Last Updated on 2021-07-21 by Harry Masterton
We show you how to buy the best oscillating belt and spindle sander for your woodworking shop with the top 4 reviewed and one huge surprise winner.
A belt spindle sander combo is a versatile power tool and our comprehensive oscillating belt spindle sander reviews will show you how to get the best out of one of these adaptable woodworking power tools in your woodworking shop.
In A Hurry? Go straight to the Best Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander Reviews.
- Highest Rated – Recommended Buy. BAUER 191511E-B Oscillating Belt And Spindle Sander
- Triton TSPST450 450W Oscillating Spindle & Belt Sander
- Best Budget BUY. WEN 6524 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander
- Ridgid EB4424 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander
An oscillating belt and spindle sander will remove edge or face grain more quickly than hand-held sanders or sanding blocks.
One feature that oscillating belt and spindle sander reviews rarely touch on, though, is the room you save. The best oscillating belt and spindle sander models provide plenty of sanding contact while limiting the footprint on your workbench or shop floor. An oscillating belt and spindle sander combine two sanding platforms into a single power tool.
The best oscillating belt and spindle sander benefit for many is the sanding versatility it offers woodworkers. A perpendicular belt sander lets you aggressively attack a face or edge while being supported by a table. You can also work curves with the spindle portion of the belt spindle sander combo.
How To Buy The Best Belt and Spindle Sander for Your Shop
You do not want to overlook the role of the tabletop on an oscillating belt and benchtop spindle sander. The best oscillating belt and spindle sander models use an adjustable table that allows you to create a consistent angle on the edge of your workpiece. Keep an eye out for adjustment designs when researching oscillating belt and spindle sander reviews to find what meets your project needs.
Dust collection is critical for a sanding power tool that creates lots of sawdust. Most designs of the oscillating sander combo include hose attachments that fit shop vac hoses. Vents should provide adequate suction power without compromising tabletop support near the sanding sleeve or drum.
Finally, manufacturers try to provide you with several drum sizes for the spindle. That allows you to reach into several curves without damaging the edge of the wood.
What Is An Oscillating Spindle Sander Used For?
Uses for your oscillating edge sander and spindle sander
- Removing material quickly
- Creating flat faces and edges
- Making a beveled edge
- Sanding and shaping curves
The belt sander removes material quickly. It is more aggressive than an orbital sander due to the rotating belt.
The tabletop on the oscillating belt sander and spindle sander support the wood as you sand surfaces flat. Adjusting the table to an angle allows you to create a bevel on the edge of your board.
What is an oscillating spindle sander used for?
You can use the spindle to smooth the edge of curves cut into the wood. What is an oscillating spindle sander used for besides that? It can also be used for sanding tasks that shape curves to a cutline or sanding curves in fretwork.
A benchtop oscillating spindle sander will feature spindle diameter rubber drum fitments in various diameters to accommodate
How to use a spindle sander with a belt attachment
These tools are designed for any skill level, so learning how to use an oscillating spindle sander belt involves:
- Attach belt accessory
- Adjust tabletop angle
- Turn power tool on
- Make light passes against the belt
- Turn power tool off
How to use an oscillating spindle sander
Learning how to use a spindle sander is a fairly simple step by step process:
- Attach drum accessory
- Adjust tabletop angle
- Turn power tool on
- Make light contact against the drum
- Turn power tool off
Learning how to use an oscillating spindle sander is also covered in the owner's manual of each product. The key to learning how to use a spindle sander is deciding what drum size to use, which the manufacturer should include with the instructions.
Oscillating Belt And Spindle Sander Product Reviews
BAUER 191511E-B Oscillating Edge Belt And Spindle Sander
Our Bauer oscillating edge belt and spindle sander review begins by looking at the power tool's footprint. It measures 18 inches L x 16.375 inches W x 18.125 inches H. The product weighs 27.88 pounds once out of the box and assembled.
4.8 out of 5.0 starsThe BAUER 191511-B from Harbor Freight is a big surprise in this roundup. Love or hate Harbor Freight they have got a lot of things right with their BAUER range of woodworking power tools.
User feedback is astronomical for the BAUER Belt and Spindle Sander with a staggering 96% of users reporting they would recommended this tool. Harbor Freight invariably have ‘money off' offers on the BAUER ranged is it's well worth checking out the BAUER 191511-B as a star buy.
