HF Oscillating Sander

[OCtoolguy]

2 minutes ago, Rockytime said:

I guess I digress.

But you do such a fine job of it Les.

 

[John B]

Les, if you don't intend to use it much, drums on the drill press do the job. All you have to do is alter the hight of the table to use a fresh piece of paper. I used this method for years then built a dedicated drum sander before eventually purchasing an oscillating one. The oscillations are not much, probably only about 1/2" so there is not much advantage over a drum on the drill press.
Just my findings.

[Scrappile]

I am such an odd ball.  The only thing I have ever read that was a little negative about the Ridgid, is you can over tighten the screw the holds the spindles on and that can be a problem, everyone seems to love the thing.  I purchased one based on all the good I read about it.  Well I'm not a fan, wished I had just got a oscillating drums sander that took up a little less space.  I find the belt sander part pretty much useless for me.  I do use it once in a while if I am working with small blocks of wood.  But I just don't do that often.  Any thing beyond a few inches I like a bigger belt sander and the bigger belt sander will to the small stuff just as easy.  If I ever get back to making toys and models, I may use it more. 

Edited April 2, 2019 by Scrappile

[MrsN]

I had a similar model spindle sander, I believe it was the Menards brand. but it might have been from Home Depot. Either way, it was the cheapest model I could find. I also have had several delta versions in my school shops.

I absolutely loved my cheap one at home. I used it a lot. I liked that it was a bit less aggressive than my belt or disc sanders so I was a bit more comfortable with small pieces. I was making a lot of jewelry at the time and had lots of small pieces. 

I got rid of it in one of my recent downsizing moves, and it is the only thing that I regret getting rid of.

[Rockytime]

I think I will go the drill press route. I need to so little sanding of that sort I really don't want to use the bench space. I could store it under a bench somewhere but do not relish picking it up again with my back. Thank you for all the input. You all have made me see the light!

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

8 hours ago, Rockytime said:

I think I will go the drill press route. I need to so little sanding of that sort I really don't want to use the bench space. I could store it under a bench somewhere but do not relish picking it up again with my back. Thank you for all the input. You all have made me see the light!

Just a note here and take it for what it is worth. A drill press is designed for downward pressure and not sideward pressure. Some drill presses use cheap bearings that do not have the radial pressure loads ratings as some of the better ones do. You can damage the quill and chuck if doing alot of hard sanding on a drill press. This can do one of two things. Loosen the chuck from the quill and it can fall out and cause harm or you can bend the shaft and it does not drill accurately again. 

 

If you are going to use a drill press as a spindle sander. Note that the sanding is done on one section of the paper as with an oscillating spindle sander it moves up and down the paper. Also keep the chuck at its highest point in the quill and do not lower it to sand. Move the table up and down, not the chuck. As I said just some tidbits. Do as you wish.

Edited April 4, 2019 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[Rockytime]

Thanks John. I do understand side pressures as I have 2 milling machines using collets. Nothing I would sand would have have much side pressure as I would not doing any shaping but rather even out small missteps I've made. Advice is always useful!