneered surfaces. Pad sanders are gentle enough, but have little control. They won't sand a surface flat]

Nick
I don't question your opinion but I would like to know why Sand Flee would be better sanding a flat surface than say a thickness sander set to remove just enough to properly sand the surface?

Again my question is not challenging your expertise but is really a quest for information. I have limited knowledge of thickness sanders (used one once) and even less knowledge of the sand flee saw the video and a live demo.
Ed

bkhop · Post by **bkhop** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 6:39 pm

............

reible · Post by **reible** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:14 pm

bkhop wrote:Ooh, ooh, I like guessing games!

I'll toss in my guesses...
SS price: $599.99 (which I truly think will be too low judging by the rvrstudios website, but I can't bring myself to type anything higher)

I'd consider buying it at $300 if it impresses me sufficiently on the Saturday morning Sawdust Session. Truth of the matter, I'm afraid, is that $300 is only going to buy half of the machine. (Nick already said as much... "pro-sumer" - which is where everything else SS-related is headed.)

Hi,

I edited my post above to indicate the first offered price rather then the List Price... they may offer it at a reduced price as a starting price.... so if you want to change your answer....

Ed

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:01 pm

Shopsmith's anticipated list price - $439.50

My target price - $295. 50

The demo would have to be compelling even at $295.50. Again, I do hobby work. If I was turning out projects that have to satisfy a customer and be competitive at the same time I would be inclined to invest more freely.

fixit · Post by **fixit** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:45 pm

My guess for the Shopsmith initial price is $499.95.

Price where I would buy one soon would be $359.95. But I'd think hard about buying at the $499.95 price if I get many more customers who want tables - flattening table tops is NOT my favorite passtime!:(

scottss · Post by **scottss** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:22 am

I'm thinking $559 but if I was purchasing say $299-359. I think I might find be ablle to find a used wide belt for the lesser price. Also I still don't see how you can sand a wide board evenly.

Guess I will have to wait till the sawdust session. With a wide belt you feed like in a planer but the sand flee you push the board across the belt, not sure if this will do what I want it to. Like I said before for the small clocks it would be great though.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:20 pm

I also would bet List is at least $599, I would buy one the day it was announced for under $350 above that I will continue to wait for a sale on a small ProFormax Mini.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:45 pm

Okay may guess is $550+
I figure the 1/3 motor can't cost much more than a $100, figure in the switch and etc. So I'm guessing a $150 knock off from the manufacture's price $700.

Frankly I think if the guy built and sold these for a realistic price of $250 or less he would be rolling in green. But at $700 the thing would have to cut, build and finish a cabinet before I would considered it.

But as my wife says I throw quarters around like they are manhole covers.
Ed

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 5:45 pm

"...why would Sand Flee be better sanding a flat surface than say a thickness sander set to remove just enough to properly sand the surface?"

1. Easier to set up -- one setup works for all thicknesses.
2. Don't have to keep readjusting setting as thickness decreases.
3. Can sand tapered surfaces and boards of uneven thickness.
4. Can sand flat surfaces on all sorts of small and medium-sized assemblies.
5. Can true up joinery, sanding protruding tenons, fingers, tails, pins, whatever, flush to wood surface.
6. Works well as a "fitting tool," fitting drawers and other sliding/moving parts.
7. Table provides a positive stop to limit depth of cut.
8. Safer, less chance of kickback, work not pinched between table and drum.

It's kind of like the Shopsmith, Ed. It does some things as well as other tools, it does some things better, and you may have to have some experience with it to be convinced that it works as well as the people selling it say it does.

If you've watched the video on the Sand Flee web site (http://www.rjrstudios.com/) there is one thing that Bob Raffo says (over and over again) that it does that it positively does not do. It does not make sanding fun. Tolerable, maybe. But definitely not fun.

With all good wishes,