Belt sander or disc sander - or both?

[jim_wilson]

I put this in the welding forum because I would be using the sander(s) - for prep and cleanup work on steel welding projects.

I'm slowly outfitting my shop to get some "real" work done. The goal is to (hopefully) - have a well outfitted shop I can use to maybe support a small business or retirement type business. I've been building up my equipment roster , got a Miller 350P, a Stronghand welding table, a good sized blasting cabinet, 7.5HP compressor , just bought a mag drill, would like to get a CNC plasma table - etc.

At the moment any sanding I've had to do - I've done with a 4 1/2 grinder with a sanding disc attached.

There seems to be a huge range of options out there for sanders - from combined disc and belt sanders , to large 15" or 20" diameter disc sanders and 4 to 6" wide belt sanders.

For doing steel prep and cleanup work - which one is the better option? Does it mattter - is it just a personal preference thing?

 

[Mysfyt]

I had a small 'combo' one for a while and sold it for a larger disc sander. Both have their place, but I found myself using the disc sander way more than the flat belt. I like the disc for squaring up edges.

 

[jim_wilson]

I had a small 'combo' one for a while and sold it for a larger disc sander. Both have their place, but I found myself using the disc sander way more than the flat belt. I like the disc for squaring up edges.

Right now I have nothing. I already know that one of the smaller combo type units isn't going to cut it. I need to do exactly what you're saying: squaring up tube ends and stuff like that. I've been working with stuff like 2"x4" rectangular tube (and in a few cases larger) - one of the small combo unit's isn't going to cut it.

What I'm debating myself on is something like this:

vs. something like this:

 

[JCByrd24]

You're looking at the right type of machine for steel work. I don't recall seeing a combo unit designed for steel vice wood. I have the multitool 2x36" belt grinder attachment on a rugged 8" bench grinder and it's a great tool but certainly not in the class of either that you posted. 2x72" belt units are very popular among fabricators but a big old disc like that with an adjustable table I would see to have great advantages as well. No sliding of the belt across the platen to cause heat, larger working area, especially for squaring/making straight edges.

 

[ruffdog]

Worked in a large fab shop with 60 people and the large disk sanders were the most used. They are quiet, durable, run cooler, don't worry about belt running straight, and easy to change pads.

 

[Sodo]

I have the combo belt+disc. And the angle grinder/sander too. I like it for squaring up too. Real handy tool and and not expensive I think mine was about $125. Mine is horizontal, I'd get the vertical one next time. Something like this.

 

[Big Barn]

Right now I have nothing. I already know that one of the smaller combo type units isn't going to cut it. I need to do exactly what you're saying: squaring up tube ends and stuff like that. I've been working with stuff like 2"x4" rectangular tube (and in a few cases larger) - one of the small combo unit's isn't going to cut it.

What I'm debating myself on is something like this:

vs. something like this:

Jim, ideally you would have BOTH of the machines you posted pics of.

Combination machines (IMHO) should be called "compromise " machines.

Here's the Kalamazoo I have in my "same old grind" station:



It works fine, (has a vacuum system) but ideally I'd have the two machines (or similar) you posted.

Terry

 

[PILOON]

I have a bench unit that uses a 6" belt and and a 10" disc.
Also a 12" disc on the outer side of my lathe.
I find that I always go to the disk for general clean up and edge finishing and use the belt for precise work.

Were I to go it again I would not bother with the belt/disc unit but simply have a 12" disk mounted on a stand, or maybe a HD wire brush combined with a disc.
(belt disc unit was a $40. yard find, hard to refuse)

 

[Jim Timber]

What kind of life are you guys getting out of your disks?

The thing that attracted me to belts initially was the cost of abrasives and their expectation of lifespan. In practice, I haven't been overly impressed with how long any of the belts have held up on the grinders I've used. One hard burr in the splice and you're out $8.

 

[s219]

I have a cheap belt/disc combo, and find that I will want to use one or the other based on what I am doing at the moment. Sometimes one feels more right than the other.

 

[Big Barn]

What kind of life are you guys getting out of your disks?

The thing that attracted me to belts initially was the cost of abrasives and their expectation of lifespan. In practice, I haven't been overly impressed with how long any of the belts have held up on the grinders I've used. One hard burr in the splice and you're out $8.

I've never had a belt spice problem with Norton or Klingspor.

I use Klingspor exclusively on my Dynabrade air file which can be REALLY hard on splices.





Terry

 

[Jim Timber]

We had a Bur King at the tech college that didn't keep belts on it. They ran true, they seemed like an ok package (not damaged or anything), but nobody liked using that thing because it'd spit belts at you with anything over slight pressure.

I built a crappy one many years ago and chose poorly on my bearings (needle instead of ball) and that didn't suffer the same fate but never worked well either. Someday I'll build another correctly.

 

[Sodo]

I have a cheap belt/disc combo, and find that I will want to use one or the other based on what I am doing at the moment. Sometimes one feels more right than the other.

Yeah when one grabs your part & flings it behind the workbench use the other.

 

[muddstopper]

Yeah when one grabs your part & flings it behind the workbench use the other.

Never been able to find the part after that happens so I dont know how well switch to a different machine might work.:stirthepot:

 

[Big Barn]

Never been able to find the part after that happens so I dont know how well switch to a different machine might work.:stirthepot:

In my opinion "lost" beats "embedded in body part" any day.

Terry

 

[muddstopper]

Had a piece of 2in pipe chucked in the lathe once that got flung across the room and bounced off the wall. I just barely had it chucked up and was fixing to adjust the steady rest. Thinking I had the lathe in 33rpms I turned the switch on only to discover it was 900rpms. Talk about ducking and dodgeing.

 

[flyerdan]

The 12" disc sander that HF has on sale frequently is a good metal shop tool. It has plenty of power, and the disc has enough surface that they last a long time, if you don't stay in one spot when deburring several parts.

 

[jim_wilson]

Jim, ideally you would have BOTH of the machines you posted pics of.

Combination machines (IMHO) should be called "compromise " machines.

Here's the Kalamazoo I have in my "same old grind" station:

View attachment 457031

It works fine, (has a vacuum system) but ideally I'd have the two machines (or similar) you posted.

Terry

I was just looking at some of the Kalamazoo products - they look like quality stuff - but expensive. For the price of one of the Kalamazoo setups I could probably get a decent 20" disc grinder and one of the 3x79 belt grinders.

 

[jim_wilson]

The 12" disc sander that HF has on sale frequently is a good metal shop tool. It has plenty of power, and the disc has enough surface that they last a long time, if you don't stay in one spot when deburring several parts.

That's actually a decent suggestion. Not because I think it would solve my long term problem - but because it would give me something to work with for now while I free up some cash to buy the bigger tool. I have a couple of projects coming up where the main thing I need to do is square up some cut tubes. The HF unit would be fine for that.

 

[TMGT]

I have the 12" hf disc, very happy with it, good power, quiet and true, only complaint is the table could be a bit better. I was planning on making a steel table for it but haven't done it yet, used it pretty hard for the last couple years and it's still going strong.