Thread: Disc Sanders! What do you suggest, Sub $400, Adelaide

I bought this one

L1335 | DS300 Bench Disc Sander | For Sale Sydney Brisbane Melbourne Perth | Buy Workshop Equipment & Machinery online at machineryhouse.com.au

as I found it to be of better quality when I compared the 2.

http://www.woodfast.com.au/index.php?p=1_20

I agree with the other two replies, the Woodfast one would be a better bet than the Carbatec unit, I've used both of them. However if price is an absolute, then the Carbatec unit will suffice. I cannot get the site up, but Hare and Forbes will have the Woodfast sander on special from the 7th to the 9th at $297, according to my posted to me, catalogue. The promotion code online or instore is, "3DS16", which is probably why their site is down this evening.

If you have a wood lathe, you could build your own sander, although you wouldn't have the table that slides up and down. Cost for my unit was about $50, which included a Velcro back and sanding discs of 40, 60, 80 and 120 grit. That price included the cost of a small dedicated face plate on special for $8.50 something a little while ago. You can then adjust your speeds to whatever the lathe is capable of. My unit also has dust extraction and apart from the face plate, sanding discs and Velcro, is entirely made from nature strip pick-ups.

Mick.

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I got a Woodfast from Hare and Forbes and the runout was terrible. Around 2mm on the outside of the disk.
I got a replacement and it was much better but still not as good as I would have liked.
Check your machine when you get it. Preferably before it leaves the shop.

Thanks for the advice guys, I paid for mine today and will receive it tomorrow. I specifically asked about runout and the balance of the disc Etc. They said that they have had the odd problem with them, but it seems as though they have it sorted now. We shall see about that tomorrow I suppose.
Thanks for the input guys

Terry, who did you buy it from?? Asking, as I'm interested in buying another one, for use with different grits.
Kryn

Hi Kryn, I got it from Woodfast at Royal Park. Gave it a run, seems fine, hardly any runout, quiet as and worth the price.

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Terry, who did you buy it from?? Asking, as I'm interested in buying another one, for use with different grits.
Kryn

H&F is currently having a sale, until saturday, by the way.

I also have the Woodfast sander and have not really had any issues.

Just a few suggestions, use some plumbing fittings a make up an adaptor to add dust extraction, I only use a good strong vacuum cleaner which seems to work well.

Get the Velcro kit for the disks, far easier than the glue on types (for me at least).

For the uninitiated, be aware that the only really usable area on the disk is the left hand side of the disk if you imagine a line from 12 to 6 o'clock.

If you happen to need to use the angle feature on the table, use a gauge a the markings on the machine are not that accurate.

Originally Posted by TerryOz

Hi All. Looking for some advice on Disc Sanders, I don't want to spend much more than the 12' Carbatec costs, which has a 12" Disc, 1 HP induction motor and revs at about 1450 rpm. I don't need too much more than that, but if someone knew of something a little better, for not much more, i'd be keen to hear about it.
Cheers
TerryO

Have you considered making your own? All you need is some 4x 2 hardwood for a frame,a motor, old fan belt, 2 Plummer bearing blocks ,a shaft machined with a face plate mounting and not much else .Tension on the motor and belt can be accommodated with a plywood plate mounted on hinges As such you can make yourself a decent sized sander say 500 mm dia THis dia paper is a little difficult to find however abrasive suppliers can normally assist (glue on type using disc cement) 80 grit will last for a long time, If you don't mind making some dust a sander of this size can at times be used to flatten cranky timber,hardwood and a myriad of other applications.