Drill press as a...

[Thom Walker]

Who is using there drill press as a bobbin sander? I ask because as luck would have it I am in the market for a new press, and was considering a little better press instead of buying both a press and spindle sander.

 

[mikeyswood]

I used to. The sanding wears out the sandpaper in one spot and clogs up. An oscillating spindle sanded cannot be beat.

 

[Jazzdogg]

I used to chuck a sanding drum in my drill press before I bought an oscillating spindle sander. IMO, the two aren't really comparable; oscillating spindle sanders produce a surface that's demonstrably superior to a drum that doesn't oscillate while it spins.

Additionally, a drill press quill wasn't really designed to take a side load, and there's a possibility that using a drill press for repeated sanding coud lead to increased run-out when drilling.

 

[Thom Walker]

That is what I was thinking. Which spindle are you using? Finding reviews on specialty sanders is a real challenge.

 

[mikeyswood]

I use the Delta Boss and love it. If you find one that is able to balance the spindle you will have a superior sander.

 

[tZer]

+1 on oscillating being much better - but if you keep a brush handy and clean the paper a lot, you can make it work. Not ideal, but definitely better than nothing.

 

[Thom Walker]

Mikey, good to know. Is the base on the Delta iron, metal or molded plastic? I have not been able to find one in my area and cannot tell from the online images.

 

[mikeyswood]

The table is cast iron and rock solid. There are nylon parts on the internals; that pisses me off a bit but has held up to some serious abuse.

If the fastening screw were balanced it would make this tool even better as a sanding planer. But it still works well:

To produce this:

 

[Thom Walker]

Very nice. CPO is running a sale on these right now. I may have to pick one up then.

 

[jworrellbass]

I haven't tried this one, but it's a option

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[Dream Weaver]

I played with the drums in the drill press, but it was less than ideal for me. My drill press is small and weak, so it didn't take much to bind the drum. All it did was make me want an oscillating spindle sander more.

I bought a Clayton, which I've seen labeled as Triton as well. It works well enough and the spindle was surprisingly square to the table. For $150, I could care less if it lasts. Eventually I'll spring for a nicer spindle with a bigger table, but for now... this is fine. I personally think some aftermarket sleeves would be a good addition. Some spindles have some seriously rough grit sleeves with them. Mine were like 40grit so it was really easy to over sand.

 

[Jazzdogg]

It's been awhile since I researched oscillating spindle sanders, but recall the Clayton receiving very good reviews. Mine is a Delta BOSS like Mike's. What I like best about it is that when I'm not using it, it's light enough to stow on a shelf out of the way.

The Ridgid combination OSC/belt sander also received good reviews, but I've never used one.

I've had good luck obtaining real-world tool reviews on two websites operated by Taunton Press; the Knots discussion board affiliated with Fine Woodworking magazine, and Fine Homebuilding magazine's Breaktime forum.

 

[mikeyswood]

Big +1 to anything Taunton!

 

[bassy7]

I've also got the Delta Boss and really like it. Its been quite reliable, and plenty powerful, and easy to move around. When hooked up to dust collection, its also fairly "clean" to use.
I almost bought the ridgid spindle/belt sander at one point in time- if that one is as solid as the Boss- it would give a little more flexibility in use.