12" disk sander ? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Rolf · 10-01-2009, 01:20 PM

Anyone have a stand alone 12" disk sander?
I am looking for one with a decent table that stays adjusted not some cheasy stamped metal.
Any reccomendations?

Ocelot · 10-01-2009, 01:32 PM

I don't own it, but I once used the Grizzly 12" disk sander and thought it was really smooth and powerful. G7297 12" Disc Sander

I own the Hitachi 8" disk / 4" belt combo and have been very pleased with it.

Ray

Rolf · 10-01-2009, 01:36 PM

I have a combo 4" belt 6"disk sander but it is very poorly designed.
when you sand something large on the belt it can hit the back of the disk (and has) so I took the disk off.

Old Dude · 10-01-2009, 02:24 PM

Rolf...

I have one I got from Harbor Freight many moons ago. It works well, and I use it a lot. But as you know, the table was practically useless. At first I only used it for free hand sanding, so I didn't care, but when the need arose for more precision I made my own table. I used the phenolic faced birch ply, cut a couple slots in it for t-track, and made a couple of "fences" for the t-track so I could hold a piece at the desired angle to the abrasive (that pathetic little miter gauge that came with it went in the trash the first week). For attaching to the sander I used the brackets that attached the original useless table. I have to crank it down pretty tight to get it stable (that's a pretty big moment arm from the outside edge of the table back to the point of attachment), but it can be done. It's a bit of a pain to change abrasive sheets, but I use the tool so often that I just do it.

Being the Grizzly fan that I am, if I had to get another one that's where I'd look first (I'd still expect to have to make my own table). Jet's is probably quite good, but a bit pricey (so what's new). The Shop Fox will be a Grizzly clone, so whichever price is better. Rikon talks about rack and pinion adjustment for the table, which sounds interesting, but I have a hunch I'd still at least replace the top (I wonder if that contributes at all to stability). And there are others.

Overall, a useful tool imo.

Cheers.

evilbadger · 10-01-2009, 02:39 PM

Rolf

I went and got the Jet 12" disc only machine and I love it the table stays where you put it and it also comes with miter gauge and circle pin that locks in the T-slot.
I also have the Jet belt/disc machine and the Jet spindle sander. I see on this forum a lot of people like the Grizzly products but I like to see the machine up close before I buy one and the Grizzly dealer is quite a hike for me. I guess it depends on your personal preference though when it comes down to it. So far The Jet stuff has been very reliable for me.

Tim

KtownScroller · 10-01-2009, 03:00 PM

Why not build your own table?

Mike Crosa · 10-01-2009, 03:19 PM

Rolf,

I got the Rikon 12" disc sander from WoodCraft. It was on backorder forever but I finally received it. I am very happy with it. The table adjusts easily. I don't claim to be an expert but if you ask specific questions I would be happy to try to answer them.

Paul S WI · 10-01-2009, 03:45 PM

+1 for the Jet JDS 12" disc sander. Goes for about $350 w/o dust collector cannister. I have d/c's so I just attach a d/c hose when I need to use it. This is an excellent machine, solid, and very, very heavy. It also has a manual brake for quick stopping.

Old Dude · 10-01-2009, 04:44 PM

Rolf...

Just looked at the manual for the Rikon. You can find it here:
http://www.rikontools.com/images/Manuals/51200.pdf

The table adjustment is definitely better than my Harbor Freight. Maybe Mike could comment on how difficult it is to move the table out of perpendicular once it's aligned and tightened down.

Cheers.

Cutting Cathy · 10-01-2009, 11:58 PM

Rolf, I have the 12" Delta disc sander and it's really nice. You can see a picture and some comments on it in this thread.

