Is the Bucktool metalworking disc and belt sander good for woodworking...?

The Bucktool Metalworking belt and disc bench sander has an 8 inch disc and a 4x36 inch belt. It weighs 44.6 pounds, but you'll want to mount it on a bench or cart as the rubber feet don't have enough grip to keep it in place when you turn it on.

The good news is, yes, it can be used for woodworking and metalworking alike. It offers easy belt changes and a 1 horsepower motor. It also features a tilting feature for the belt table for either vertical sanding or horizontal sanding. I have found this sander to be useful, however there are some drawbacks:

• The 8" disc is a nightmare to change because you have to take the table off to change it, and then square it all back up again when you put it back on. This is not an easy task as the table doesn't like to stay in a squared position when you tighten down the bolts that hold the table in position.

• The dust ports on the sander do an extremely poor job at collecting dust. It helps to have a strong vacuum connected to the ports, but it still isn't the greatest.

• The belt tracking is okay, but it is not the most precise. It also has a difficult time staying tracked when the unit is running.

• Both the disc and belt tables are a nightmare to get square to the belt or disc. The bolt levers that lock the tables cause the table stop move after you square it, causing you to have to recheck and attempt to square them again and again.

Here are a few tips to consider if you do purchase this sander:

• If you use it for woodworking, use grits 80 to 120. Those grits will make quick work if you need to take material down fast. A higher grit above 120 might cause your wood to burn.

• If you use it for metalworking, use grits appropriate to the application. The higher the grit for metal, the less likely you'll have streak marks. A higher grit will give you a better surface on the metal.

• I highly recommend you replace the disc cover plate screws (M4 x 10mm) with thumb screws (M4 x 10mm) for easier disc changes. The thumb screws save from having to use a screwdriver or drill bit to remove the cover plate and the thumb screws hold the cover plate just as well as the Phillip screws do. There are 5 screws holding the cover plate on.

• Use a belt/disc cleaner to help the sandpaper last longer. I got one from Harbor Freight and it seems to work just fine, but I do eventually want to try others.

• Mirca sanding belts last longer than bulk ones from Amazon. But that is just my opinion.

• Keep the miter gauge that comes with it, I gave mine away (I thought it was trash), but I wish I had kept it.

Here is a table of the pros and Cons of this sander:

Pros	Cons
Good power	Tables are nightmare to square
Not too heavy (should be a little heavier though)	Disc changes are more work than needs be
Quick belt change	Poor dust collection
Woodworking and metalworking	Belt tracking not the greatest
quiet	Not precise if looking for precision
With a good sandpaper, it performs well	A little too pricey for not enough precision
Build quality is a thumbs up

Big Question: Should you buy this tool?

That depends on budget, brand names, and precision.

• If you want something precise, get something else.

• If you want something adequate, this is not a bad buy.

• If you want a good quality tool for both metalworking and woodworking (this tool is more for woodworking for how precise it is), then this tool could be for you.

• In my opinion, look at other options at Woodcraft or Rockler (do your research) before settling. Doing research and writing down what features are important to you is the best way to buy a power tool (and/or hand tool... or anything for that matter). Research, research, research.