Any experience w/ Delta belt sanders?

[pkyink]

I've got a line on a 1'' 2 in 1 belt/disc sander for what seems to be a decent deal. Would it be better than one of the cheap Harbor Freight sanders? Thanks in advance. Here are specs:

1"BELT SANDER/8" DISC SANDER 1/3HP. 120V. 1720 R.P.M

He wants $80

 

[Brommeland]

Back in the day, Delta made professional grade (contractor grade) tools exclusively. Later they got into some less heavy duty stuff, but I'd take the worst tool they ever made hands down over some Chi-Com POS....

 

[aarongb]

That's probably the Delta SA-180. Its definitely better than an HF, and even after I upgrade to a better grinder I'm sure that I'll still have use for it. Belts are easy to find, and hightemptools.com sells a ceramic glass platen liner that fits. I think I would pay $80 just to have a second one, I think I paid $100 just after it was discontinued several years ago.

 

[pkyink]

Thanks for the replies. I'll probably go ahead and pick it up. I just wish it was 2" instead of 1".

 

[RobN]

I'd take the worst tool they ever made hands down over some Chi-Com POS....

Hmmm... I wouldn't. I have a Delta scroll saw and table saw. On the former, the threading holding the bolts that hold the arms crumbled about the time the return period ended. I managed to rig it with a couple big clamps and it works like that, but I sure wish I'd bought another saw. My table saw works okay, I guess, but the plastic handle that adjusts the blade height stripped. I fixed it with some epoxy, but I shouldn't have had to. The insert around the blade never really fit right. There's a little depression, so smaller workpieces tend to tip a bit and end up not exactly square.

If I bought those tools now, I'd return them both, but I didn't. I won't be buying any more Delta products, though.

My Chi-Com POS tools, on the other hand, are still going strong.

There are name brands I like, but Delta's not one of them.