Thread: Scheppach vs Carbatec Oscillating Spindle Sander

I forgot to say that the stuff that you produce is very nice. Well done!


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Originally Posted by Charleville

I forgot to say that the stuff that you produce is very nice. Well done!


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Thanks for that. I need encouragement at times while doing the slow, laborious bits. (Almost finished the outside. Just a bit of the top to go - the hardest bit. I'll have to update it's thread later.)

An oscillating sander will suit my boxes - I cut the bottom off the original chunk of wood, then re-attach it after all shaping and sanding and before making the lid, so I don't have a 'blind' end. All that's needed by that stage is a light hand-sand of the inside before and between coats of poly. (Even with a blind end, the workpiece could be supported at the right height by a block.)

I could use a drill press, but prefer the automatic oscillations so I can use two hands on the workpiece. (I've got a small Rockwell 5-speed drill press arriving tomorrow or Tuesday, to tide me over until I get a full-size one.)

I was already planning to investigate disabling the oscillation action, as well as adding speed control. You're right about the warranty - probably won't be worth s*** if I make modifications. Hopefully, I can attach an external speed control, at least.

Now, to the saw. A Triton WorkCentre was just the first to come to mind, since so many guys (and girls) use them. I didn't necessarily plan to buy one. (Was gonna start another similar thread to this one first, when the time comes.)
You've already convinced me that there are better options than the Triton. Also, I actually thought they were about $700 with a saw included.

The Carbatec one looks far better. I took careful note of your comparison of the two.
So, at this stage, the Carbatec contractors saw is on the top of my list, Triton near the bottom. I haven't checked out H&F yet, but I have plenty of time before I'll be getting one.

Charleville, thanks very much for all of this help, mate. I really appreciate it.
I know I've dragged this thread a little off-topic, but learning so much and feeler much more comfortable about what I'm buying. Left on my own I'd have a workshop full of junk, probably.

Charleville, while ordering the OSS this morning, I kept thinking about what you said the other day about a bandsaw, so I splurged and ordered the Hafco Woodmaster BP-305, ( https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W4202 ), while I was at it. Had to use a little of my savings, but I'm impatient. I feel like I'm getting somewhere now. Finished up spending $700, though.
Thanks again.

I'll come back to this thread in a couple of weeks with the promised review.

I should have mentioned the other day, too, that a variac will not work as a speed controller on induction motors, so no one should try that. They do work on brush motors, however.

Good on you, Steve.

A bandsaw is a very helpful thing to have.

There are some good videos on the internet about how to get best use of a bandsaw.

When you want to get blades for it, you will probably get them from H & F for that machine but saw sharpening services will often make them to length quite reasonably also.


Like all such things keep your fingers away from the blade.

Originally Posted by Charleville

Good on you, Steve.

A bandsaw is a very helpful thing to have.

There are some good videos on the internet about how to get best use of a bandsaw.

When you want to get blades for it, you will probably get them from H & F for that machine but saw sharpening services will often make them to length quite reasonably also.


Like all such things keep your fingers away from the blade.

Videos are a good idea. I'll do that.
I was planning on buying blades from H&F, but I'll keep saw sharpening services in mind, I wouldn't have thought of that. Not sure which blade it comes supplied with. I'll probably buy the 6TPI thin blade as well.

Been careful and lucky with fingers so far, only ever had one small nick from a handsaw that jumped.

My drill press arrived this morning, too, so I can start drilling out the body of my box while I wait for the OSS. (Won't be making bandsaw boxes, or at least not often - I hate the idea of gluing up an entry cut.)

Originally Posted by Hermit

Videos are a good idea. I'll do that.

I found this series of videos to be quite useful and "user friendly" to watch...

Podcast #22: Buying & Getting the Most Out of Your Band Saw — Woodworking Online

Originally Posted by Hermit

I was planning on buying blades from H&F, but I'll keep saw sharpening services in mind, I wouldn't have thought of that. Not sure which blade it comes supplied with. I'll probably buy the 6TPI thin blade as well.

I have a number of blades ranging from 3/4" 3 TPI down to 1/8" 14 TPI. The truth is, though, that changing blades gets tedious for lazy old blokes like me after a while so, most of the time, I just leave a 1/2" 3 TPI skip tooth blade on the machine and use that for almost everything.


There are few really tight curves on my work that I cannot get by with using just the one blade for by making a few relief cuts here and there to obviate the need for changing down to a thin blade.

