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HELP - can't decide which belt sander to get

1K views 10 replies 10 participants last post by  SWAG MFG 
#1 · (Edited)
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/catalo...s-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.
 
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#3 ·
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.
 
#5 ·
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.
 
#8 ·
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.
 
#10 ·
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.
 
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