10-01-2009, 01:20 PM	#1
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 2,808	12" disk sander ? Anyone have a stand alone 12" disk sander? I am looking for one with a decent table that stays adjusted not some cheasy stamped metal. Any reccomendations? __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can"

10-01-2009, 01:32 PM	#2
Ocelot Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NY Posts: 487	I don't own it, but I once used the Grizzly 12" disk sander and thought it was really smooth and powerful. G7297 12" Disc Sander I own the Hitachi 8" disk / 4" belt combo and have been very pleased with it. Ray __________________ http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...t=bdee7145.pbw

10-01-2009, 01:36 PM	#3
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 2,808	I have a combo 4" belt 6"disk sander but it is very poorly designed. when you sand something large on the belt it can hit the back of the disk (and has) so I took the disk off. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can"

10-01-2009, 03:00 PM	#6
KtownScroller So much better :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: PA Posts: 2,665	Why not build your own table? __________________ - Rick

10-01-2009, 03:19 PM	#7
Mike Crosa Land Locked Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 1,695	Rolf, I got the Rikon 12" disc sander from WoodCraft. It was on backorder forever but I finally received it. I am very happy with it. The table adjusts easily. I don't claim to be an expert but if you ask specific questions I would be happy to try to answer them. __________________ Mike C. Hawk G4

10-01-2009, 02:24 PM	#4
Old Dude Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: PA Posts: 41	Rolf... I have one I got from Harbor Freight many moons ago. It works well, and I use it a lot. But as you know, the table was practically useless. At first I only used it for free hand sanding, so I didn't care, but when the need arose for more precision I made my own table. I used the phenolic faced birch ply, cut a couple slots in it for t-track, and made a couple of "fences" for the t-track so I could hold a piece at the desired angle to the abrasive (that pathetic little miter gauge that came with it went in the trash the first week). For attaching to the sander I used the brackets that attached the original useless table. I have to crank it down pretty tight to get it stable (that's a pretty big moment arm from the outside edge of the table back to the point of attachment), but it can be done. It's a bit of a pain to change abrasive sheets, but I use the tool so often that I just do it. Being the Grizzly fan that I am, if I had to get another one that's where I'd look first (I'd still expect to have to make my own table). Jet's is probably quite good, but a bit pricey (so what's new). The Shop Fox will be a Grizzly clone, so whichever price is better. Rikon talks about rack and pinion adjustment for the table, which sounds interesting, but I have a hunch I'd still at least replace the top (I wonder if that contributes at all to stability). And there are others. Overall, a useful tool imo. Cheers.

10-01-2009, 02:39 PM	#5
evilbadger Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 314	Rolf I went and got the Jet 12" disc only machine and I love it the table stays where you put it and it also comes with miter gauge and circle pin that locks in the T-slot. I also have the Jet belt/disc machine and the Jet spindle sander. I see on this forum a lot of people like the Grizzly products but I like to see the machine up close before I buy one and the Grizzly dealer is quite a hike for me. I guess it depends on your personal preference though when it comes down to it. So far The Jet stuff has been very reliable for me. Tim

10-01-2009, 03:45 PM	#8
Paul S WI Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Stevens Point, WI Posts: 335	+1 for the Jet JDS 12" disc sander. Goes for about $350 w/o dust collector cannister. I have d/c's so I just attach a d/c hose when I need to use it. This is an excellent machine, solid, and very, very heavy. It also has a manual brake for quick stopping. __________________ Paul S. Excalibur EX-21 (The Green Machine)

10-01-2009, 04:44 PM	#9
Old Dude Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: PA Posts: 41	Rolf... Just looked at the manual for the Rikon. You can find it here: http://www.rikontools.com/images/Manuals/51200.pdf The table adjustment is definitely better than my Harbor Freight. Maybe Mike could comment on how difficult it is to move the table out of perpendicular once it's aligned and tightened down. Cheers.

10-01-2009, 11:58 PM	#10
Cutting Cathy Proud Grandma Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 565	Rolf, I have the 12" Delta disc sander and it's really nice. You can see a picture and some comments on it in this thread. __________________ Cathy in NE "While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." - Anonymous

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