Tool question/poll

[Alec]

On your car builds, if you had to choose between having a benchtop belt/disk sander, versus a bench grinder, which one do you go with? Space is tight in my shop and I want something for modifying bolts, panels, brackets etc and I know there is some overlap in their capabilities for shaping and cleaning up corners and edges. So which is MOST useful?

[ggunter]

A bench grinder takes up very little space, much less the a disc belt sander. For a build I don't see where you would use either one a lot. Sharpening drill bits is about the only thing I can think of on a Roadster build. I have used both on my build just not very often. Your choice.

[narly1]

A bench top vice and a die grinder take up even less space LOL. I do have a bench top grinder though, mounted to a piece of plywood that I can clamp down to the bench top for bigger jobs. Standing up on edge against the wall it takes up little space when not in use.

Earl

[Straversi]

If you are planning to make many modifications, the belt/disc sander is very useful. I made all of my mods with a jigsaw, drill press, small break and belt/disc sander.

This is a good way to go too.

https://www.eastwood.com/multitool-grinders-40th-anniversary-2x36in-multitool-1hp-grinder-pa362-8-40.html
-Steve

[J R Jones]

ggunter knows about Roadster assembly, I do not.
I encounter an endless sequence of fabrications. Therefor I have two grinders and two belt sanders.
I find grinder stones are a crude means of removing metal. My pure grinder has two stone grits and is used almost exclusively to sharpen drill bits and TIG electrodes.
The second grinder is 1hp, it has an 10in wire wheel that gets endless utilization. The other end is adapted to a 2in X 36in belt that gives me flat and radius grinding and grit options.
The second belt is 6in X 48 with flat surface and a table. Grit options there too and occasionally can produce the equivalent of machined surfaces.
The belt sanders are especially efficient for non-ferrous metal and non metal materials.
Use particle masks and an exhaust fan.
jim

[Jacob McCrea]

I would buy the belt/disc sander. It does what a bench grinder does reasonably well, and does a lot more that the bench grinder won't do, namely abrade wood, plastics, etc. I've also come to like the flat working surface of the typical belt sander for squaring up whatever I am working on.

[Avalanche325]

I built mine with having only a bench grinder. That being said, I would buy a belt/disc sander if I were doing another. My bench grinder is small and stays in a cabinet most of the time. I clamp it to the bench only when needed. Dremel tool was constantly in use.

[cc2Arider]

You "could" have the best of both worlds: a bench grinder as well as a small disk/belt sander. Much like the link that Steve posted above, you can actually purchase a disk/belt sander attachment to your "standard" bench grinder. That's what I did for simple metal fab. Here's my setup on my homemade fab table

173336

[Papa]

I have a bench grinder, but my die grinder gets used way more often. I also have a cutoff tool and a handheld pneumatic belt sander, which was great for trimming the body, hood, doors, etc.

[RoadRacer]

bench grinder has been used more.. whenever you shorten bolts and then chamfer the end of the thread down before re-threading. For tidying up brackets I've used the bench sander - but if I had to choose one it would be the grinder. I have a wire wheel on one side to clean old parts/threads up too.

[F500guy]

Both serve a purpose, I survived many years with just a grinder, coarse and fine wheel. I had to true up some flanges and the belt sander was needed. Better fine control with the belt sander, especially thin steel. But when you need to clean up more material, the grinder is the way to go. I was looking forward to using the sander on the aluminum bits and any extra sheet metal parts that may need to be made. Grinder not as good on .050, .040 panels, but worked on .063 stuff I did in the past but still needed a little edge clean up from the grinder.

[D Stand]

I too started with a bench grinder with wire wheel on one side. But have purchased a bench top belt/disk sander and the only thing this does not do well is clean up old parts and cleaning threads from bolts.

[Otee453]

I have a full machine shop in my shop so both bench/pedestal grinder and belt sander/grinder get substantial use. The ability to have a wire wheel on a bench grinder is invaluable. For more precision work, the belt grinder/sander is my tool of choice. I fabricated a lot of my own additions to my car, mostly things you can buy from various sources. If your going to fab your own stuff, I think a sander is best.

Something to think about…. a bench grinder isn’t aluminum friendly. The sander loves aluminum. If your fabbing or modifying aluminum, go with a sander.

[CraigS]

I have a Craftsman belt/disc sander like this.
https://images.bonanzastatic.com/afu/images/2473/8608/70/__57.jpg
I almost always have the belt set horizontal and it is invaluable. Probably it's best use is for smoothing out the edge of a piece of steel or aluminum I just cut on the bandsaw. Try as I might my edges are never perfectly straight but 30-60 seconds on the belt and it looks perfect. I actually bought it originally for a wood project and it works great there too. I have belts in several grits and it is <5 minutes to change them. I have mine mounted on a small 4 drawer tool chest on locking casters.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-1000-Series-26-5-in-W-x-32-5-in-H-4-Drawer-Steel-Rolling-Tool-Cabinet-Black/1000746798
The top drawer holds belts and discs but the other three are additional storage for tools and supplies. This way the floor space for the sander also yields extra storage.

[ggunter]

CC2 has the best of both worlds. I like that attachment:cool:

[RBachman]

I used my grinder much more than my bench sander and much more useful for a multitude of things other than the build except with woodworking.

[RJD]

I found myself wishing I had a combo belt and disc sander like the one below when I fabricated custom stuff - cup holder, center console, speaker boxes, etc. In the end I did without but it certainly would have made some things easier to make.

173380

With limited space as well, I bought tools, used them, then sold them on Craigslist or here on the forum when I no longer needed them, which kept the garage clutter-free and offset costs.

[Chopper]

I agree with RJD. I happened to be very fortunate to get a big full size Delta belt/disc combo sander for free. I never would have sought out to purchase one, but I use this so often I don't know how I'd do without it. I do a lot of woodworking as well, but a combo sander like this (suggested benchtop is fine) is so versatile it's great. It can handle a lot of material and go from removal to cleanup and give you a good finished surface. I personally think it's much more useful than a grinder. I very rarely use a bench grinder. As others have suggested, an angle grinder or Die grinder (if you have an air compressor) will probably be just fine.