Originally Posted by Hermit

Been careful and lucky with fingers so far, only ever had one small nick from a handsaw that jumped.

I recall Roger Gifkins (of Gifkins' Dovetail Jig fame) once saying at one of his presentations that it is always wise to be prepared for when you trip or something similar happens - eg the dog jumps on you whilst you are using a machine or the phone rings and startles you. I thought that was pretty wise advice as it is that momentary lapse of concentration that does the damage often. Sometimes it is easy to forget that the moving blade is indeed moving. We all hope that we are always alert for the unexpected.


Likewise, I recall being trained to use a chain saw and being told to always plan my escape route before starting the cut in case the tree fell the wrong way or sprung back or something unusual happened with its fall. You need to consider your escape route with all cutting machinery, I think.


Good luck with all of your new acquisitions.


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Thanks, mate. I've saved the link to the videos. I'll have a good look when I finish work later. Busy routing the first part of the inside at the moment. I'm routing as far as the Dremel router can go, then drilling etc to get the rest of the way through. The combination of the Dremel and me doing it makes it a slow process. I'm making heaps of light passes so I don't slip over the lines.

I've watched a good number of other woodworking vids on YouTube, too. Great resource. I go hunting for tips with every new piece of equipment.

Back to work.....

Edit: Just stopped and checked out your link a bit. Now I know how to eliminate bandsaw drift. That's a start.

I just noticed that the Delta BOSS spindle sander has the same length and diameter sleeves as the Scheppach, except no 1/2".
They might go straight on, I suspect. Carbatec have sleeves for the Delta BOSS, going down to 60 grit in some diameters and up to 240 grit in other diameters. Better than the 80/120 grit of the standard sleeves.
I'll buy a couple when I can, test them and include results in my full review in a week or two.

Originally Posted by Hermit

I just noticed that the Delta BOSS spindle sander has the same length and diameter sleeves as the Scheppach, except no 1/2".
They might go straight on, I suspect. Carbatec have sleeves for the Delta BOSS, going down to 60 grit in some diameters and up to 240 grit in other diameters. Better than the 80/120 grit of the standard sleeves.
I'll buy a couple when I can, test them and include results in my full review in a week or two.

G'Day Hermit,
Could you post the link to those sleeves, please, thank you.
cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day Hermit,
Could you post the link to those sleeves, please, thank you.
cheers, crowie

No worries. (Had to go looking again, I didn't keep a link myself): -
Sleeves to suit Delta BOSS Sander : CARBA-TEC

Incidentally, they also have sleeves for the SS-3501, going down to #380 grit in a 3" diameter sleeve, but they don't say how long the sleeves are. They're here: - Spindles & Sleeves to suit SS-3501 : CARBA-TEC

Actually, I can't see why a 4" sleeve can't be used on a 4 1/2" spindle as long as the workpiece doesn't touch above the top of the sleeve. Also, a 1/2" length of an old sleeve could be put aside and used above or below the 4" sleeve to bring it up to 4 1/2 " to avoid rubber damage, I would think.

I promised I'd write a brief review after using this machine for a few weeks.

I'll start with the bad points, (and there aren't many): -

First, when setting it up, the first thing I noticed was that just like in the Stu's Shed video, the spring washer on top of the spindle flattened out the first time I tightened it properly and had to be replaced with a decent one. A very minor criticism, but one to remember. If you buy one of these, replace the spring washer before use.

Second, when testing, it quickly became evident that the recess for the table insert was machined very slightly too deep, causing the workpiece to dig in a bit.
Attachment 213106


To compensate, I cut out a thin cardboard shim to go under the insert - problem solved: -
Attachment 213107
Attachment 213108

I've been hammering it pretty hard and had no problems whatsoever, apart from the two minor ones mentioned above.

The dust extraction works a treat, too, with a standard vacuum cleaner. I don't have to bother with the larger dust extractor. Almost no dust is left on the tabletop or in the air.

Compared with other machinery, it's fairly quiet - about the same as a disc/belt sander.

It's the perfect machine for my type of work and has already saved me 10's of hours work hand-sanding: -
Attachment 213109

Attachment 213110

Attachment 213111
(This wasn't finished when this pic was taken - I was waiting on the finer sleeves to arrive.)

As has already been mentioned, the available sleeve grits are limited, but I found that the Carbatec SS-3501 sleeves, which come in a wider range of grits, can be easily made to fit. They come in 6" and 9" and are easily cut down with a hacksaw. (I cut the offcut from the 1/2" spindle into 1/2" lengths for my Dremel sanding drums.)

