Thanks David. ?Yes by standard I meant not an open sided design. ?Sounds like useable for rough work but the ROS still needed for refinement. ?In a previous shop I owned a Speedsander and was not pleased with the quality of result. ?Definitely a step down from Timesavers normal¡the made in China quality issues so prevalent these days. ?The Northstate seems pretty solid over the years for you. ?Terry
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On May 26, 2025, at 8:59 PM, David P. Best via groups.io <dbestworkshop@...> wrote:
Terry,
I assume by ¡°standard unit¡± you mean something wider than this machine. ?
As for sanding material wider than 16¡±, taking one pass, then reversing the material for a second pass on the opposite side, I consider this machine ok for rough work, but lacking for finishing. ?Using a 180 grit belt on material less than 16¡± wide I can go directly to finishing. ?Generally speaking, I would never be able to do that on wider material taking two passes in opposite directions and would spend meaningful time with a ROS cleaning up the overlapping areas. ?At 100 grit, and assuming you have the machine dialed in properly, you should be fine. ?For this to work well, it is important to get the infeed and outfeed rollers adjusted properly and to know how to properly set the platen (if you use it). ?I would not consider this machine an ideal WB if you are processing material over 16¡± wide on a regular basis. ?If you are looking for a compact entry-level machine with wider capacity, you might look into this Timesaver Speedsander 37¡± unit: ?
Hope this helps.
On May 26, 2025, at 3:08?PM, Terence via groups.io <terencewoolston@...> wrote:
Hi David:
I am in need of a wide bely but space militates against a standard unit. ?The Northstate seems a good value. ?
When you double pass a wide component ¡what is your experience with perfornance , flatness etc??
Terry
On May 24, 2025, at 6:10 PM, David P. Best via groups.io <dbestworkshop@...> wrote:
I bought the NorthState 1632 over 20 years ago, and at the time arranged for FOG members to buy it at a discount from?Leneave Supply in Charlotte. ?It¡¯s been an excellent addition to my shop and very reliable. ?Greg (owner) at Leneave Supply has been very supportive, supplied 3rd party feed belt replacements that unlike the Powermatic replacements can be installed without any disassembly of the machine. ?There was one instance where I thought I needed a part that?Leneave Supply did not stock, and they arranged for it to be drop shipped to me from the Powermatic warehouse in Tennessee. ?Turned out I did not need the part. ?I can¡¯t say enough good things about the support I have received from Greg. ?To me, the service from?Leneave Supply would be a reason to buy the NorthState instead of the Powermatic version.
The NorthState is identical to the Powermatic except for the paint, and is made on the same production line. ?The version I have is the 3-phase 7.5HP machine with the fine pitch control on the ?table height elevation mast. ?It does require a compressed air supply, and all of the actuators for belt tracking, belt tensioning, etc are pneumatic, and just last month one of the polyurethane air lines fractured due to age, and I when through the entire system replacing all the air tubing with new polyurethane just a precaution against future failures. ?This aspect of the machine is user serviceable and straight forward. ?
The electronics are very simple and employ industry standard switches. ?I use the platen for finish sanding work, and recommend you buy a spare yard of graphite impregnated cloth to replace the platen surface that presses against the inside of the sanding belt when it¡¯s engaged - Greg at?Leneave can supply that fabric with your order.
Over the years, I have needed to adjust the the infeed and outfeed pressure rollers as the feed belt wore down and snipe crept in. ?When I installed the new feed belt last year, that brought the thickness of the belt back up to the OEM size which necessitated adjusting the pressure rollers again. ? Other than replacing the platen fabric, adjusting the feed rollers, the machine has performed well for 20 years of service, and only last year did I need to replace the feed belt and fix the air hose (which I bought from McMaster). ?I have added a DRO to the table height which I have not found particularly useful other than making gross adjustments of extreme distances. ?I judge the material removal rate by observing the Amp meter on the face of the machine when hogging off material.
Hope this helps.
On May 24, 2025, at 1:22?PM, netanel.belgazal via groups.io <netanel.belgazal@...> wrote:
Thanks,
?
Imran - no need to test the startup current. If the 30A breaker doesn¡¯t trips - that¡¯s answer my question.
?
John - unfortunately there aren¡¯t too many options with small foot print WSB.
?
The ?European manufacturer (SCM/Felder) starts at 37¡±, with close end models.
There are some 24¡± from Laguna, but it is close end.?I think the open end sander is more useful because i can sand up to 32¡± and it takes less floor space.
?
For the 16¡± models it is either NS/Powermatic or Grizzly that has a slightly different model.
