Belt sander purchase - HF

[Robert Engel]

Quite expensive machines and hard to justify for the use I will give one - but I need one.

I've been looking for used belt/disc sander combos for quite a while and they are few and far between.
Not normally a fan of Harbor Freight, but I'm tempted to give the their 6x9 model a try.

If anyone has one I'd be interested in your experiences. (Generally, I don't fully trust the reviews).

[Alan Schwabacher]

Sorry I don't have an answer to your question, but wanted to point out a different low-cost option. Matthias Wandel, over at woodgears dot ca has just finished up a belt sander build. It has not yet been collated into one video with a set of plans, but those will come. The build can now be seen in the 24 June - 8 July videos.

[Bradley Gray]

Gilliom Mfg co makes a kit of metal parts for a 6 x 48 belt sander. I have one I built over 40 years ago - still works. Old school biz, no web site (636) 724-1812

http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=14020

(http://vintagemachinery.org/photoindex/detail.aspx?id=14020)

[william watts]

Gilliom, still in business! I remember them from the 60'S they ran small ads in the back of magazines like Popular Mechanics. They had plans and metal parts to build all types of machinary using wood, except for the few specialized parts they supplied. Glad to hear their still around.

[mark kosse]

If you give your location you may be surprised at what folks want to part with. That being said I knew a guy who had the 6x9x9 hft sander and he had no problems I recall.