There are also a range of 4 1/2" sleeves about 3/4 of the way down the page here: -
Products - Drums and Sleeve - Drums and Sleeves - Supergrit

This machine is being re-badged under several other brand names. Triton has already been mentioned, but it's also being sold on Amazon as a Rockwell Shop Series OSS here: -
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Rockwell-RK9011-Series-Oscillating-Spindle/dp/B002CJLV0U/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_c"]Amazon.com: Rockwell RK9011 Shop Series Oscillating Spindle Sander: Home Improvement[/ame]


with spare sleeves here: -
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/25-PIECE-Oscillating-Spindle-Sanding-Sleeves/dp/B00699SPYY?SubscriptionId=AKIAIZIKWW4ELMEB73TQ&tag=cheap04171-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00699SPYY"]Amazon.com: RYOBI 25-PIECE Oscillating Spindle Sanding Sleeves: Home Improvement[/ame]
(It appears that sleeves for a Ryobi OSS450 are 4 1/2" too, so should fit.)

So, overall, this little machine was a good buy. I'm more than happy and would definitely recommend it.

Originally Posted by Hermit

I promised I'd write a brief review after using this machine for a few weeks.

I'll start with the bad points, (and there aren't many): -

First, when setting it up, the first thing I noticed was that just like in the Stu's Shed video, the spring washer on top of the spindle flattened out the first time I tightened it properly and had to be replaced with a decent one. A very minor criticism, but one to remember. If you buy one of these, replace the spring washer before use.

Second, when testing, it quickly became evident that the recess for the table insert was machined very slightly too deep, causing the workpiece to dig in a bit.
Attachment 213106


To compensate, I cut out a thin cardboard shim to go under the insert - problem solved: -
Attachment 213107
Attachment 213108

I've been hammering it pretty hard and had no problems whatsoever, apart from the two minor ones mentioned above.

The dust extraction works a treat, too, with a standard vacuum cleaner. I don't have to bother with the larger dust extractor. Almost no dust is left on the tabletop or in the air.

Compared with other machinery, it's fairly quiet - about the same as a disc/belt sander.

It's the perfect machine for my type of work and has already saved me 10's of hours work hand-sanding: -
Attachment 213109

Attachment 213110

Attachment 213111
(This wasn't finished when this pic was taken - I was waiting on the finer sleeves to arrive.)

As has already been mentioned, the available sleeve grits are limited, but I found that the Carbatec SS-3501 sleeves, which come in a wider range of grits, can be easily made to fit. They come in 6" and 9" and are easily cut down with a hacksaw. (I cut the offcut from the 1/2" spindle into 1/2" lengths for my Dremel sanding drums.)

There are also a range of 4 1/2" sleeves about 3/4 of the way down the page here: -
Products - Drums and Sleeve - Drums and Sleeves - Supergrit

This machine is being re-badged under several other brand names. Triton has already been mentioned, but it's also being sold on Amazon as a Rockwell Shop Series OSS here: -
Amazon.com: Rockwell RK9011 Shop Series Oscillating Spindle Sander: Home Improvement


with spare sleeves here: -
Amazon.com: RYOBI 25-PIECE Oscillating Spindle Sanding Sleeves: Home Improvement
(It appears that sleeves for a Ryobi OSS450 are 4 1/2" too, so should fit.)

So, overall, this little machine was a good buy. I'm more than happy and would definitely recommend it.

Thanks for a great review Steve,
I very much appreciated you insites & tips, thank you.
I also have the same machine & have found it a good assistant to help my toymaking.
If you're ever interested in getting a small bunch of new sleeves & need someone else to go in with you, please give me a shout.
Again, thank you.
Cheers, crowie

Goodonya, Hermit!


I was pretty sure that you would not be disappointed with the machine.


I hope that the bandsaw is proving to be earning its keep also.


I remain envious of the lovely boxes that you are producing.


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Originally Posted by crowie

If you're ever interested in getting a small bunch of new sleeves & need someone else to go in with you, please give me a shout.
Again, thank you.
Cheers, crowie

I'll keep that in mind, crowie.
For now, I've got a heap that I bought from Carbatec and cut to length. The 9" sleeves are good value - can be cut into 2 x 4 1/2" ones and they work out cheaper than buying 4 1/2" off the shelf.