JET 708404 JBOS-5 5-1/2 Inch 1/2 Horsepower Benchtop Oscillating Spindle Sander with Spindle Assortment, 110-Volt 1 Phase

JET 708404 JBOS-5 5-1/2 Inch 1/2 Horsepower Benchtop Oscillating Spindle Sander with Spindle Assortment, 110-Volt 1 Phase

Ranking: 8.9 out of 10

Manufacturer: JET
Model Number: 708404
Product Code: 410050000811
Price: $579.00 -- get the latest pricing from Amazon

Features:

  • Table that tilts to 45 degrees for sanding angled materials
  • 1/2-horsepower motor accommodate even the heaviest sanding project
  • 1-inch spindle delivers scratch-free finish
  • Oscillating action prolongs the sleeve life
  • Non-skid rubber feet prevents the unit from slipping

Buy it now at Amazon!

Description:

* Large cast iron tables of all sizes to handle projects * Table tilts to 45 degrees handle all bevel sanding projects * The 1 oscillating spindle action provides a scratch free finish and prolongs sleeve life * Powerful 1/2HP induction motor to accommodate even the heaviest sanding projects * Four non-skid rubber feet prevent the machine from moving while in use * Built-in 2 dust port to capture dust before it becomes airborne * Removable safety switch * Oscillation gears encased in a lubrication box, greatly prolong the life and durabilityOther features include non-skid rubber feet to prevent movement while in use, removable safety switch, and a built-in dust port. Sander comes with 1/4-, 1/2-, and 5/8-inch spindles, 1-1/2-and 2-inch complete spindles, and two round and two oblong table inserts.

