Three bench machines from their manuals
| Model | Type | Belt | Disc or spindle | Tables | Dust port |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIKON 50-112 | Belt and disc | 4 × 36 in, 1,900 SFPM; tilts 0–90° | 6 in disc, 3,450 RPM | 9 × 6-1/4 in, tilts 0–45°; miter gauge | Not stated in the text reviewed |
| RIKON 50-122 | Belt and disc | 6 × 48 in, 1,836 FPM no load; tilts 0–90° | 10 in disc, 2,510 RPM | Disc table 13 × 6-11/16 in, tilts 0–45° | 2 in OD |
| JET JBOS-5 | Oscillating spindle | — | Spindle 1,725 rpm, 30 oscillations/min; sleeves 1/4–2 in | 14-1/2 × 14-1/2 in, tilts 0–45° | 2 in hose port |
From RIKON's 50-112 and 50-122 and JET's JBOS-5 manuals. The RIKON 50-122 is supplied with a stand; the others are bench-mounted.
What to compare
- The shapes you make. A belt and disc square ends, flatten faces and shape outside curves; a spindle follows inside curves. A combination belt-and-disc machine does the first; a spindle sander the second — see spindle sanders and belt sanders.
- Belt and disc size. A wider, longer belt and a larger disc take larger work: 4 × 36 in and 6 in on the 50-112, 6 × 48 in and 10 in on the 50-122. Belts and discs are bought to the size the manual names.
- Tables and tilt. The table supports the work at the abrasive; its size and tilt decide what angles you can sand. RIKON says to keep the gap between abrasive and table at 1/16 in or less.
- Mounting. RIKON says the 50-112 must be fastened to a firm surface such as a workbench — see workbenches.
- Dust port. Check the size against your hose: 2 in on the 50-122 and the JBOS-5. OSHA's preferred control is exhaust at the source.
Before buying
If what you need is a small handheld sander rather than a stationary one, see mini random orbital sanders. For flattening boards and panels, the machine is a drum sander — benchtop drum sanders. RIKON's manual says to feed work into the abrasive on its downward direction, so it is held against the table.
Before buying a benchtop sander
- Belt, disc or spindle — for the shapes you make
- Belt and disc sizes, and abrasives you can buy
- Table size, tilt and a miter gauge
- A firm surface to fasten it to
- Dust port size against your hose
- The gap between abrasive and table, set as the manual says
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is from the maker's manual for the model named, in its units. Belt speeds are surface speeds and disc and spindle speeds rotational; they are not compared. The 50-112 manual's text reviewed gives no dust port size. No machine was tested, none is ranked, and no prices are given.
- 1.
50-112 4" x 36" Belt / 6" Disc Sander, Operator's Manual. RIKON Power Tools.
Used for: The 50-112's 4 × 36 in belt at 1,900 SFPM tilting 0–90°, 6 in PSA disc at 3,450 RPM, 9 × 6-1/4 in table tilting 0–45° with a miter gauge, 1/2 HP, 4.3 A, 120 V motor; no more than 1/16 in between abrasive and tables; the sander fastened to a firm surface such as a workbench.
- 2.
50-122 6" x 48" Belt & 10" Disc Sander with Stand, Operator's Manual. RIKON Power Tools.
Used for: The 50-122's 6 × 48 in belt at 1,836 FPM no-load with its frame tilting 0–90°, 10 in PSA disc at 2,510 RPM, 13 × 6-11/16 in disc table tilting 0–45°, 2 in OD dust port; a gap of 1/16 in or less; work fed into the abrasive on its downward direction.
- 3.
JBOS-5 Benchtop Oscillating Spindle Sander, Owner's Manual. JET.
Used for: The JBOS-5's spindle at 1,725 rpm with 30 oscillations a minute, sleeves from 1/4 to 2 in, 14-1/2 × 14-1/2 in table tilting 0–45°, table inserts, and 2 in hose port.
- 4.
Wood Dust: Possible Solutions. U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Used for: Exhaust ventilation at the source as the preferred control for wood dust.
About this buying guide
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