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DELTA SM500 Shopmaster 5.2 Amp 4- by 6-Inch Benchtop Belt/Disc Sander




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Manufacturer: Delta

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Brand: DELTA
Manufacturer: Delta
Model: SM500


Accessories
Delta 31-465 4-Inch x 36-Inch 60 Grit Sanding Belt
Delta 31-466 4-Inch x 36-Inch 100 Grit Sanding Belt
Delta Flexible Lamp Attachment #25-857
Delta 50-330 31-1/2-Inch Tall Universal Stand with 19-1/2-Inch by 10-Inch Table Top
Delta 25-869 14-Inch Goose Neck Magnetic Base Mount Lamp Attachment with 8-Foot Cord

Editorial Reviews:

Once you add this tool to your workshop, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it. The Delta SM500 Benchtop Belt/Disc Sander is a versatile, dual-function machine that can handle virtually all of your wood sanding jobs. Its 1/3-horsepower motor simultaneously drives a 4-inch wide sanding belt and a 6-inch diameter sanding disc. The belt operates at 2,000 surface feet per minute, and it can be positioned horizontally, vertically or at any angle in between. The round disc rotates at 3,100 rpm, which is the ideal speed for smoothing a wide variety of both softwoods and hardwoods.

The sanding disc is equipped with a 7- by 9-inch adjustable aluminum worktable that tilts down to 45 degrees for precise bevel sanding. The worktable has a slot that accepts the miter gauge, which is included in the package. Use the gauge to achieve perfectly square, true surfaces. For best results, apply light pressure to the disc. Pressing too hard will clog up the abrasive surface and put undue strain on the motor. And, be sure to sand only on the down rotating side of the disc.

The sanding belt comes with a handy metal stop that keeps the workpiece from shooting off of the fast-moving belt. The belt-tracking control knob allows you to quickly and easily center the belt on the platen. And changing belts is easy thanks to the unit’s quick-pull tensioning lever.

Benchtop sanders produce quite a bit of fine dust, but fortunately this model has a dust port for attaching a shop vacuum; it accepts a standard 2-1/4-inch diameter vacuum hose. This compact machine can handle all small- to medium-size sanding jobs. For larger jobs that require a bit more muscle, consider the Delta 31-695, or Grizzly G1014Z. --Joseph Truini

What’s in the Box:
4- by 6-inch belt/disc sander, miter gauge, metal stop, 60-grit adhesive-backed sanding disc, 100-grit sanding belt, instructional manual


User Comments about the DELTA SM500 Shopmaster 5.2 Amp 4- by 6-Inch Benchtop Belt/Disc Sander

This is a do not buy item unless you are sanding very small pieces of wood. Very poor quality item. My motor burned up after 6 hours of use sanding pinewood derby pine blocks.



I have several Delta products and have been happy, with the exception of this one. Junk - Don't buy it. I have used mine for less than 2 hours and the plastic teeth on the pulley that drives the belt roller stripped out. It is going in the trash, not worth fixing. Extremely poor design.



I eventually had to loctite the whole thing together; very bad. A few $'s more expense in the parts and this sander would probably have lasted 15 years rather than the less than 3 years it did in my shop.Not a serious tool. The only thing that saves the flimsy drive assembly is the fact that the motor is so underpowered. This is not how one should attach anything on a rotating shaft if there is going to be any vibration. An extremely poorly made tool.


In the first 100 or so hours of operation the motor takes the hit, then the belt starts breaking down, followed by the gears.I know that you get what you pay for, but this is just ridiculous. Do not but it, or anything else that is similarly designed (lots of similar models on the market).The set screw on the disk bears directly on the mounting shaft which means that it loosens ALL the time. Also, a 3/8" diameter shaft is too small for mounting a 6" disk. In fact, one of the rare pieces of truly unqualified junk that have made it through my shop door. The PLASTIC pulley gears will wear down as the timing style belt eventually gets all its teeth ripped off.



The cheap plastic pulley that is splined to the drive mandrel strips out. I recommend this tool for VERY light use only.



I bought this 4" inch version belt sander to sand small hardwood blocks 1/2" x 3" x 6". That is not anywhere near the quality I expect for the price charged. It did; about a few months longer. I am a Wood Scientist and wood collector. The motor burned out in practically no time with light use. This is the last time I plan to buy this brand of tool. I then bought the $269 6" version, hoping that the 1hp motor would last longer.