User Reviews -- Add a new review for this Product

Updated - Jet's spindle sander, with comparisons to Delta's

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 10! out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
*Skip to bottom of review for update*
br /
br /I've had a Delta BOSS spindle sander for ~5 years and it worked well until the motor burned out. Repairing it would cost almost as much as a new one, and even if repaired its longevity was questionable (other than that I've been pleased with its performance), so I looked for a replacement and settled on the Jet. I've used the Jet and it does the job intended. However, it has some areas in which it could be easily improved. Following are some comparisons between the Jet and the Delta.
br /
br /1) The Jet is slightly quieter than the Delta, but not a lot - neither is a loud tool.
br /2) The Delta's round table is larger than the Jet's square one. The Jet's table is beefier (the Delta's never showed any tendency to flex).
br /3) The Delta's base is plastic, while the Jet is all metal. The feet for the Delta are molded into its base, with non-skid rubber inserts attached - all four of the molded feet are cracked, though this never caused a problem. The Jet has non-slip feet as well, and given the construction I don't think they'll be cracking or breaking off.
br /4) The Delta's mechanism is simple and looked robust enough. I've read that people have had problems with the nylon drive gear - I did not. However, the cover for the gears broke off at some point.
br /5) The Delta's steel table inserts fit around the spindles well (one for each spindle), with a pattern cut into them to improve dust collection. Delta has modified the BOSS since, and I don't know if its inserts are still steel. There are fewer inserts (also steel) for the Jet (one size is used for multiple spindles). The table inserts in the Jet aren't flush with the cast iron table top, necessitating shimming them.
br /6) The Delta has storage for all its accessories. The Jet has storage for some of its accessories. There's storage for the spindles and inserts, but no provision for storing the supplied wrenches required for changing the spindles. Also, there's no storage for the optional 3" spindle and insert. The Jet's insert holder slots are too narrow for the inserts to slip into (they can be forced). Some filing of the holder would correct this for the most part, but the mounting bolts will restrict the depth to which the insert can fit in the innermost slot. Some of the holes in the spindle holder are too small for the spindle to seat into completely.
br /7) The Delta comes with the full range of spindles (up the 3"). The Jet comes with smaller sizes (down to 1/4"), but the 3" spindle is a costly add-on (and its insert is extra).
br /8) The Delta is almost too tall while sitting on the benchtop (I'm 5' 9"). The Jet is ~3" taller, so it's too tall for benchtop use for me. I built it a rolling stand that puts it at a more comfortable height. This also solved the problem of lifting the Jet onto the bench - it weighs considerably more than the Delta.
br /9) The Jet's spindles are ~1" longer than the Delta's, but given the Jet's tilting table feature, in normal (right angle) use the extra length is lost, and the capacities of these sanders are similar.
br /10) The Delta's dust collection is efficient (when hooked up to a shop vacuum or dust collector - the bag is useless). The Jet is much more open underneath (between the table and the base, to accommodate the tilt feature), so dust collection suffers. I've experimented with some thin plastic sheeting to enclose this volume better). Both tools have odd-sized dust ports.
br /11) The Jet has twice the horsepower of the Delta (1/2 versus 1/4), but I never bogged down the Delta (these are fairly aggressive sanders, so light pressure is the norm). The Delta's motor is an open design (i.e., dust can get in) with no built-in fan, whereas the Jet has a TEFC motor.
br /12) The Jet costs ~$150 more than the Delta.
br /
br /Bottom line: The Jet is a more solidly built machine, and appears to be constructed for the long haul. It has some rough edges that, if corrected, would take it from "very good" to "excellent". Given the extra $150 cost compared to the Delta, Jet should make these corrections. Even as is I'd classify it as a "keeper". The Delta is a decent machine for the money, but my experience with the motor kept me from buying another like it. I own a number of Delta tools (stationary and benchtop), many 15 years old or more, and this is the first failure I've experienced with one.
br /
br /*Update 4/2007*
br /I've used the Jet sander for 2 years and I'm still pleased with it - no mechanical problems whatsoever.
br /
br /The thin plastic sheeting mentioned above works fine for improving the dust collection so I have continued to use it.
br /
br /I considered trying to adapt the spindles and sleeves from the Delta to the Jet, primarily so I could use the Delta's 3" spindle. The Delta would fit on one of the Jet's smaller diameter solid metal spindles (the sleeve length difference has to be addressed). However, I couldn't get the sleeve off the Jet's spindle. I didn't want to cut it off, so I gave up and bought the 3" spindle and insert. The 3" size is just too useful to pass up. It's also overpriced and should be standard equipment. Oh well.
br /
br /With the 3" spindle and insert the storage problem became a real headache, so I removed the two shelves that came with the Jet and built two larger ones out of oak and mounted them where the metal shelves had been. The new shelves are the same length, but are slightly wider (they don't protrude any further out than the table top). As with the metal shelves, one side holds the spindles and the other the inserts. On the insert side I also made provision to hold the two wrenches. Metal angle brackets, bent to match the shape of the sander body, hold the new shelves in place. This is a vast improvement to the stock shelves.
br /

