Believe us when we tell you that choosing the right sander for your projects is a confusing task. Not only are there numerous types of sanders, but for each type, there are hundreds of different models from several manufacturers. So yeah, confusing is probably just an understatement.
That is, unless, you know what you’re looking for. You see, sanders come in different shapes and sizes, and they each serve different purposes. One of the more misunderstood sanders is the disc sander.
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Our Recommended Benchtop Disc Sanders in 2022
7) WEN 6502T
Purchasing this benchtop disc sander gives you access to two sanders. The first of these is a 4X36-inch belt, and the other is a 6X6-inch disc.
Both work very well.
Regardless of which sander you use, the speed will be 3,600 RPM. For most sanding tasks, this is more than sufficient.
- Two-in-one sanding machine includes both a 4-by-36 inch belt and a 6-by-6 inch disc
- Belt tilts anywhere from 0 to 90 degrees
- Sturdy cast iron base prevents any heavy vibrations
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
6) WEN 6515T
A purchase of this sander gives you access to two sanders.
The first sander is a 5-inch sanding disc. The second sander is a 1X30-inch belt.
Both sanders work well, and deliver a fantastic experience.
As you use those sanders, they will run at a speed of 3,160 FPM and 3,450 RPM, respectively.
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5) RIKON Power Tools 50-151
From RIKON, we have a simple sander that comes with a disc sander and a belt sander.
The disc sander is 5-inches in diameter. The belt sander is 1X30-inches.
You won’t have any problems with either sander. But, due to the speeds of both sanders, this sander may not be ideal for those who are looking for pure efficiency.
- Belt Table Tilts from -0Degree- 45Degree
- Belt Tracking Knob
- Safety ON/OFF Switch
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4) Rockwell Belt/Disc Combo Sander
Just as the name implies, this sander is a belt/disc combo. Both sanders work well, and are great for most sanding tasks.
What’s really nice about this sander, though, is the fact that you can lower and adjust the belt sander in a variety of ways. That way, you can sand the way you want to sand.
- [HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL SANDING] The spacious 4” x 36” belt platform raises and lowers from 0-90° to...
- [BEVEL EDGES] The sanding table adjusts from 0-45° for smoothing out beveled edges—you’ll have the nicest...
- [HEAVY INDUCTION MOTOR] Powerful 4.3-amp motor provides plenty of power to sand down all your woodworking...
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3) BUCKTOOL Belt Disc Sander
Every function this sander offers – belt sanding and disk sanding, specifically – is driven by the motor shaft function.
You do not, as a result of this, have to adjust those functions manually.
Rather, the motor shaft handles all of this.
Because of this, the entire process of sanding is far easier than it is with some other sanders.
- Sanding belt and disc were directly driven by the motor shaft, maintenance-free, you don't have to adjust the...
- Motor direct-drive design can increase 25% sanding efficiency than the traditional design. Max. developed 3/4...
- The belt can tilt from 0 to 90 degrees for horizontal and vertical sanding depending on the needs of your...
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2) WEN 6500T
The steel base this sander relies on allows for reliability and longevity.
You can use this sander in one of two ways; the 4X36-inch belt, or the 6-inch disc.
The 3.2-Amp motor allows both of those sanders to run at a speed for 1,150 FPM. For precise, methodical sanding, this speed is more than sufficient.
- Two-in-one sanding machine includes both a 4-by-36 inch belt and a 6-by-6 inch disc
- Belt tilts anywhere from 0 to 90 degrees
- Features an open-style steel frame design
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1) JET J-41002 2″x42″
Purchasing this sander will cost you a fair amount of money.
But, if you are looking for something reliable, sturdy, and long-lasting, this is a fantastic sander to purchase.
All of the components this sander relies on are made of materials such as steel and cast iron. Each component is fantastic in its construction, enabling you to use this sander, and keep using it, for many years.
- Durability: Cast construction and heavy-duty steel base
- Ease of Use: Deluxe miter gauge turns and locks for common angles, 45° both left and right
- Handles Odd Shapes: Abrasive belt removes material and finishes at the same time, allowing the operator to get...
Last update on 2024-04-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What is a Disc Sander?
