Delta 31-731A 6D 12Disc Finishing Machine

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metal and wood sanding:
I first used this machine in a machine shop in the 60's. I now us it in my own shop. I do both wood and metal sanding. it is designed for the metal shop. It is more than one needs for wood. I see that Delta makes a wood table for the disk that you can buy now. It is like the one thay have on there sanding center. This is good for small parts. If you have long parts get a horizontal 40in belt sander. This machine is heavy duty and the disk and belt run at different speeds. No small machine shop shoud be with out it. I wish I had purschased it 30 years ago. Happy days working in your shop.

Terrific Floor-model Sander:
I've had one of these wonderful sanders in my shop for over 20 years. 1. Dust collection. This machine can generate huge volumes of very tiny / lung-unfriendly dust; consider using a dust collection system with HEPA bags. For big jobs, I also turn on the workshop exhaust fan and wear a quality respirator. With the dust pick-up accessory installed for the disc sander, two 4" suction hoses are needed -- one for the belt and one for the disk. The belt section came with a 4" dust port, but Delta wanted $125 for a dust port accessory for the disc, probably because it's made of cast iron. Instead, I fashioned one out of polycarbonate for much less cost - it's the only change I've made to the tool. The belt sanding section has a cap where the belt turns, which is vital for controlling dust dispersion. Take the cap off and dust flies everywhere. Most cheaper machines lack this cap. 2. Maintenance. Except for occasionally replacing (or cleaning) the belt or disk, there is zero maintenance. Changing either takes 5 to 10 minutes. You can reuse the 6" x 48" belts, but since the disk sandpaper sticks on, once you scrape it off, it's history. Using good quality sandpaper, you can extend a belt's life by vacuuming it and using one of those cleaning sticks, when necessary. 3. Quality and design. One reviewer said the aluminum disc sander on his machine wobbles slightly, but mine has zero run-out. I've used this heavy-duty professional-grade tool hundreds of times, and don't think anything needs improvement. The nicely machined cast iron tables are solid, easy to adjust to any practical angle, they stay put when you tighten them, and each has a miter slot. The 6" belt mechanism can be set to 90 degrees (vertical, for most work), or level, or any point in between. The only thing mildly tricky is adjusting belt tracking, necessary when you change belts. It was difficult to remember which knobs adjusted what, so I wrote what the two belt knobs do in magic marker on the machine's side, which solved that issue. Once adjusted, the belt stays on track. 4. Operation. This tool can remove stock faster and with greater precision than most other sanding methods, plus it does things few other shop tool will do, does them well, and in reasonable safety. I could give dozens of examples, but here's just one -- while finishing a room, a foot long section of oak base molding only touched that wall section at its ends because the wall bowed inward. Using this sander, I quickly taper sanded the reverse side/ends of the piece, so it fit flush against the wall. This tool can be used for quick stock removal (using rough paper), delicate removal, and everything in-between. It has all the power needed, and the 1.5 HP motor doesn't slow down, even when pressing large maple stock hard against the paper. This tool is loud, but mine has almost no vibration. I use it for metal and wood, on large and small pieces, with equal success. 5. Size. There are other types of floor sanders that can be very useful in a shop, such as edge sanders, single function 20" disc sanders, flapper-sanders, very large belt sanders, etc. If space in your shop is at a premium, having a powerful 6" x 48" belt and 12" disc, on a single machine with a small footprint, is a terrific space saver. My machine is on a mobile base. This is an exceedingly useful tool for the serious wood worker, metalworker, or handyman. I own a dozen Delta tools, and this one of my favorites.