This is the first in a series reviewing the tools I use on a daily basis. Because I purchase all my tools without corporate sponsorship, the reviews I give will be 100% based on my own experience. I will share the good and the bad for every tool.
In my shop, you will find tools of every color and every origin. Some I review will be brand new from a big-box store, while others will be used tools purchased on Marketplace or at yard sales. I will attempt to give you the exact cost I paid for each tool. As a note, for the ones purchased new, I will list the price at the time I bought it.
The Bauer Oscillating Edge Belt and Spindle Sander (Harbor Freight)
- What I Paid:
$169.99(Purchased new at Harbor Freight with coupon) - Time Owned: 2 months (Used heavily on every single project since)
The Good
- Serious Power: This thing sands incredibly well. It takes away material really fast, which was an absolute game-changer when shaping the heavy curves of my stacked book projects.
- Lightning-Fast Transitions: Changing between the spindle and the edge belt configuration is remarkably quick. There is no fumbling around or losing project momentum.
- A Real Budget Time-Saver: For the price point, the value is undeniable. It has quickly become my absolute go-to sander for edge work. In fact, my old sander is currently sitting in the corner collecting dust.
- Project Stop: When configured as a belt sander, the machine has a small material stop that holds the piece in place. The stop works well, could be a little bigger. Overall very usable feature.
The Bad
- It’s Loud: The machine runs somewhat loud. You will definitely want your hearing protection on whenever it is switched on.
- Belt Height Quirks: The edge belt sander mechanism could stand to sit just a little bit lower. As it is right now, the paper barely hits the very bottom edge of the workpiece.
- Table Alignment: While having an adjustable table is a great feature, the factory alignment out of the box could be a little bit better. You may need to spend some extra time squaring it up yourself. On mine, the slides were loose and one was slightly bent. Easy fixes.
- Average Dust Collection: The dust management is just average. It gets overwhelmed easily, meaning I occasionally have to stop working just to brush away sawdust buildup from the table surface. When I connect my small Craftsman shop vac, dust collections is minimal. With my larger Craftsman shop-vac, dust collection is actually pretty good.
The Final Verdict
Is it perfect? No. But for a real, working shop, it is an absolute workhorse for under $200 (Significantly less if you can grab a coupon). It creates a mountain of a mess, but it saves so much time that the cleanup is entirely worth it.
Over to You!
What is the absolute messiest tool in your shop that you just can’t live without? Drop a comment below and let me know if you’ve tried any of the Bauer benchtop line!
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