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Need a Spindle Sander... Thoughts on a Bauer from HF?

9K views 27 replies 15 participants last post by  greg415 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Looking for a spindle sander but can't afford a floor model at the moment, so I was leaning towards one of the many bench top models out there available around the $200 mark. I'm leaning towards the HF Bauer unit which is like the Rigid model. Was going to drop by HD today and pick up one up, but apparently they are no longer in stock at HD or at least in my location as I tried to purchase online. The Bauer looks to be identical to the Rigid version. As I was originally only wanting a spindle sander, the added belt sander option is a plus.

Anyone have any experience with the HF Bauer version?
 
#2 ·
The Bauer looks identical to the Wen, but it's not the same as a Ridgid. The Ridgid has a feature that all the others forgot… A miter slot.

That seemingly inconsequential detail makes a big difference in my projects. It allows me to chamfer through tenons with a miter gauge. Combined with the tilting table it's really quite useful.
 
#4 ·
The Rigid is no longer available. I've looked all over for one.

The Wen, Triton, Grizzly, and Bauer all look to be the same from what I can tell. Not sure on the oscillation movement on each, but the all have a 3.5a motor (probably ~1/4hp).

I'd rather have a dedicated floor model spindle sander and a 20" disc sander, but neither are in my near future so hopefully this can fill the void until I can acquire something better.
 
#6 ·
I have a Ridgid and recently had a post about it. First off Home Depot has one of the worst websites out of any large company, hard to search accurately and stock levels are seldom correct. That said it showed out of stock at all the stores by my house. I live in a large city and there are several HDs near me. I went to the closest one and they had 2 in stock. Another one nearby also had 2. So i bought one as I read some of the minor features the Ridgid had that the clones were missing.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well, I went to the HomeDepot website and the product is not even listed. Then, I went to the Rigid website to purchase…which sent me to HD website and said product is no longer available. Not available on Amazon either.

Is it available online for anyone else? It very well may as you said related to low inventories. I'll give them a call.

https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/oscillating-edge-belt-spindle-sander
 
#10 ·
I did the same thing, unavailable at HD, went directly to Ridgid which sent me to HD. I tried it over a few days and it was suddenly available at HD. I assume they're getting limited quantities in at intervals, and since they don't have a back order system it's 1st come 1st serve.
 
#11 ·
I did call the person I spoke with said it was not carried in stores (at least in my area) and was available online. The product is not discontinued as far as she was aware. So must be inventory thing. Guess I'll be picking up a Bauer today.

Thanks for the feed back. I'll post up a review of the sander once I give is some use.
 
#13 ·
Yeah like I mentioned, Home Depot's website is absolute dog crap. If you search for it ON their website search, it will just show you random models that they don't even carry in stores, like Wen. I was finally able to find it trough google searches, but it said out of stock everywhere, even though they had 1 or 2 in stock at every store I went to.

Unfortunately with a lot of big chain stores is that the "online" presence is a lot of times a different department or even a different company than the brick and mortar and there is a huge lack of communication. If you really want just drive down and get one. If you don't feel like driving then just order one of the lesser models.
 
#14 ·
I have the ridgid too. bought it several years ago and love it.
Looking now I too can not find it in stock at HD. Although I have seen it recently. I would try to hold out and be vigilant about searching for it. Trying to be the 1st come 1st serve when they do get them.
I too have looked online, and even in the store for products. found empty shelf and no online stock on a Dewalt hedge trimmer. asked the guy to check anyway and he found 3 in the over head. but not in any computer inventory, or on display.
I did a search of HD and found several spindle sanders. Most were just a spindle sander, and the Wen model that also has a belt.
Not only is the belt version missing the miter slot. All of them only have a 5/8" stroke.
Ridgid has a 3/4" stroke. That even is small, and I have never been happy that that is all the stroke it came with.
But it still serves me well. I too was on a budget and the Ridgid was affordable to me at the time.

