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Thread: experience with Cantek edge sanders?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
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    Ann Arbor, MI
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    experience with Cantek edge sanders?

    i'm looking to buy an edge sander - ideally the kundig uniq, but at $16k, i have to expand my options. does anyone have experience with the cantek oscillating edge sanders, or suggestions on other brands to look at?

    thanks.

    -- dz

  2. #2
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    Jan 2013
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    For about 1/5 or 1/6 the cost, you could get any of these- Ekstrom -Carlson, Whirlwind, Wysong and Miles, Oakley, or Mattison.
    It would also be twice the sander of anything new.
    I have been running an Oakley 648 for about 15 years in a production shop. Only complaint, I wish it had more capacity.

  3. #3
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    peter, thanks. my concern with old iron is availability, and time to restore and get running. i simply would rather spend money for good, new equipment, than source and fight the issues that come with old iron. are these fairly readily available?

    thanks again. appreciate the feedback.

    --- dz

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by David Zaret View Post
    peter, thanks. my concern with old iron is availability, and time to restore and get running. i simply would rather spend money for good, new equipment, than source and fight the issues that come with old iron. are these fairly readily available?

    thanks again. appreciate the feedback.

    --- dz
    So buy one from someone that has gone over the machine and has it running in their shop. At one point I had 6, down to 2 now.

  5. #5
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    Not every piece of old iron needs restoring. Plenty of good users out there for the kind of money I describe.
    In my opinion, there are certain machines that warrant more investment, because of the time savings or accuracy they can return.
    An edge sander simply does not fall into that category. It is a brutally simple machine for the most part from an operational standpoint. The extra $11-14k can buy more than a few hours of careful looking for and inspecting of possible good candidates- but, It is your money.
    You asked for other options, so I named them. All the ones I pointed out will outlast anything you find today, and in fact, already have.
    If you don't want to invest the looking time, try to find a dealer you can trust, but expect to pay a premium above my numbers for having them sort the field for you.

  6. #6
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    i get it - and appreciate the guidance and advice.

  7. #7
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    I run an Oakley H648 and it is a great machine. You would want to find a old machine that has been gone over and in good condition as they aren't the easiest to rehab. My only knock on the Oakley is that it has a 7" platen and belt. 8"-10" would be better. What it does have are heavy cast iron tables that don't move or sag, and an equally heavy platen. Any machine with a twist or not flat platen or table is pretty useless so check that part of any machine. Dust collection is usually mediocre but an edge sander seems to get used on most every project. Good luck, Dave

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Central Michigan
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    Check out one of the Vega sanders......
    Richard Poitras
    Central, Michigan....
    01-02-2006


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Location
    Seattle
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    I am a hobby WWer and have a small egde sander that I use a lot, have seen the monster old "arn" edge sanders on the OWWM forum and have always wondered what part of a production shop process they are used for. I don't make many cabinets--face frames and panel doors--mostly furniture for fun and use the sander to clean rough edges and adjusting for a good joint. I would like(need??) to have a larger platen and the big machines would fit the bill--except for space and paying the bill. How do you pros use them. Thanks.

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by John C Bush View Post
    How do you pros use them.
    Mostly for final dimensioning of doors in my case.



    I was looking at getting a new Cantek edge sander as well. I ended up buying an Oakley H5 for $2500. I still haven't dropped it in place to use it, (I need to pull another circuit), but I'm glad I didn't buy the Cantek
    Last edited by Martin Wasner; 12-02-2017 at 3:27 PM.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Eastern KS
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    We have a Vega edge sander we bought it early in the year. I cannot speak to long term durability but so far so good. It's a simple well made machine and very well priced. I ordered it with a 3 phase motor, end table, and the adjustable rear platten. I think total cost was around 2700. It's very basic but very well made.

    For the money I could not find a better unit used or new.

    I'd highly recommend it.

    https://www.southern-tool.com/store/...elt_sander.PHP

  12. #12
    Join Date
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    If I could afford it I wound have a Kundig Uniq S. I like the features like the feed belt and the relatively small footprint. Wife has not won the lottery yet.

    I have been looking at the Baliegh 9" model, but have not pulled the trigger yet. 9" would be nice for drawer sides.

  13. #13
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    I would like a Kundig also and probably would have one if we still did cabinetry. The Samco Unilev is nice also. I think the difference between the Euro model and old US iron is the compact size, split jointer-like fence and most have a drum sander built in.
    Myself, I am still using the Rodgers edge sander I bought new in 1978. Had to make some adjustments to it - a metal platen and made some substantial wooden tables that were true and square. They had a crazy form block attachment that never worked. Acme had a similar sander. The Vega looks to be improved over these.

    We use the edge sander a lot more than the disk or OSS. They all have their use though. They are great for fitting and beveling inset cabinet doors, sanding outside curves and many other things. If the right deal ever comes up on a small footprint old iron sander or a Euro sander I will go for it.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Ann Arbor, MI
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    so, what started this whole exercise is i seriously looked at the Kundig Uniq, and even got a quote. the "veener sanding" feature is what's particularly attractive, and though i know that some other brands have that feature, it feels like the Kundig is a very high quality machine. as it should be, for $16k.

    i am in the stage of asking myself if i want to spend $16k on an edge sander. given what i build, it's certainly a machine i'd use and love, but that's a lot of money. hence my exploration of other sanders... but i think i've come to the conclusion that a regular oscillating edge sander - new or old - is not "apples to apples" with a Uniq, particularly due to the veneer sanding feature.

    maybe i'll wait for IWF and see it live in atlanta.

    as always, the feedback from folks on this board is incredibly valuable.

    ---dz

  15. #15
    Quote Originally Posted by Larry Edgerton View Post
    I have been looking at the Baliegh 9" model, but have not pulled the trigger yet. 9" would be nice for drawer sides.
    Ritter has a 14" for drawers with a good sized motor on it.

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