Official Luthiers Forum!

A local is seller wants $40 for a Ryobi Belt Sander/Disc model Number BD4600. I know It's not a expensive model, but will It be good for braces and bridge wings? The size is 4X36". Would a 48" unit be better for braces, thanks.

Click on the link below to view a photo of the unit.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s201 ... y/1-15.jpg

I have the same one. Its actually a great value. Its made out of cast metal and no plastic. It easily competes with the larger unit I have access to, with the exception of horse power. I use mine to sand the headstock flat after rough sawing them on the bandsaw. If you have a ton of wood surface touching the belt, you can slow it down, but that is true with most sanders. I really haven't found anything for guitar building it won't do, except for it being a shorter belt. (you can't sand an entire fret board down at one time, but its real close.)

I have mine set up with the belt laying down and the extra table on the disc sander....but either way it works great.

I got mine at home depot new for about $100.

Joe

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Joe

BTW: I may need to qualify my posts. I am building mostly set-neck archtop electric guitars. Often they are a chambered solid body, but occasionally I mess with standard true hollow body archtop jazz box types too. So I don't need to do the same type of work as an accoustic builder in many cases. I have built a few smaller accoustic instruments like mandolins etc, and also find the sander works great. So Size might just matter depending on your use.

I also use this sander for lots of repair work too. Its a great size for most jobs...but I can see where it would be undersized for certain things.

Joe

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Joe

G'day Ron,

I have one of those sanders and the same model. I reckon its a beauty for guitaring building needs. $40 is cheap.

Cheers

Alan

I have a 4" X 36" Crapsman that I don't like much at all and it is on the bubble to be replaced with great prejudice. It's as loud as all get out, the table is sloppy and difficult to adjust and the dust collection is the worst of any tool in my shop.

But it does work and has served me very well. It is very much like the one that you show in your picture. Also at $40 that is hard to beat to have the functionality that these machines provide. If $40 is your budget and this one works well it sounds like a good deal to me.

Wear ear protection and a dust mask too.

crapsman,
Thats an unfortunate name.
i would never buy something addmited it was cr*p even its brand name

joel

Joel buddy I personally had a lot of trouble getting accustomed to the name Festool...........

Crapsman, or the term Crapsman is widely used to unfairly, or fairly depending on your experiences and own ability to judge, describe products not limited to tools, from Sears, one of the largest retailers here aka the store that time forgot..... It is not unlike calling Home Depot the Borg or Home Despot etc.

Thanks everyone for your input. I'm trying to arrange to buy it.

Hey Alan,
Hows the guitars coming along?

Ron M.

I have a 6x48 sander that is adequate for most things, but the platen falls short when it comes to leveling or radiusing fingerboards. I built an 8x80 that will cover everything.
I personally wouldn’t waste my time with anything smaller than a 6x48 although the 4x36 may suit your needs. The platen is probably around 14” which is too short to sand an X brace without having to move the brace back and forth.

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Rich S

"The inconvenience of poor quality will linger long after the thrill of a bargain has been forgotten"

G'day Ron,

Guitar is coming along well thanks. The bridge has been located and saddle slot cut. The nut has been fitted and the machine heads have been dry fitted. The guitar has been sanded down to 320 grit.

So its finish time!! Oh Boy!!! I'm using Hard Shellac and applying as per French Polish method. I hope to start this weekend coming.

I'm happy with all the stages so far.

I just need it to hold together when strung up and it might be an ok first effort.

Its been great fun and a learning experience and i'm already planning the next build.

Cheers

Alan

That's great Alan, I can't wait to see It. keep up the good work.

I brought the belt/disc sander since A few you have one and endorsed It. I figured I could'nt go wrong at that price. I brought It from a Architecture student who just used It for a couple of school projects, so It's in pretty good condition, and it's mostly cast Iron as Joe mentioned. I'm sure I will heed Todd's advice, and buy a 48" unit in the future but for now It will help with the build. Thanks everyone.