Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I rec'd the sander a few days ago. It went together easy. It was quite heavy. Unless you've got some muscles, get some help placing the sander body on the stand.
The stand is solid and doesn't take up much floor space. There are pre-drilled carriage-bolt holes in the legs if you want to add your own lower shelf. I plan to do that at a later date but I thought it would be nice if Jet included the horizontal supports for such a shelf with the stand. Not a big negative just a suggestion. The stand comes with rubber-cushioned leveling feet unlike some of the other stands I've purchased in the past. It was a nice touch.
Other than the stand, essentially the only assembly needed is to attach the work tables to the sander body. The instructions are pretty good and they show in some detail how you get the tables lined up square to the sanding surfaces. I had a little trouble getting the belt sander work surface to go on smoothly but after making some adjustments to the 90 degree stops, it seemed to go on more easily.
The unit runs smoothly and with about as much noise as I would expect with a sander, although the graphite belt sander platen seems to make a little more "whooshing" sound when it starts up. The graphite is supposed to make it run cooler. I haven't confirmed that but it makes sense. There aren't any undue vibrations. Not having owned a stationary belt sander before this one (but I have used several) releasing the belt tension was new for me but makes sense. It's recommended so the belt doesn't take on an excessively oval shape or wear out prematurely. It's easy to do but I find that I have to line up the belt on the rollers before I move the tension arm back. Easy to do, just something to remember if you plan to release the tension when the machine is off.
The belt sander will lay flat if you need to do some surface sanding. There's a horizontal stop but no vertical stop. However, eyeball vertical is fine since the work surface moves with the belt assembly and as such stays perpendicular.
The disc sander is great for me. 9 inche diameter is all I need. I've considered 12 inch disc sanders but this machine gets the job done. I build furniture, cabinets and various (larger) craft items and I expect that it will handle my needs.
Adjusting the work surfaces requires some patience but wasn't too difficult. For example, if you want to change the angle on the belt sander work surface, you need to loosen two locking handles and line up the angle that you need while maintaining a gap between the table and the sanding belt. I find that when I tightened the right-side locking handle, it pulls the table toward the belt. I don't use the belt sander at other that 90 degrees too often, so I don't expect this to be a big deal for me. The disc sander work surface on the other hand is a breeze to adjust. There's an angle indicator on the table, so once the index is set to zero for perpendicular, moving to any other angle is a snap....
The 3/4 hp motor has yet to bog down on me. It seems adequately beefy so far.
I think this is a great sander. I've considered spending some money on Jet's larger sander and others in that class and was also considering other brands with lower priced units ... but when Jet re-released this machine, it didn't take long for me to make up my mind. As I use the sander more, I'll add more comments, but I expect to be very happy with my purchase and expect most other woodworkers would be happy as well.
Nice job to Jet on this one. I give it 5 stars for quality and value.
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Update in 2010 (8 years later):
Just a follow up. The sander is still working great. I do use it fairly often (belt side mostly) so it seems to have held up well. Have not had any wear issues on the table adjustments. I have yet to change the sanding disc but belt changes are easy. I never got around to adding a shelf under the unit. And related to that, the legs are more than stable enough without any lower braces. So I'm pretty happy. I expect to get many more years from the sander.
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JET 708596K JSG-96OS 6-Inch/9-Inch 3/4-Horsepower Open Stand Belt/Disc Sander, 115-Volt 1-PhaseComplete with built-in handles for easy portability, the JET 708596K JSG-96OS 6-Inch/9-Inch 3/4 HP Open Stand Belt/Disc Sander, 115-Volt 1-Phase is a combination belt/disc sander that comes complete with 3/4 HP motor for plenty of power to both sanders, a heavy-duty open-style stand, and two work tables. This versatile tool makes sanding tasks easier, more accurate, and less time-intensive for higher-quality results.
