| Craftsman Benchtop Sander
I often step away from this Craftsman belt/disc sander thinking, "That is the best tool in the world." Like the best car in the world, the best tool in the world is the one that's making your life easier at this very moment, so the title moves around a bit. But it rests on this sander a great deal of the time.
Simply put, there are few more effective means of removing material than this machine. It smoothes rough or sharp edges, straightens crooked cuts, rounds sharp corners and restores deformed objects faster than anything else in the shop. What used to be accomplished in several minutes or more with a file, and not always very elegantly, can be done well in seconds with this sander.
The belt and disc portions of the sander each have their uses, so are not completely redundant. The 12-in. disc is used more often in our shop, because it is the broadsword. The belt and disc are turned by the same 1-1/2 hp electric motor at 3450 rpm. However, the outside diameter of the disc is much greater than the diameter of the drum that moves the belt, so the abrasive on most of the disc moves much faster than the belt. The abrasive disc is also stuck to a solid metal surface, so it is not vulnerable to snagging on a sharp corner, as the belt is.
The 6x48-in. belt works on larger objects, and because it moves slower, it is less likely to melt plastics. The Craftsman sander adds to this gentle characteristic by making the belt oscillate, so the same portion of the belt passes different parts of a stationary workpiece, preventing streaks and burning if high spots develop. The belt is slightly less precise than the disc, because the belt flutters against the plate surface, and the leading edge of whatever is sanded tends to take a slight angle. Every belt sander I've ever used has done the same. Eighty percent of what this tool is used for could be accomplished with either a belt or disc, but having the choice helps get things done faster.
This Craftsman belt/disc sander has been in my shop for about 8 months and been shared among three enthusiasts working on more cars than I can keep track of. Sometimes, the fact that the tool has two business ends prevents a line from forming. The belt, apart from one small tear that showed up early on, is still in good shape. The first disc lasted about six months, including the rush of car building just before the SEMA Show. New discs and belts are available universally and are not expensive. The stand was included, but similar ones are available separately.
We have gotten by with the simple fence on the belt shown here, but a larger plate, more like the work support on the disc side, was also supplied. The belt arm can be rotated to a vertical position, and the fences on belt and disc are adjustable from 45 to 90 degrees. I haven't bothered to connect a vacuum to the belt's dust collection chute, but provision to do so was included. The power switch has a locking key that prevents the machine from running if it is removed, an excellent safety feature if children have access to the work area. The machine is covered by Craftsman's one-year warranty. It is available only as a catalog/online item.
The only thing I'd change about this sander, if I could, would be to give it a 5-hp motor and a 20-in. disc. Such magnificent beasts do exist but are usually seen only in industrial shops. To be honest with myself, I have yet to run into a task I'd use one for that I haven't easily accomplished with this machine. Horsepower gets a job done quickly. Finesse makes it good. This Craftsman belt/disc sander combines the two. Everyone in our shop does better work, faster, because of it. If you aim to have the ultimate garage, you need a tool such as this.