BAUER 191511E-B – Features
It uses a 4.0-inch x 24.0-inch sanding belt, which is a standard size for many benchtop sanders in this class. The stroke length on the oscillating spindle is 0.625 inches (5/8 inch), allowing a decent amount of the sanding grit to make contact as you work.
You can swap between a spindle drum and the belt accessory without tools. That saves time and requires fewer items to keep track of as you work.
Bauer has included five spindle adaptor plates that have on-tool storage. These match to a corresponding spindle so that you have a minimal gap between support and sanding drum during operation. You also get four sanding drums to get you started.
The stellar customer reviews for this product from Harbor Freight could make it the star product in these reviews!
BAUER 191511E-B – Things We Like
- The oscillating belt and spindle sander in this Bauer oscillating edge belt and spindle sander review has five notches on the table adjustment. These allow fast setups to table angles of 0, 15, 22.5, 30, and 45-degrees.
- It is designed for light applications that DIYers and hobbyists require. That makes it easy for anyone to use, no matter their experience or woodworking skill level.
- You will not need tools to change between belt and spindle applications. Less downtime and frustration creates a better workflow.
BAUER 191511E-B – Not So Good
- Care must be taken when using the table lock knobs. If not secured properly, the table may not sit at 90-degrees.
- Bauer's warranty coverage is limited when compared to other manufacturers. The oscillating belt and spindle sander coverage are only 90-days.
Triton TSPST450 450W Oscillating Spindle & Belt Sander
The oscillating belt and spindle sander in this review measure 15.4 inches L x 13.0 inches W x 17.7 inches H. It weighs 28 pounds, which is near average for the benchtop class of this power tool.
4.6 out of 5.0 stars
Triton TSPST450 – Features
You can equip this product with a 4.0-inch x 24.0-inch sanding belt, or you can use one of the five drum sizes if you need to sand curves on your workpiece. A 5/8-inch stroke length (0.625 inches) creates the oscillation on the spindle. That is enough to prevent heat from building up and should eliminate burns.
The table used to support your wood is cast iron, which adds weight that can help dampen vibrations. It should perform adequately and can be adjusted from 0 to 45-degrees to make beveled edges.
For most specifications, the Triton TSPST450 represents the standard design offered by most manufacturers. The company offers a three-year extended warranty, which covers a bit more than limited warranties from others.
Triton TSPST450 – Things We Like
- The knobs on this oscillating belt and spindle sander are ergonomic and secure tightly. That makes it easy to tighten spindles or table tilt once you have them in the desired position.
- It provides plenty of venting at the throat plate for debris to fall through. The dust extraction tapers, providing a decent amount of suction for sawdust removal.
- A beveled edge has been added to the tabletop. That provides comfort if your arm is resting on the edge when working smaller pieces.
Triton TSPST450 – Not So Good
- Tensioning is somewhat difficult to judge on the spindles. That requires you to check your tension to prevent the spindle from moving off-center.
- The metal used for the table and platen are not of the highest quality. That saves on weight but can cause a surface that is not flat in some cases.
WEN 6524 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander
The 6524 sander from WEN measures approximately 18.5 inches L x 16.5 inches W x 18 inches H. Its weight of 27 pounds fits within the average for benchtop designs and should be easy enough for you to move around the shop. You have easy access holes for permanent mounting of bolts, and the corners have flat surfaces if you want to use clamps or other temporary hold-downs.
4.6 out of 5.0 starsWEN 6524 – Features
A standard 4.0-inch by 24.0-inch sanding belt uses 80 grit for fast material removal. Sanding drum sizes on the tool include 1/2 inch, 3/4 inch, 1 inch, 1-1/2 inch, and 2 inches. The 5/8 inch (0.625 inches) stroke on the drive spindle is typical and should prevent burns even at 1,575 Feet Per Minute on the belt (or 2,000 Rotations Per Minute on the spindle).
WEN 6524 – Things We Like
- The product in this Wen oscillating belt and spindle sander review has one of the lower price tags in its class. That can make a difference for someone building their power tool collection or must work on a tight budget.
- Its electric motor delivers a consistent rotational speed under load. That indicates that the sander is not underpowered and will perform consistently in both belt and spindle modes.
- Throat plate accessories are high-contrast color and fit snuggly. That makes them easy to change out, and they provide support near the belt or drum.
WEN 6524 – Not So Good
- You might experience overheating if you use this oscillating belt and spindle sander for long periods. Heat build-up can wear down parts more quickly.
