Shopsmith Forums

It's time to buy one. There are several free standing ones on the market. I also can buy a new Shopsmith strip sander from a guy who is close to where my son lives in Texas. He want's $200. Is it worth $125 more for the Shopsmith? Do you have any recommendations for other brands?

You can buy a cheap strip sander from a box store or Harbor Freight- they all seem to be the same design- low quality. I got the Shopsmith strip sander based on the higher quality of the unit. Never had regrets.

I have two of the shopsmith units. I use one for general purpose sanding and the other for sharpening with the shopsmith jig.

I had another strip sander but got rid of it after finding it was under powered, you got a little heavy handed and you could hear the rpm drop and the motor straining. That never happens on the shopsmith.

They do make "more better" units then the one I had but then with that comes higher costs but I'm sure better performance. I just went with the shopsmith since I was pretty sure it would suit me and it has and yes well I paid a lot more for it.

Ed

The variable-speed of the Shopsmith head unit combined with the SS strip sander makes a super-versatile instrument. Metals, woods, etc. I've seen hobby forums where folks really get creative (and maybe save a few bucks) trying to duplicate that same range of possibility from shop-built strip sanders.

Chris

The SS is probably worth the extra $125. One feature is - you can mount it either side of the Shopsmith. This way you can sand with the belt foing up, for sharpening.

The weak points of the SS Strip Sander is the two idler wheels.

I've owned my Delta Strip Sander for twenty years or more. It's never given me a bit of trouble. I have sanded lots of toy wheels with it. Its heavy the body and the tables are cast iron. Where ever you put it it stays there. Rikon and Jet sell very similar models. The rikon looks like it was made in the same factory.

I think they are super machines and you can do inside of circles etc. I find them hard to sell though. I have 3 like new and no bites at $150 each and I am not settling for less. I will put a different grade of sand paper in each one first

woodmeister wrote:I think they are super machines and you can do inside of circles etc. I find them hard to sell though. I have 3 like new and no bites at $150 each and I am not settling for less. I will put a different grade of sand paper in each one first

It is hard to compete with cheap stuff like this new, then through in a 20% off coupon.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-in-x-5-i ... 69033.html

woodmeister wrote:I think they are super machines and you can do inside of circles etc. I find them hard to sell though. I have 3 like new and no bites at $150 each and I am not settling for less. I will put a different grade of sand paper in each one first

Where do,you live? I would like a like new SS strip sander.

The thing I like about my strip sander is the curved platen for sanding inside of curved surfaces. Also the ease of changing sanding belts. I have three of them and will part with two but not the one with the steel idler wheels.
Bill V