The belt can be positioned flat or fully vertical for improved versatility.Powerful Mounted Motor for Robust, Stable PerformanceThe JSG-96OS is powered by a robust 3/4 HP, 110-volt, TEFC (totally enclosed fan cooled) motor mounted in a heavy-duty base. The base also supports the nine-inch diameter disc and belt systems (measuring 6 by 48 inches) to create a solid and very stable unit.
Dual Thumbscrew Adjustment for PrecisionThe JSG-96OS boasts Jet's exclusive dual thumbscrew belt tracking adjustment locks--an innovative feature that keeps the belt on track during use, which helps ensure precise results.
Sealed Ball Bearings and Steel Platen for Exceptional DurabilityBuilt to last, the JSG-96OS offers exceptional durability for long-term reliability. Sealed, permanently lubricated ball bearings at all major friction points reduce maintenance and help provide an extended, trouble-free life, while the graphite-covered steel platen runs cooler, thereby preventing heat damage.
Single Dust Port Collects From Both Belt and DiscTo help keep your workspace clean, healthy, and dust-free, this tool features an effective dust collection system. This system has a single four-inch dust port on the back of the base that evacuates debris from both the disc and belt through specially designed shrouds that maximize its effectiveness.
Clever and Efficient Disc Section DesignThe nine-inch diameter disc spins at 1,725 RPM (no load) and accepts adhesive-backed discs. Additionally, the heavy-duty disc plate is machined flat for super-smooth sanding and resists warping or deflection under all normal sanding conditions. To enhance dust collection and safety, a hinged door covers the lower portion of the sanding disc. Opening the door provides easy access to the complete disc for replacement of the abrasive.
Belt Section Offers Maximum VersatilityMeasuring 6 x 48 inches, the sanding belt runs at 2,258 SFPM (surface feet per minute) and offers plenty of surface area to handle the big jobs. Its overall size also allows you to distribute wear over a larger area, which substantially increases the life of the abrasive.
For added convenience, the belt runs on high-quality rollers, mounted in a fully adjustable arm for maximum versatility. A rubber-coated drive drum helps to maintain belt speed.
Cast-Iron Sanding Disc Table for Stability and FlexibilityThe cast-iron sanding disc table measures 10 inches wide and 12 inches in length, and has lots of surface area to help support large work pieces. The table also features a unique curved shape that makes it easy to use in a wide range of sanding operations. It's also fully adjustable and tilts up to 45 degrees. For added convenience, a handy scale under the table shows the current amount of tilt and makes setting specific angles fast and easy.
Disc Table Mount for Increased VersatilityTo make the belt even more versatile, a mount for the disc table can be used at the belt as well (the belt table must be removed). This is particularly useful when using the center point device or sanding an odd-shaped work piece.
Miter Gauge and Pivoting Fence for User-Friendly OperationThe JSG-96OS comes with a full-featured miter gauge, and a fence measuring 5.5 x 2 inches tall to securely hold stock or attach shop-made jigs. This fence also pivots 60 degrees to the right or left and is locked with the twist of the push handle. Finally, the miter gauge has a steel guide bar fitted with a T-slot follower that prevents lifting or rocking during sanding.
The JSG-96OS is backed by a five-year warranty.
About JET: A History of Sharing New, Feature-Rich ProductsOpened in 1958 after the founder of the company, Leslie P. Sussman, took the first Boeing Jet Airplane trip from Seattle, Washington to Japan, JET began as a small dealer that sold air hoists and trolleys out of a single hardware store in Seattle. Over the years, JET has carried everything from snowmobiles, transmitter radios, and forklifts to nylon stockings, but by the early 1970s, metalworking had become the base of their business line. And by the 1980s, JET had expanded into the realm of woodworking. Today, you'll find that JET offers a wide range of popular woodworking tools that are backed with best-in-class features and excellent service.
What's in the BoxOne sander, one sanding belt, one sanding disc, two tables, one center point, three handles (one with brass insert), two 5/16-inch flat washers, one miter gauge, owner's manual, and warranty card.
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