Friday, April 28, 2017

Rigid EB4424 Oscillating Edge Belt and Spindle Sander Review

This is both a belt and spindle sander that will help you to smooth off curved and straight edges and remove any likelihood of getting splinters from your lovingly-crafted woodwork. For anyone looking for an affordable but highly capable sander, then the Rigid EB4424 oscillating edge belt and spindle sander should be at the top of your list of considerations.

Product Description: An Impressive 2-in-1

The first thing that is noteworthy about the Rigid EB4424 oscillating edge belt and spindle sander is the fact that it offers that two-in-one functionality. This is not common and actually it is one of the only products on the market that can serve dual purpose like this. It just requires a quick changeover and then it will be ready for the next task.

Another thing that’s appealing is the price. While more affordable sanders do exist, a professional-grade model will often set you back around much more.

The machine is actually more powerful than you might expect (see below) and has a lot of nice touches. There is more than ample work surface for example, tons of on-board storage for keeping the various sanding implements and very effective tracking adjustment. There’s even a good quality dust extraction system which is superior to many more expensive products on the market. This will help you to clear up sawdust as you go, keeping your workspace clear and reducing the amount of work you’re going to have to do afterward considerably.

In terms of power, this is actually very good for the price point. You’re not getting top-of-the range but this feels weighty and will handle most jobs you throw at it without feeling like it’s going to shake itself apart. It should provide enough oomph for most users with a little to spare.

Pros and Cons: Power and Convenience With a Couple of Mis-Steps

The obvious advantage of this product is the dual functionality. If you are someone who needs to sand a lot, then you’ll find you may need an oscillating spindle sander and a belt sander. That not only doubles your expense; it also means that you now need to find space for two pieces of equipment and you need to go and dig the other one out whenever you need it.

So that is a BIG pro for someone who finds themselves sanding a lot. And adding to the excellent value is the fact that you get a lot of extras in the packaging: abrasives for the belt and spindle, drum and sanding sleeves and everything else you need to get started.

The question really is whether or not a two in one at a very low price point like this can really compete with more expensive units. And of course, you’re not going to get the same level of performance as you would do with an industrial-grade piece of equipment. However, what you do get is a surprising amount of power. It’s also very quick to change the utility of the machine – switching it from a spindle sander to an edge belt sander is a matter of removing a knob, swapping the belt assemble for the sanding drum (or the other way around)… and that’s it! And the table tilts from 0-48 degrees to allow for accurate sanding.

So what about the downsides? Well, while the overall quality of this machine is very good, the table finish could be better. In our tests, continuous use began to wear down the finish on the table and this of course is a bit disappointing after you’ve spent a fair bit of cash on the device. It’s also worth noting that a couple of people have reported having parts break on them and some of the included pieces are a little flimsy. It’s not that this is cheaply made, it’s just that you’re getting what you’re paying for.

Conclusions: Great Value and Highly Unique

Overall though, this is still a fantastic purchase. While the build quality could arguably be slightly better in places, the overall value for money is hard to fault and as a way to essentially get two well-made pieces of equipment for the price of one, it’s an excellent choice.

 

Source: http://www.toolerant.com/rigid-eb4424-oscillating-edge-belt-and-spindle-sander-review/




source https://toolerantcom.wordpress.com/2017/04/28/rigid-eb4424-oscillating-edge-belt-and-spindle-sander-review/

No comments:

Post a Comment