HELP - can't decide which belt sander to get

[knaffie]

I’m about to buy a new belt sander and torn between two different units. I am mostly rounding corners and edges on 1/4" flat plate and deburring tubes after cutting them in the bandsaw or cutoff saw.

#1 – Kalamazoo S4S, 1HP. 4”x36” belt. Turns 3450 RPM. Made just an hour from my house by a very reputable company. $780.

http://www.kalamazooindustries.com/belt_sanders.asp

#2 – Wilton 4210K, 1HP. 6”x48” belt, 10” disc. Turns only 1650 RPM. $649. Import.

http://www.hechinger.com/web/catalog/product_detail.aspx?pid=268745&cm_ven=Froogle&cm_cat=Stationary%20Tools&cm_pla=Wilton&cm_ite=Wilton-Sanders-268745&cid=832C972C84FC35A6504E6197FF702A75

Obviously I get more for my money with the Wilton unit. But I’m concerned about the speed of the belt. If its turning only 1/2 as fast, the belt would probably be much more likely to catch and rip, right?

Not sure which way to go here guys. Anybody have either one? Any advice is appreciated.

[Todd W]

You can get the wilton for $540 at ENCO right now.

[D60]

Obviously I get more for my money with the Wilton unit. But I’m concerned about the speed of the belt. If its turning only 1/2 as fast, the belt would probably be much more likely to catch and rip, right?

Not sure which way to go here guys. Anybody have either one? Any advice is appreciated.

I use the bigger Wilton everyday w 12" disc. Looks like it turns 1960 RPM. It always seems to turn slow to me when I first fire it up, but never had problems w the belt catching or ripping. I think quality belts are the first line of defense.

I'm also guessing you just don't want to be turning a 6x48 belt at 3450, seems like more mass to flap or slack.

[knaffie]

Actually all of the Kzoo machines I looked at turn that fast.

[DSW]

I'm surprised to see the Hechinger name. I used to work for the original Hechingers before they went under in around 2000. Someone must have bought the name for thier site. Any ways I digress.

Considder if you will be able to get belts / disks for the Wilton locally or if you will have to order them. If you have to order, stock up on spares. Nothing ruins a project like being in the middle and having your tool go down for a couple of days because you can't get a part. I always stock up on welding gas and tig rod on friday before a project, knowing that if I run out I'll have to wait till monday to get more. I think the 4"x36" is the same belt my delta uses and is available from Depo. Other than this I think I might lean towards the Wilton as a more versitile machine.

[sn0border88]

http://burrking.com/

We have one of these at the shop, works great. Lots of attatchments, different belts, wheel sizes, ect.

[tnmike]

I do all the work you mention on a 2inch belt. I have the Grizzly 2x72 and really like it. I think the price is around $350.

[300sniper]

i have the wilton 4210k. it works great for me. it is plenty fast in my opinion. i wouldn't go narrower than a 6" belt and no way would i go smaller than a 10" disc. i use a 50-60 grit disc for removing lots of material during shaping and a 80 grit belt for finishing the work. it is an import but still quality in my opinion.

if money were no object i would have a large (probably 20" or so) dedicated disc sander and a dedicated 6x? belt sander. if money were no object but space was limited to a combo sanding machine, i'd look at one of the 6x48/12" belt-disc sanders.

[nissancrawler]

I have never had a Wilton tool let me down.

[bullet4263]

Been reading for months but this is my first post thought I'd give my 2 cents. I have the 6x48 harbor freight use it daily in a small fab shop. I swapped the pulleys to speed it up was 100 times better, was way faster at material removal. I think I fiqured it runs at 4-5000 rpm range. I was planning on buying a better sander after I got my shop up and running but its still going strong after 4 years of fairly heavy use. I actually bought the 1 year warranty fiqured it wouldn't last that long. I have used the Burr Kings and the Ellis belt sanders I really liked the Ellis the best.

[SWAG MFG]

I recently purchased a Dake 3" x 72" belt sander for $875 A 4hp metal hogging machine, 6" wide would be nice. I got a great deal on shopping from Fastenal.