On 12/13/2014 10:59 PM, Bill wrote:
woodchucker wrote:
On 12/13/2014 8:11 PM, Bill wrote:
woodchucker wrote:
I found a unit that I rebuilt. I use it a lot.
I also recently aquired a Rigid belt and spindle.. haven't used it
much, didn't like the belt as much as I thought, prefer my old one. I
do like the spindle and oscilation, and dust collection.

But if I didn't have the old one I might appreciate the belt more.

I'm curious how well it would work on polycarbonate, to "remove BS
marks". I may have to buy one to find out...
I think it would either work "great" or "crappy" (melting the poly).
Interesting that NONE of the benchtop units are variable
speed, unlike most of their handheld counterparts.




I also have a 1" wide crapsman that I love too. I use it mostly for
metal but also replace the belt for wood that needs a small belt or an
inside done as this can be threaded through and remounted to do inside
sanding.




you would melt the polyc.

that's because they are induction motors while the hand held are
universal motors. The induction can not be speed controlled by voltage.


Thank you for that short lesson about motors, it is worth remembering! I
went and visited the Ridgid sander at Home Depot tonight,
and went to Menards too, as long as I was driving by, for the stated
purpose of checking sanding tube availability, as well as window
shopping the pneumatic tools.
I have to say that the MasterForce (Menards brand) tools appear that
they would hold up better than the Ridgid brand tools to me. I'd pay
more to get more.
I think the Ridgid sander is intended to be a "consumable" much like
Swingman described the 3-6 gallon air compressors. I think the same
applied to all of the "plastic" handheld power tools at Menards, I
suppose--that's just about ALL they have. I don't argue that they don't
provide good value. I saw someone write, "they won't remind you of your
grandfather's tools...". Somewhere tucked in the back of my memory is
a Porter Cable belt sander from 1978, or so--that someone was Proud to
show me. They didn't have anything bigger than a 3" plastic handheld
belt sander at Menards. The salesman said that's what the "average joe"
wants. Lew has told me before, I was shopping in the wrong places. I'll
give my hand tools a spin.

Cheers,
Bill





Most hand held tools today are plastic Bill. In many ways it's superior.
It's lighter, it's self insulating (electrically). It can drop without
cracking the case to some degree. Even the Festools are plastic Bill. I
think you are being too critical. With your experience I think most will
work for you.

--
Jeff