I've got a Delta SA180. Good sander! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I like my Grizzly a lot better, but for the money the Delta is nice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Nice belt source, Tolly. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I looked up the price of the leather belt for a 2x72... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Guess I better use my smaller Delta for leather belts. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well Sure, as heavy duty as the SA180 is for most peoples needs, the Grizzly is even still a much heavier-duty motor with 2"x72" belts. But, the Grizzly is about $471.50 shipped at almost 5 times the cost of the Delta. So, it is a rather LARGE and significant jump up in price for most.

The Grizzly weighs (literally per shipping weight) about 110 pounds as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> That is a beast for most hobbiests.

Got to try and be a little fair about it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

You do use yours in a more commercial "return of investment" sort of way. So, if a tool is part of a business and income, it does put the quality and function of the tool into a different perspective. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


Bottom line, like you said, "for the money" the Delta is nice. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I "want" a KMG. But, at about $2,000.00 I don't see that likely to happen any time soon. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

.

A lot of good infor here. Thanks guys.

KG, you definitely sold me. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

I'll have to think about how much I actually use it. I don't do many other projects on the side, but that's because I don't have the tools. Plus I'm trying to save up for a good pair of hiking boots and a DFCG.

Still, I'm creating a amazon account as we speak. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You might be surpised at the regrinds I have done on the 1"x30" from HF. And the Delta is a lot more machine that that one. Unless you are making knives for a living, I think a 1"x42" with an additional 8" disk sander should be more than adequate for a hobbyist.

MR,

If you really don't think you will ever use it much over the next 10 - 50 years, then maybe the SA180 is not for you.

But, I was trying to focus on it as a "Possible" better investment for "long-term" and "possibly" help prevent the pit-falls of wasting money by making a lesser purchase to compensate for short term - if you might want to or otherwise justify the upgrade later.

Ask many people who purchased a "Cheaper" tool that they had to replace (waste) for many various reasons.

Hiking boots.... Belt sanders are great for helping make/shape hiking staffs as well. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Use your imagination. You can find lots of potential uses. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

The Belt Sander is very good for making, repairing, modifying, improving MANY things other than just knives.

.

Someone on the Bark River forum brought to my attention that the HF 1x30 occasionally goes on sale for $30, so I'll be keeping my eye out, but at the same time, there's only 2 of those delta SA180 left. I've seen the stuff that you and KG do on the HF and it's great, but KG was really convincing. I'll think it over in class and pick it up after if i decide to jump on it.

+1 for sure.

I don't mean to sell you into a financially bad decision. If $90 is more than you can justify. Sometimes it is better to start off with something lesser and upgrade later at a better time financially - even if it means tossing a $30 - $40 tool and $20 - $40 in belts.

Consider your current finances as well vs. maybe a different ability in the future vs. ability to invest in a better tool now.

I can't rationalize all factors for you. Just making some "General" arguements.


I metioned before, I do lots of projects, woodworking and stuff.

For me, the end result is what I mostly want, but one of the "Joys" of working on projects is the work itself. Good tools can make a big difference in the enjoyment of the project and possibly the desire to do "MORE" projects.

A relative comparison: I am sure you had cheap knives before you understood and appreciated nicer knives. Now that you understand and appreciate nicer knives (tools) you tend to "Enjoy" using the nicer ones more than the cheap ones... ?????


There can be more things to appreciate in quality... to a point.

I feel for most people, the SA180 will hit the sweet balance spot for investment vs. return.


For most people, you either have to have much more expendable income, a serious hobbiest or making significant return in profits on your investment to justify the next steps above the SA180. Again, the Grizzly is almost $500 delivered.

The Kalamazoo is nice. But, I am not sure it is much better for most people than the SA180 and the Kalamazoo is about $230 + Shipping = probably close to $300 shipped!

The 30" models can do a lot. But, there is going to be a very noticable difference for most people in the upgrade.


In any event, again, consider your personal finances vs. the investment. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />


.

I used the HF belt sander this afternoon, until dark. I have always admired pitdog's MOD4, but the one I got was rough. The scales were not fush with the tang, the steel was rough under the coating, and it had an obtuse saber grind instead of the beautiful convex grind pit's has. I used my sander to sand the scales flush but had never gotten around to convexing the grind.

So I took a cheap 80 grit sanding belt and went to work.


Then I went to 180 and then a worn 80 micron.


I finish the final edge with a 9 micron 3M finishing belt. The belts are the key.

It was getting too dark to grind, and I will to a final finish tomorrow. But all this was done on the HF. The Delta is a better machine than this one.

It will cut now! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I jumped on the SA180just in time.
The Amazon price just went up $20.