Thread: Stationary Belt vs Disk sander

I use a 300mm disc sander to finish long mitres in boxmaking. Solid disc and adhesive abrasive - not velcro-backed. Makes a beautiful crisp mitre if a very light hand is used and I don’t get burning. I haven’t tried this with a belt sander, but I’d be a little suspicious that it would be less flat than a machined disc since the belt has the opportunity to float a little as it travels along the bed and the spot where the belt is joined is sometimes less flat than the rest of the belt.

My gripe with most disc sanders is that there is usually only one quadrant of the disc available to be used on the downstroke. The tables seem to be set unnecessarily high. Removing the supplied table and the plate that covers the lower half of the disc allows a (lower) supplementary table to be used giving much more usable downstroke disc surface.

Boxmaker Andrew Crawford uses the disc sander approach with a lower auxiliary table, although his is a massive and beautiful 24 inch diameter double-ended FZ disc.

I think this is one of those issues where there is no definitive ‘best’, rather the best is whatever works best for you and the type of work you do. For me, if I upgraded my sander I’d be more likely to buy a 20 inch disc sander than a belt sander/linisher.

Brian

Thanks for raising this Derek. I have what looks to be the same sander as you have. My disk is still virtually unused as I've struggled to identify a use case that couldn't be better accomplished with other tools. At least with this discussion I no longer need to ponder what I'm missing.

BobL offers a good suggestion in use for metalwork. I may explore that as, despite the infrequent metalwork I do, I do die a little bit inside every time my precious belts are subjected to steel.

On a side note, I have only in the last couple of weeks changed my sander to the vertical orientation. I've not used it much like this, so will be interesting to see how it pans out.

Lance

Some jobs are better suited to disk sanders than belt sanders. They were not invented for no reason.

Can you name one? No one else can. That's kinda the whole point we're making here

OK i'll throw a few ideas around here Firstly heres Terry Gordon using a Disk Sander for Sharpening:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMGpdb4Fh_A

Clearly they do have their uses for specific tasks and when setup with Jigs can be useful eg: Feathering in Mitres shaping various metals end grain on woods and so on and so forth

I have seen them used in a few Fab Shops and they come into their own when integrated into production runs [For specific tasks] OR setup with innovative jigs [VAriable speed adds significant versatility]

My old man was a shearer and large disk Sanders were used exclusively for Sharpening combs and cutters Similarly ID take a rough guess that they may come into their own when sharpening combination blades/ Moulding plane Blades and such but personally have no experience in this regard

From memory Ive seen the odd article in popular mechanics/woodworking giving a rundown on how to get the best out of them. Further at highschool we used to use the Shop disksander a lot to feather into a line from a rough cut board Im not saying I use a disksander for these purposes BUT can see a dedicated use for them particularly in relation to shaping metal feathering in OR sharpening certain cutters/blades
A youtube TRALL would probably yield a few other ideas

From tips of the trade Popular Woodworking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6M10Cz6MGM

Some more Tips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mg9lIJyB5k

Just adding a few additions to the current chit chat

Regards Lou

Originally Posted by artful bodger

Some jobs are better suited to disk sanders than belt sanders. They were not invented for no reason.

Another smart ‘a’ comment by a Patternmaker.
Both a Woodworker and Engineering tradesman who shapes everything as effiently as possible. Working to tolerences chippys and cabbies can only dream about.
Waterfall sanders are handy sometimes but give me a big disc any day.
Preferably a 30” double at about 960 rpm with 60 grit and 80 grit paper.
Cut the knifed pieces up to say 200 mm high by up to a metre dia with 2degrees of taper.
Face sand as big a piece that will go on the disc, say 500 x 300.
Try that on even a 150 wide belt.
I guess it’s the size of the table and rigidity of the disc, definitely no Velcro.
I’m on the road currently or I’d post some pics of core boxes that you can’t do by belt.
The pic below is not my machine but this is what I have in my shop.
I also have two belt sanders which I find handy for metal.
I think people should be wary of making definitive statements.
Theres always some old fart who will prove you really know sfa.
H.

I’m not entirely sure that comparing a 30 inch disc with a 150mm belt is a fair comparison.

Originally Posted by Colin62

I’m not entirely sure that comparing a 30 inch disc with a 150mm belt is a fair comparison.

Fair comment, so how about someone making a 400mm wide belt sander so they can be compared.
I have seen a machine like a jointer with a abrasive roll instead of cutterhead somewhere.
Wide belt thickness sanders can do some stuff but not big freehand stuff.
I totally agree that small discs are a waste of time and burn etc.
I worked at C crap a decade or more ago and recommended to Mr White shoes the 12” disks have the rpm changed to 1400 from 2800. I was told I was a pedant and the punters would never notice the difference.
Same with the biscuit joiners with the out of true blades, sloppy biscuits don’t matter to mug amateurs.
H.

Originally Posted by clear out

give me a big disc any day.
Preferably a 30” double at about 960 rpm with 60 grit and 80 grit paper.
The pic below is not my machine but this is what I have in my shop.

I want one

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

Can you name one? No one else can. That's kinda the whole point we're making here

Back to kinda-garten for you then.

Originally Posted by NewLou

Gidday Derek

Ive got one of these and think they are the duks guts

Select-A-Rad 483 Tube Notcher / Belt Grinder | Radius Master Belt Grinders

Radiusmaster in my view make the best belt Grinders in the business [though they are expensive]

What a cunning and adaptable machine !! I'm guessing that if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it?

Yes Lucky for me paid for itself in my pipe welding days! that said for me has been worth every cent and makes the shed that more enjoyable unless your one of those poor souls that live life via spreadsheet ........................For me Priceless!

Regards Lou

Originally Posted by artful bodger

Back to kinda-garten for you then.

That was a bit uncalled for. Also, it's kindergarten. If you're going to insinuate that someone is uneducated, at least make sure you can't be called out for the same thing.

Originally Posted by elanjacobs

That was a bit uncalled for. Also, it's kindergarten. If you're going to insinuate that someone is uneducated, at least make sure you can't be called out for the same thing.

Just a reaction to an arrogant post that I considered uncalled for.
I reckon Clear out picked up on it too.
Go back and read it.