A disc sander is a tool with a large sanding wheel. The wheel is perpendicular to the work surface and spins at high speed. This tool is used by holding a piece of wood or plastic against the spinning disc to remove material. It is a lot more delicate than belt sanders, so if you need to give your pieces a final sanding before applying varnish, paint, or an oil finish, then a disc sander is the tool for you.
What a Disc Sander Can’t do
There are a few drawbacks to a disc sander. First of all, the size of the wheel needs to be enormous to remove material evenly to produce a flat surface. For instance, a 20-inch wheel would hardly be enough to flatten an 8- or 9-inch board.
Another thing to consider is that the wheel is used to sand rather than shape. Even though a coarse-grit wheel can remove more material per second, it’s not a tool that’s designed to process rough lumber.
Types of Disc Sanders
A disc sander can fall into one of two categories – floor-mounted or benchtop.
Floor-mounted disc sanders are the larger of the two types. They come with huge wheels for sanding large boards. They typically come with 1- to 1-1/2-HP motors for quicker removal of material. However, these models take up a tremendous amount of floor space – up to several square feet – so if you can hardly maneuver your way through your woodshop, you should consider getting a benchtop model instead.
A benchtop disc sander is tiny in comparison to a floor model. They generally come with ½-HP motors for lighter-duty sanding jobs on smaller pieces. As you can already assume, this tool is mounted onto a table or bench to give it stability and height. They come with smaller wheels for sanding smaller pieces. You have to pay extra attention to the guard that separates the left and right sides of the wheel since the direction of the spin will produce differently textured surfaces.
For the rest of this article, we’ll focus on benchtop models since they’re the more reasonable option to choose for both beginners and pros.
Benchtop Disc Sander Buying Guide
Since there are numerous benchtop disc sander models out there, it’s important to be able to identify what makes a quality disc sander. In this section, we’ll go over the most important specs and features to look out for before adding one of these tools to your woodshop.
Motor
This compact sander won’t come with a beefy 1-1/2-HP motor, but considering the size of the wheel (more on this later), it won’t need it. However, power is important, especially if you plan on removing material from plastic objects. A good HP rating to be on the lookout for is ½ HP.
Disc Size
The size of the disc determines how large a workpiece the tool can sand evenly. A larger disc means being able to handle larger boards, but they will also require a larger motor. Most models will come with sanding discs of around 6 inches or so which, for the typical DIY-er or beginner woodworker, will be sufficient.
Disc Speed
The faster the disc spins, the more material it can remove per second. The best option would be to find a model that with variable speed which allows you to crank it when you want to give your piece an aggressive sanding. The speed range or speed cap is up to you to decide, but we typically favor models that can reach speeds of at least 3,000 RPM.
Belt Sander Combo
Just because a benchtop disc sander is small doesn’t mean it can’t be versatile. Many of the newer benchtop disc sander models come with a belt sander that’s positioned either parallel or perpendicular to the sanding wheel. We recommend getting one of these combo tools if possible. Make sure that the length of the distance between the disc sander’s drums accommodates sandpaper that is at least 36 inches long for better sanding quality.
Dust Port
Needless to say, sanding produces a heck of a lot of sawdust. You don’t want sawdust on the floor or hidden beneath your power tools since it can be a slipping hazard or even become kindling. Find a benchtop disc sander with a dust collector or port that’ll fit snugly with your shop vac’s suction hose (adapters are available and usually sold separately).
Weight
A benchtop disc sander has one quality that a floor model doesn’t – it’s lightweight. This means you can take the benchtop sander from place to place wherever it’s needed. The weight of a benchtop disc sander varies greatly from model to model; some can be as light as 10 pounds while others as heavy as 40. Keep in mind that more weight means more stability and being able to withstand vibrations more effectively.
Final Remarks
Disc sanders are a type of power sander that’s made for final sanding jobs. It’s not something that removes a ton of material with every rotation of the wheel, so if you need to remove ingrained knots or shape your stock, then you need to find another type of sander.
A benchtop disc sander can be an especially handy sander to have in your home workshop, especially if it comes as a disc-belt sander combo. There are several things to keep an eye out for when picking up a benchtop disc sander, but the most important are the tool’s motor, disc size, and maximum speed.
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