It's a Sweetheart Deal

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 9.4 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
This sander kicks. I got the first one, and for some reason, the motor was off center, so it was much closer to the edge of one of the rings. It must have been an assembly problem. It's brand new, so rather than fuss with it, I called Amazon, and they promptly sent a replacement. That is why I deal with Amazon. On to the new sander. br This is a heavy, approx 80 pound, cast iron top, benchtop sander. The cast iron top is rock solid, smooth, straight, and even all the way across it's ground polished surface. I'm a critical nut, use a dial caliper to measure things, use the Incra table saw fence, which is accurate to within .002" inch. So when I talk about this Jet sander, keep that in mind. br Right out of the box, I used the Bosch digital protractor (another highly recommended item) which measures angles in tenths of a degree. (Equal to 3600 dots in a circle), and the spindle was accurate to within 7/10ths of one degree at the most extreme angle, and within 1 or 2/10ths of a degree at the others. So you could say right out of the box it was not off by even one degree. The best you can expect to get for measuring an upright metal shaft, with an expandable thick rubber tube, designed to squash out to hold a circular sleeve of sandpaper. For all intents and purposes, that it dead on. :-)br This does not pertain to the built in rule, you use to set the top to 90 degree, 45 degrees, or whatever tilting angle you may choose. After you perfectly set the top with any 90 degree square, it is advisable to loosen the setting screw, and fine adjust the pointer. See mention of this farther into the review. br It would be a lot easier to simply say, this Jet Benchtop Oscillating Spindle Sander is perfectly dead on, but then again, perfect is a relative term. I hope your having as much fun reading this review, as I am writing it. :=) br So what about the rest of the machine. I wouldn't bother buying anything more powerful. The 1/2HP induction motor found in the base, is a direct drive, with more than enough power to sand rock wood. I mated it on top of a Sears, very inexpensive, two shelf, red, metal, roll around cart. Lots of room for the sander, at a nice height. Also plenty of room, or extras, like the 3" optional drum and insert ring, the wrenches, and whatever amount of sanding tubes, you may need storage for. The lower shelf has even more storage. At the risk of sounding vain, the creme white Jet, with black and red accents, looks great on the matching red color stand. With the roll around wheels, it makes a lot of use for a little bit of dollars. It is Sears least expensive. br Back to the sander. You will want to take out a square, and set the table top to exactly 90 degrees to the spindle, then loosen the holding screw to the pointer, and precisely point it to the 90 degree mark on the built in rule. In doing so, and moving it to the 45 degree mark on the rule, by tilting the table, it was a dead on 45 when measuring. So the rule is accurate, once set. br The nitty gritty is that this sander is quiet, smooth, plenty of power for sanding edges, even on stacked hardwoods. It has multiple spindle sizes included. The little ones are not meant to lean on, (they go that fine) so if you are trying to remove stock quickly, choose the larger shaft sizes. I do recommend getting the optional 3" spindle, and insert ring, to maximize the smoothness and evenness of sanding larger surfaces.brI look at this as a lifetime tool. No need to buy a much more expensive floor standing model. br One note on cleaning the top. The manufacturer advises you to clean the cosmolene off of the top with kerosene, and a paper towel. Cast iron rusts just by looking at it, so they protect it for shipping. Anything like a solvent with totally eliminate any surface protection at all. In that condition, even the humidity in the air with start microscopic rusting. Not only does Jet advise you to clean it off with kerosene (which is an oil based product), they then advise you to wax the top. br If I had to be critical of the unit, I would say the one disadvantage of a benchtop unit, is that you have to limit the table top size, to prevent tipping over when using larger stock. The Jet JBOS-5 has sufficient top surface to meet my needs, but ever since I installed a large side, and outfeed table on the table saw, I am sensitive to the advantages of larger outfeed tables. One could be built and added onto the benchtop model, and give you more surface than the floor models. br All in all, with this kind of solid construction and performance, and price, this is the sweetheart deal. Highly recommended.

GREAT ADDITION TO A SMALL SHOP

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 8.2 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I too want to thank all the contributors who took the time to write a review on this great machine. It definitly influenced my decision to buy the Jet JBOS5. The table on mine was perfect right out of the box and only required getting the shipping gunk off before it was ready to use. It is very quiet while running and has no noticeable vibration. It is heavy enough to not need clamping to the work table while in use. I use the smaller spindles more than the larger one's and have not had a problem with bending them as some of the reviewers have. I make a lot of Bandsaw box's and this tool makes sanding the inside of the drawer cavities a dream. Can't believe I spent the last few years sanding them by hand. The built in dust collection system seems to work ok, still end up with a little dust on the table but the majority of it goes out the hose. I made some inserts to use with the smaller spindles (plexiglas) but the ones that come with the machine are certainly adequate to the task. I haven't felt the need for the 3" spindle as I don't do much furniture work, but this machine has plenty of "ummph" to power a spindle of that size if necessary. I have reccommended it to several friends and would reccommend it to anyone. It definitly is a cut above the delta and ryobi offerings.
br /UPDATE....Nov 2004....I've had this machine for over a year now and am still impressed with it's performance. Can't even estimate how many board feet of wood this sander has cleaned up. Anyone who has tried to sand out bandsaw blade marks on the inside of a box will come to love this thing. I recently purchased an extra set of spindles, so I can have two grit's available. Changing spindles is easier and faster than changing grit size on the spindles. Kind of a spendy way to go, but it has speeded up my production quite a bit. Still haven't bought the 3" but may do that soon. Got some "furniture" projects coming up and it will be very handy. Have had zero problems with this machine and I use it a lot. Still highly recommend it.
br /October 2006..Yep another update..finally got the 3" drum and insert. Well worth the money, find myself using it a lot. Highly reccomend.

