Official Luthiers Forum!

I've been thinking about buying a combination sander since I saw how useful they are in the John Mayes tapes. I'm leaning toward the Rikon. They seem to have a decent reputation and I've recently read some bad things about Delta's lower price point tools. Anyone have an opinion??

Thanks.

Bob K

I have been looking at
THIS ONE

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Nice, Brock. I'm sure you'd be happy with it. I looked at a JET that was similar. Very substantial looking tool, just waaayyyy more than I need or have the space for. Ah, someday... I'm still trying to figure out how I'm going to cram the rest of my wish list: a buffer, a compressor, an hvlp gun and the sander into what little space I have. Not to mention the most important thing, coming up with a good place to hide all the empty boxes.

The Rikon is made so that the disc doesn't get in the way if you need to put larger pieces on the belt.
That's why I'm going to be getting that one.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

I've have the Rikon and its been great. It has been real handy to have. I'm surprised how often I use it. I got it at Woodcraft and the guys there recommended it over the Jet and Delta they also carried. It also has a relatively compact size and a very solid stand. Its the only one I've had so I don't have anything to compare it to. The only thing I wish was better on it is the dust collection. I don't have any idea how that could be improved and I doubt the other sanders on the market are any better.

Joe Volin

Thanks for the info guys. I'll let you know how the Rikon works out.

Thanks.

I like that Rikon sander.I use the rounded part of the belt sander a lot and I could be wrong but it looks like you can't expose the end on the Grizzly.I have the smaller 4" Delta belt sander.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

One thing to look into if you are planning to use this to build a thicknessing attachment on the end of it for headstocks, bridge wings, and other parts. See how much room you have between the front of the sanding drum and the base.

I built one of these for my craftsman sander and it is not quite long enough to do the headstocks on my electrics. If you are thinking of using it for this... it is just something to check out before you buy.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

if you can get the delivery folks to arrive when swmbo is away, then the boxes aren't an issue, only your continued longevity

[QUOTE=Joe V]...The only thing I wish was better on it is the dust
collection. I don't have any idea how that could be improved and I doubt
the other sanders on the market are any better.
Joe Volin[/QUOTE]

Well... I just got the Jet 12" disc sander (no belt) and it has its own
impeller that turns with the disc and creates, I'm guessing, 300-400 CFM
by itself. Importantly, this CFM is created AT the point of dust creation, so
I'd also guess it's equivalent to 600 or so CFM from a standard dust
collector.

Whatever the numbers, this is truly an excellent dust collection system.
More tools need this type of clever engineering.

Oh, and it has miter gage tracks parallel to and perpendicular to the disc.

Oh, and one more thing... it has a circle sanding device that slides along
in either of the tracks and holds a piece of wood to it can be rotated
around, thus causing the disc to sand a virtually perfect circle.

This is a very cool tool.

Finally, it's a lot cheaper at Bib Tool and Cutter.