- Spindle alignment can be an issue if they connect with any angle. That can lead to spindles that wobble a bit, causing uneven sanding or damage to drums or attachments.
Ridgid EB4424 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander
The size of this product gets press in most Ridgid EB4424 reviews, including this one. It measures about 23 inches L x 19 inches W x 19 inches H. That extra material does weigh more, with the EB4424 coming in at approximately 40 pounds.
3.7 out of 5.0 starsRidgid EB4424 – Features
Its 4.0-inch x 24.0-inch sanding belt has a speed rating of 1,350 Feet Per Minute (FPM). The sanding drums included measure .75-inches, 1.0-inch, 1.5-inches, and 2.0 inches. These move at 1,725 Rotations Per Minute (RPMs) under no-load conditions.
Rigid uses a 5.0 amp electric motor to power through larger sanding projects. For you, that will mean little, if any, reduction in speeds as you work.
It has a three-year limited warranty, which is one of the better packages concerning duration. If you register your product within 90-days of purchase, Rigid will offer you a lifetime service agreement. That is free parts and free service for the life of your power tool.
Ridgid EB4424 – Things We Like
- One stand-out feature of this oscillating belt and spindle sander is the large electric motor. Five amps will not bog down under sanding pressure, and it offers an extra amp when compared to other products.
- It has a larger tabletop than other models in this class of power tool. The extra support is advantageous on larger workpieces.
- You can store all accessories without blocking the power switch. Rigid provides storage away from the on/off switch, something many Ridgid EB4424 reviews overlook.
Ridgid EB4424 – Not So Good
- It does not include smaller sanding drums. That is a bit of a surprise, especially at the price point it sits at.
- The increased power and support come with a bigger price tag. That might be too much for casual users or hobbyists with limited funds.
Belt and Spindle Sander Face Of – BAUER Oscillating Belt And Spindle Sander vs Triton TSPST450 Oscillating Spindle & Belt Sander vs WEN 6524 Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander
Before comparing our three favorite oscillating belt and spindle sander models, it is worth mentioning why the Ridgid EB4424 is not in the head-to-head. Scanning several sources reveals enough negative reviews that we feel it is better to leave it out.
Belt speed – Feet Per Minute
- BAUER 191511E-B – 1,611 FPM
- Triton TSPST450 – 1,575 FPM
- WEN 6524 – 1,575 FPM
Faster belt speeds provide you with quicker sanding. Each product uses a 4.0-inch x 24.0-inch sanding belt and has a similar gap between spindles.
Spindle speed – Rotations Per Minute
BAUER 191511E-B – 2,021 RPMs
WEN 6524 – 2,000 RPMs
Triton TSPST450 – 1,925 RPMs
Again, faster speeds on the spindle equate to more material removed. It is worth noting that the WEN is slightly quicker than Triton on the spindle, even though they rate the same on belt speed.
Manufacturer warranty coverage
- Triton TSPST450 – 3-year extended warranty
- WEN 6524 – 2-year limited warranty
- BAUER 191511E-B – 90-day limited warranty
Bauer offers a surprisingly limited warranty package, but it is worth pointing out that feedback across the internet does not indicate it is an issue. Triton's warranty is for a standard 30-days, with the coverage extending to 3-years once you register your oscillating belt and spindle sander online. That includes freight, labor, and parts during that time.
Other Features
You will note during your research that there is little else that varies between these three products. Electric motor size, tabletop square inches, dust extraction, and prices are almost identical. What differences there are will not be enough to change how they handle or what you will pay.
Need more in-depth articles, reviews and resources on woodworking power tools? Visit our woodworking power tools list where we feature every tool you'll ever need in your woodworking shop with links to reviews and best buys.
Best Oscillating Belt and Spindle Sander – The Final Pass
Once you examine each of these oscillating belt and spindle sander designs, you realize that they are very similar. Each manufacturer will use a color scheme that matches its product line, but the power tool shape and accessory storage match.
Ridgid does provide a larger work surface and electric motor when compared to the other three. That appears to be subdued by customer concerns over material durability and performance, though.
Triton and WEN are a choice for brand loyalty or color scheme, for the most part. The only real difference is that Triton offers a better warranty and customer support.
The product that continues to surprise us is the BAUER 191511E-B from Harbor Freight. Customer feedback is very positive, which balances the short warranty offered. It provides faster speeds for the belt and spindle sanding features.
The BAUER oscillating belt and spindle design gives it an edge over the others and is worth your time to check into further!
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