What Spindle Sander to buy

[Vince Smith]

I've been looking at spindle sanders for a while and I'm not any closer to picking one. Any advise on which bench top is best or do I need to go right to the larger machines

[Michael Ginsberg]

I don't use it often, but I have has the Jet benchtop model for 6 years and never had a problem with it. It spins and goes up and down....
There is a off color joke in there... but I won't go there!

[jared herbert]

I have a delta boss table top sander. The biggest problem with them is the plastic gears that run the spindle upu and down. I had to replace mine once already after probably less than 5 hours use. If you plan on using it very much get a heavier duty one than that, it is only suitable for lite use. Jared

[Chad Bender]

I've got the Grizzly benchtop model. It works fine, although I use it a lot less than I figured I would. For large radius curves I typically use a pattern and flush cut router bit, and then hand sand.

[Ron Jones near Indy]

Love my Jet tabletop, but it's a lot more expensive now than when I bought mine.

[Bill Huber]

I have the Ridgid 4424 combo unit and love the thing, it is great as a edge belt sander and then just put a spindle on it and I can do all my curves as things like that.
The price is really great for what you get, at $200 it is really hard to beat.

[Van Huskey]

I think the big key is budget and how often you will use it. Many people use an OSS a LOT many people rarely ever. If you are in the latter I would say get the Ridgid, it ain't perfect doesn't have a lot of power but does the job for many. If you are looking at the heavy benchtop OSS like the General and Jet I would suggest just moving up to a florr model. If used is out the Grizzly and Shopfox are the best values especially if the Jet isn't on sale. Basically, if you can get by with a lightweight lower powered unit get the Ridgid, if you plan to use it a lot get the Grizzly. If you have a much bigger budget and plan to use it constantly there are more serious options available.

[Paul McGaha]

I have the Jet Benchtop OSS. Got lucky and found a used one last year. Really happy with it.

PHM

[Jay Rasmussen]

I've got the Griz G1071. I bought it I think the first year they offered it, paid $495.00. Wow, price has really gone up but mine is great piece of equipment. I haven’t had such good luck with their machinery since but this sander is well made and one of favorite tools. Having a heavy machine with a large table is really nice.

[Cary Falk]

I started with the Ridgid. It was a good spindle sander but my belt never tracked very well. I found that the spindlse were short for what I needed so I got a Grizzly G1071floor model. I couldn't be happier.

[Van Huskey]

I started with the Ridgid. It was a good spindle sander but my belt never tracked very well. I found that the spindlse were short for what I needed so I got a Grizzly G1071floor model. I couldn't be happier.

Buying the Rigid is a really good way to end up with a floor OSS and OES...

[Bill White]

Well, shame on me. My Ridgid has been a workhorse. Best $200.00 I've spent. Can't complain at all except for some crappy belts from trime to time.
Bill

[Ricky Rater]

Plus one for the Ridgid. I have used mine quite a bit in the last couple of months building toy rubber band guns. Used for smoothing curves and even hand shaping some of the parts. I would not call it perfect, but as benchtop units go I didn't find a better option.

I haven't found the power to be a real constraint - I have learned to work within the limits of the machine and have not been frustrated. It is possible to bog it down though.

[Jeff Monson]

I have the Performax OSS that Menards sells. For the occasional use that it gets, it works well.

[Lori Kleinberg]

Another vote for the Rigid. I use the spindle sander more then the belt, but for the price can't be beat.