But this $499 Jet has a full 1" of spindle stoke. And the crazy $2k Delta has 1.5" stroke.
But neither has a miter slot.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Jet-1-2-HP-5-5-in-Benchtop-Oscillating-Spindle-Sander-with-Spindle-Assortment-110-Volt-JBOS-5-708404/100375603

https://www.homedepot.com/s/ridgid%2520oscillating%2520spindle%2520sander?NCNI-5

https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-Oscillating-Belt-and-Spindle-Sander-6524/308605438
 
#15 ·
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#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
If your only looking for the Spindle Sander, I have the HF Central Machinery Spindle Sander. Works good but noisy. The oscillating sander has a high pitch whine to it. I wear hearing protection when using it. Over time the sand paper sleeve may slip on the shaft while sanding. To correct this, I put a strip of paper or painters tape on the inside of the sand paper sleeve.

As you mentioned the belt sander version is a plus. I didn't need that option since I have a 6×80 edge sander.
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
The Wen appears to be the cheapest spindle sander around and has a pretty good review. I have one based on the review and it has worked just fine. I would certainly consider it over any from HF. HF tools in my opinion have been made to the most minimum standards. Although I have heard good things about their new Bauer and Hercules brands, only time will tell how well they hold up. I tend to be skeptical about HF tools.
 
#18 ·
For minor use, such as DIY projects at home sure a WEN will be fine, even a HF. BUT if you intend to put some serious mileage on the unit go with better quality. Also look on CL and FB marketplace, alot of deals to be had.

I own a benchtop Grizzly from 1999, never had any issues. Dust Collection works pretty decent.
 
#20 ·
you know its crazy, I was just at a local HD. They got 3 of them that I saw, display + 2 in box, and maybe more in overhead.
- bigJohninvegas
Not crazy at all, thata what i've been trying to say. If you trust online inventory systems you are in for a world of let down, in either direction.
I just got back from Home Depot a few minutes ago and they had 2 in stock there, so they restocked the 1 i purchased a few weeks ago when they also had 2, and the online inventory said out of stock then too.
 
#22 ·
I've had the Jet table top for about fifteen years and have never owned any of the others, so cannot comment on the yea's and nay's of them. Love my Jet. If it died tomorrow, I'd be tapping the penny back for a rebuild or replacement within a week of its demise.

I built a small, dedicated cart for mine and it works out wonderfully.

The Jet bench-top is a heavy creature. Zero vibration. No power issues. Plenty of spindles. Fair dust collection (I cut a 8" plastic pipe down and in 2/3rds and it slips in the front, to force more of the air to be drawn from the top).

All that aside, Rockler sent out a page, today (6/20/21) on a Triton for $200.00. Anyone have any input on them for him?
 
#23 ·
Well, you guys have better luck than me. I called HD and asked if they had any in stock and they said they were an online only item. I visited the store a few days later for other reasons and they did not have any in stock. I called the only other HD near me and they told me they did not stock them either. You would think a city as big as Indy would most likely have one, but no.

I bought the HF version. The specs are nearly identical on the Wen and the Bauer. I used it a few times so far and it performs exactly as I would have hoped. I'll probably replace it with a Rikon or Jet model at some point, but not until I can get a 20" disc sander.
 
#24 · (Edited by Moderator)
I have the WEN. Longer stroke than most. I have had good luck with WEN for cheap tools.

And a HF disk sander. Use them all the time. BUT, I just bought the Ridgid combo belt/spindle sander. Many like them. I don;t know if it really replaces my other two, but wil find out before I sell them. Spindle I can see as a easy good replacement and the belt can do things my disk can't, but the disk is a big honking inductive motor. I wish I had the space for all three. Maybe find a space for the disk and keep 60 or 40 grit on it for rough stuff.
 
#26 ·
Four years ago I got the HF spindle sander https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=spindle%20sander still work nicely. but has always been on the high hearing decibel side.

If you can go with a belt/spindle sander it will give you more options of use. Similar to the Rigid or Bauer https://www.harborfreight.com/oscillating-edge-belt-and-spindle-sander-56870.html

Home Depot sometimes have free shipping with several brands to choose from. https://www.homedepot.com/b/Tools-Power-Tools-Sanders-Spindle-Sanders/N-5yc1vZc2gh or https://www.homedepot.com/s/oscillating%2520belt%2520sander?NCNI-5
 
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