Oscillating Belt Sander Experiences

[jonsey850]

Hi All

I recently purchased a generic oscillating belt sander like in the link below.

L903 - Slik 7.0b Oscillating Belt Sander | Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse

All my machines are Australian or European, but after looking for well over 2 years for a suitable Woodfast universal linisher or the likes I just bit the bullet and went this way so I had a sander.

It was a total POS. The idle drum had excessive vibration/run out and the platen was twisted and bowed significantly. Squaring the platen to the table at one end would result in 1.5mm out of square at the opposite end.

It has been returned and a replacement has been sent.

Just wondering what other people’s experiences with these machines are?

Am I expecting too much from the Chinese made machines?

Cheers

[China]

Unfortunately budget priced Chinese machines are a lucky dip some are acceptable and some need to be rebuilt and the rest go in the skip.

[jonsey850]

Yeah ok, I could tolerate replacing bearings, machining shafts ect but if the platen is twisted there’s not much that can be done.

[Simplicity]

Without sounding rude,
Would it be better to review the second machine, I understand the first was lemon,and it would be great if we didn’t get lemons.

I’ve looked at the same machine a few times my self,
So would like to know how the second machine turns out.

Cheers Matt.

[Albert]

I have the exact same machine, its working fine as a sander, I am yet to check the squareness of the platen/table...etc. I purchased it cos I need a sander and cant justify buying a Volpato or a Kundig...

[jonsey850]

Hi Matt, when the second machine arrives I will go over it and post the results here. Hopefully better than the last.

Albert it would be great if you could check the squareness of you machine so we can compare.

The cast table was dead flat (checked with precision straight edge). It was the platen, being folded plate when they weld in the hinge arms and plate for spring tension mechanism ect it would inevitably warp. So it is probably next to impossible to get one without some warping.

Cheers

[BobL]

One of my mates has a JET version of these and I've used it for several weeks.
It worked fine

It worked fine but as usual the dust extraction is rubbish.
I found the dust extraction improved considerably by completely removing the fitted hood and adding a Bell mouth hood like this.
The photo is not of the JET but of the non-oscillating sander at the mens shed.

Attachment 504657

[Albert]

Just took some pics.

Didnt take the belt off but didnt see the point doing that.

didnt notice any warp. the cast iron table is dead flat.

What I make dont require +/- 0.5mm accuracy...


Attachment 504658Attachment 504659Attachment 504660

[jonsey850]

Thanks Albert, that looks like it’s fairly even both ends. The light shining through is probably from the bottom of the belt being worn more than the top.

[jonsey850]

Hi Bob, I have prepared a 150 duct to the sander but will reduce to 100mm for now so I can use it. But will definitely do some mods so it either takes a 150mm hose on the existing shroud or use a BMH.

[riverbuilder]

I’ve always been under the impression that the slip cloth is there to take out any imperfections in the platen? Granted, it’s not going to have 2 or 3 mm, but it gives the belt some stability.

[jonsey850]

Hopefully the replacement sander arrives tomorrow. The delay has been due to the service department assembling and checking the machine is in spec. Apparently they would normally charge a fee for this service but it has been waivered in this instance.

[jonsey850]

The big day finally arrived. The replacement machine that had been assembled and inspected by the service department was delivered.

Feverish with anticipation I removed the packaging and began going over the machine, only to be disappointed once again.

This time there was no vibration, tick. But the platen was once again twisted - a lot. This time about 2mm over its length. Winding sticks below tell all there is to know.



They also forgot to include the two additional belts I payed for as well…

So what to do now??

I will complain and see what they have to offer but I can only imagine it to be a slow and painful experience.

Otherwise I am fair confidant I could remove the platen from the machine and straighten it. Not ideal for a brand new machine.

[Midnight Man]

Just my humble opinion for what it's worth...

Goods not fit for purpose, the ACCC says it's your choice of repair, replace, refund. Given that this is a replacement machine already, and set up by "the service department", goods are clearly not fit for purpose.

Refund.

DO NOT attempt to repair or fix yourself, the moment you touch the machine from that aspect, the retailer and manufacturer can both hold their hands in the air saying "The end user stuffed the machine up".

Photos will not get you out of that situation.

As above - "Dear sir, machine number two is in as poor a state as machine number one. Given that I have given you the opportunity to replace the originally faulty goods, and I now have an equally faulty unit, I would like to exercise my rights under ACCC rules and formally request a full refund."

[pintek]

Agree with Midnight man here - ACCC will back you up without too much issue. Have had to go down this path recently for a non WW related item and it was money in the bank within days after a call to the seller, stating I want a refund as the item was not fit for purpose and that I had spoken to the ACCC.
All they requested to process the refund was for me to return the faulty goods - at their cost. We pay extra in Aus for a lot of items, but I believe we have the best protection as consumers.