|
|
|
| Sanders - Disc vs. Belt |
|---|
| message from Dave V. on 23 May 2002 |
Well, Fathers' Day is fast approaching, and I feel the need for another power tool ;-)
At the top of my wish list is a power sander, but I need help figuring out what would be
best for me. I already have a B&D palm sander, and I'm considering a belt and/or
disc sander. My present rocketry focus is LMR to L1 HPR.
I'm thinking that a power sander would be of most use for shaping objects such as fins.
There are a few scale subjects that have fairly complex fin planforms - root-to-tip
tapers, leading and trailing edge bevels, etc; I'm thinking that a disc and/or belt
sander would be useful here. But which would be best?
As for size, obviously bigger is better, both for belt width and disc diameter, but
more expensive. The consensus seems to be that a 4" belt and 6" disc are about the
smallest useful sizes. True?
Many of you like the combination units... but what do you use each one for? What are
the pros and cons of disc vs. belt?
Combo units are readily available for about $100. Harbor Freight occasionally has a
12" disc sander on sale in that range. I haven't seen any non-portable belt sanders
in that price range; are there any?
Thanks for your help!!
|
| Mark A Palmer replied to Dave V. on 23 May 2002 |
I purchased a 1 inch by 30 inch belt sander from Harbor Freight 8 years ago for about
$50.00. The best $50 bucks I ever spent on tools. I used it recently to airfoil the fins on
my Yank 4 inch BBX which I used for my Level II cert. Great tool for quickly shaping
anything wood. I have also used to shape copper and brass. It is also extremely useful for
shaping cutting tools (chisels, turning tools, etc.) prior to actual sharpening .
Mark A Palmer
TRA 08542 L2
"Dave V." wrote:
|
| Jim McLaughlin replied to Dave V. on 23 May 2002 |
First, you get what you pay for. I have a distinct bias against the
Harbor Freight power tools, which I think they carry under their "Chicago
Electric" brand. I find the switches cheesy and I am really not confident
of the motors.
I use a combo fixed belt ( 4 inch) and disc (6 inch). Its a Delta,
that I got at a garage sale about 8 - 10 years ago. Model number is 31 -
460. Delta still has similar items. No idea about cost.
I use the bench sander a lot in rocketry.
I also use my drill press a lot with sanding drums attached instead of
drills / circle cutters / hole borers etc.
I have a palm sander, too and use it a lot for rocketry. Best thing
in the world for the "red lead" colored auto body putty in body tubes.
I also have a portable belt sander. 4 inch belt. Never used it in
rocketry stuff.
Kaplow puts together each year in October / November a real good power
tool review that he calls "The New Astron Workshop". It has sander
recommendations. Worth looking through the archives for.
"Dave V." <d...@DataWest.Net> wrote in message
news:3CED4B6D.5E345A74@DataWest.Net...
occasionally has a
|
| Dave V. replied to Jim McLaughlin on 23 May 2002 |
Jim,
Can you elaborate more on how you use each type of sander for rocketry related purposes?
For disc and belt in particular, what do they each do best?
Jim McLaughlin wrote:
|
| Kevin Trojanowski replied to Jim McLaughlin on 24 May 2002 |
Most DEFINITELY true, especially when it comes to tools!
If you buy cheap, don't expect it to last, and if it's a drill press or
something similar, don't be surprised when el-cheapos have a lot of
wobble in the shaft.
Agreed. Wonderfully handy, and easy to use. And they don't pull one
way or another like disc & belt sanders do.
-Kevin
|
| Boomer replied to Dave V. on 23 May 2002 |
Personally, for working on rockets, the best bet for money spent, if you
don't already have one, would be a drill press.
A Drill Press with a drum sander, and circle cutter attachment rocks.
Everything from cutting centering rings, sanding fin edges, drilling holes
for motor retention, you name it.
Sears has one for $100 that I've used and works great.
|
| Dave V. replied to Boomer on 23 May 2002 |
Hey Wade,
Guess what's #2 on my list! Christmas, methinks.... ;-)
Thanks for the advice!
Boomer wrote:
|
| Steve Wolfe replied to Boomer on 23 May 2002 |
And despite prior warnings about Harbor Freight, I got a drill press
there on sale for $50. I also happen to know or have spoken with a number
of other people who own the same model, and not a single one has been
displeased with it!
steve
|
| Lee Reep replied to Dave V. on 23 May 2002 |
Dave,
By far, the most used sander in my shop is a Dremel tabletop combo disc/belt
sander. The disc is 5" (maybe 6" -- I forget), and it is great for really
grinding away plenty of stock. The belt portion is 1" wide, and vertical.
There is a table with vertical support bar, so you can get good square
edges. The upper half of the belt has no backing plate, so you can get some
"give" out of it for contours.
I think this size is perfect for hobby use (and obviously, being a Dremel,
that's its major market). I have a 4" belt sander that I find totally
overkill and useless for hobby work, but then again, I bought it for big
wordworking projects. Others have posted that they use theirs for sanding
fins, but I think they are too difficult to use accurately.
Another sanding "gotta have" is a set of drum sanders for a drill press.
Mine came with my Delta, but they kits cheap at Harbor Freight. For a work
surface, I bored holes in pieces of wood, so that I could adjust the depth
of the drum, and thereby get usage out of the entire surface of the sanding
sleeve. Otherwise, you will quickly wear away just a small band on the drum.
Happy Fathers' Day!
|
| Dave V. replied to Lee Reep on 23 May 2002 |
Hmmm... that's two recommendations now for drum sanders in drill presses.
You guys ain't making this easy for me!
Lee, do you find that Dremel unit's capabilities good even for larger fins
with multiple tapers?
Thanks again!
Lee Reep wrote:
|
|
