Customer Reviews

DELTA 31-300 6-Inch/12-Inch 1-1/2 Horsepower Open Stand Belt/Disc Sander, 120/240-Volt 1 Phase

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased this sander about two months ago from Tool Crib to replace a Sears's stationary sander that is 20 years old. Compared to my old sander this is one heck of a machine. Very heavy and solid. Much more powerful than the Sears sander it replaced.

Pros:
Price: The least expensive sander in its category.

Heavy Duty! This is a beefy machine compared to the Craftsman. Appears to be a quality, industrial grade tool. Be sure to run a dedicated 30A circuit for this sander. I ran a new 30A, 120-volt circuit, but ran my shop vac and sander on the same circuit and tripped the breaker several times in less than 10 minutes.

Powerful! You cannot stop the sanding belt no matter how much pressure you put on your work piece. Aggressive sanding with the belt that shipped with the sander.

The 12" disk sander works very well. The tables seem flat and generously large compared to my old machine. The stand, even though having 4 legs instead of a cabinet is sturdy and stable.

Cons:
Not too much of a problem, but worth mentioning: the sanding surface is several inches shorter than the Sears sander (same belt size 6 x 48 inches) because the front roller on the Delta has a much larger diameter than my old Sears model.

There is a small tag riveted to the top of the unit, just proud of, and parallel to the sanding belt on the right side. As you move your work piece side to side while sanding, the tag won't let you move a wide board off the right side of the belt. Again, not too big a problem, just grind off the rivets attaching the metal tag and remove it. Delta should re-evaluate placing the tag there in the first place.

The tracking of the belt that shipped with my sander does move from side to side while in use, and I can't seem to stop the movement by adjusting the tracking. It's possible the sanding belt is defective, I'm going to try a new sanding belt to see if that helps. Even though the sanding belt tracks side to side, it does not come off, and I am able to use the machine. If this is normal tracking for this machine I'll be disappointed, I'd think the belt should track pretty much perfectly straight. But, like I said, it's still too early to say for sure.

The Dust collection port is sized for a 4-inch dust collection hose. I use a Porter Cable shop vacuum with a 2 1/2-inch hose. Delta does not offer an adapter that allows easy use of a 2 1/2-inch hose. At Delta Customer Support I was advised to have an adapter fabricated at a sheet metal shop. That is a dumb remedy on the part of Delta. However, the dust collection hood that was a part of my Dewalt 734 thickness planer came with a plastic adapter that works perfect. It slips over and attaches to the Delta 4" dust port, and a standard 2 1/2" vac hose slips inside the adapter. No hose clamps are needed. The adapters are available from the Dewalt web site, listed as a replacement part for the DW734 for $3 each. Delta should get smart and ship their product with a similar adapter.

Conclusion: Again, I have not used this machine long enough to know everything about it, nor have I used any other sander in this catagory other than my old Sears model to compare it to. I do have a few other quality machines for comparison, old Delta Unisaw, Powermatic 8" jointer, etc., and I think the Delta sander is close to being in that class. Over all, I like the sander, and would purchase it again if I had it to do over.

This machine has many good points. It is well constructed, it is sturdy and essentially unmovable. The tables are easy to align with the sanding surfaces. It has loads of power and can remove stock amazingly fast. However, to rate the dust collection system as poor gives it a compliment. It is abyssmal. You need to be outdoors or wear a dust mask when using the disc sander for any heavy sanding. The only place on the disc that collects any dust is when you sand on the outer 1 inch of the disc. Any further in than that and most of the dust come out the other side of the disc. A little detective work showed that there is only a small vacuum inlet (about 1 1/2 by 3 inches). Any dust that escapes this vent is blown back into the shop. The belt sander is only marginally better.

After agonizing over brand, features, reputation, and price for a few months, I decided to take the plunge and get the Delta. It was the highest priced sander I'd considered but also the best reviewed. Its weight (around 300 lbs.) indicated Delta's propensity for over-building - but I kind of like that. I tend to do the same for most of my furniture projects and have been very gratified with their longevity. This sander goes together well, although the instructions were a bit out of date with the actual details. However, this was nothing very challenging - it just took an extra minute or two of observation and thought to see what had changed and how to put it together.

The two tables are great - very stable and solid. My only wish is that it be easier to remove the table on the belt portion of the sander. It sometimes is in the way on some projects and is cumbersome and heavy to manipulate, both when taking it off and putting it back on. However, a little practice improves this issue.

The only other area of mild concern is actually not specific to this machine but is common to all belt sanders. That issue is the drifting of the belt at different temperatures, tensions, and loads. It tends to start up drifting one way. Then, if the sanding session is long, it will change as the belt heats / loosens up. Then, to confuse the issue more, it will shift while you're sanding based on the amount of load you subject it to (how hard you push your work-piece into it). It eventually evens out but forces you to go through it again, the next time you start it up.

Finally, to repeat myself, it's a great machine and I'm very happy that I paid the extra needed to acquire it. Note: Delta recommends at least two people put it together - I second that. It's really quite awkward and heavy and cast iron only need one little drop onto concrete to start a crack or shatter. Use the buddy system!

I bought one of these sanders in 2004 or 2005 through a dealer in Syracuse, New York when they first came out and have found over the years that this machine is better than I expected. It has been trouble free the day I bought it. It is well constructed, accurate and the fit and finish is very good. Adjustments are easily accessable. Its greatest asset is the large tables. They are easy to adjust and their size makes them easier to design and attach jigs and fixtures to. The machine is very heavy and stable in operation, no vibration. I have had no problems with belt tracking or tension. I find a slight disadvantage in the verticle height of the belt platen, but you can't have everything. The dust pickup is not very good at the disc side of the machine, but I have never seen one that was since the old Powermatic sanders from the 1980's. If I were to buy belt/disc sander today, it would probably be this make and model.

A solid, well built machine that should last the home user a lifetime. Sander is as described with plenty of power and my only cause for dissatisfaction is that the size and mounting of the belt table greatly limits the working area of the belt. Easy to setup with good instructions but will require two people. I had delivery and scheduling problems with the freight company and Amazon was of no use resolving them.

This is a well built machine at a very good price. Instruction manual is lacking in troubleshooting info and web site offers only repair locations. Machine went together easily but belt sander would not turn when pressure was applied. Set screws on drum were not tight and no instructions on how to tighten. Finally found screw location and with some effort was able to tighten. Both disc and belt tracked well with little vibration. Although listed as a dual voltage motor a new switch and cord cap with rewiring is necessary. Belt sandier table shortens usable length by several inches. Overall a quality machine but needs better manual.