Great Sander!

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 7.9 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I got my sander about 3 weeks ago, and I've used it a lot. It's very heavy and doesn't move around like I had feared. It does an excellent job. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that it required complete disassembly and had to have the table shimmed on one side so that the spindle would be square to the table in the x plane of the table. You can adjust the angle and the zero stop from front to back, but there's no adjustment from side-to-side. You might think this is not important, but if you're sanding a tall piece (like a bandsawn box, for instance), you'll find that you're sanding more at the bottom than at the top, or vice versa. Once I took the thing apart and put the paper shims under the left side, it was dead on, and has remained so.pThe other "adjustment" I had to make was to beat the cast top flat with a soft mallet. It was bowed in the middle. It didn't take a lot of "whacks" to straighten it out, and now it's flat, but again, this is one reason I didn't give this sander 5 stars. Not many people would ever check a sander meant to sand curves for flatness of the top, but when sanding tall pieces, it's important.pOnce shimmed and properly beaten with a mallet, this is a fine tool! ;-)pIt's not clearly stated anywhere, but the motor is an induction motor, and is very quiet. I was afraid I'd end up with a universal motor (e.g., a router motor) and have a noisy machine, but such is not the case.pIf you're sanding small, flat pieces, the adjustment I spoke of will not be an issue with you.pOverall, I really like this machine. It's powerful, heavy, and quiet. I'm glad I opted to buy this machine rather than spend ...additional [money] on its big brother, the floor model.pI compared this sander to the Delta Boss, a comparable model from Bridgewood, and Ridgid. I liked this one as well as any.

Nice machine

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 6.5 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I got the machine about a month ago and have used it on a couple projects. Overall, I'm quite pleased. I wasn't sure it was worth the greater price than the Grizzly or the Delta, but now I have no regrets.pThe machine arrived in good shape. The table wasn't quite square to the spindle out of the box, but was easily adjusted, by following the directions in the thin but adequate manual.pI was impressed by the following:br- very quiet, very smooth operationbr- good power, didn't significantly bog down sanding thick piecesbr- solid, heavy, stable, and stayed put in my bench.br- the dust collection works quite wellpNegatives:br- The 2" spindle quickly developed a "bulge", becoming out-of-round. I intend to call Jet about this. I switched to the 1" spindle, and it was fine.br- The optional 3" spindle and plate are not included, and are quite expensive. They also don't fit in the built-in storage area.br- No built-in storage area for the 3 included wrenches.

Well worth the money!

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 6.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I've been using this sander for several months now; for the kinds of projects I create, it's been indispensible. I have been very pleased with the machine. ... the table and spindle were not square. It was a minor shimming to fix the problem and I enjoy tuning up my woodworking equipment, so it didn't impact my rating. I don't think you can go wrong purchasing this sander-it's powerful, very quiet and incredibly handy if you make projects with curves and bends. It comes supplied with a nice assortment of different size spindles and plates, and the tilting table works great and stays where it is locked in. Just a note: it is a fairly tall machine-if you are 5' tall, you will probably want to find a short table to put it on if you want to be able to look down into your project. I would recommend this sander.

This is no toy

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 5.8 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I've run my sander for about three months now(got one of the first ones), and much prefer it over any other I've used. You can turn this thing on in the morning and not turn it off until dark. I've intentionally tried to stop it by exerting LOTS of pressure on it, and it doesn't even slow down a little. The only thing Jet could have done better is to design a spindle lock, but access to the spindle nuts is quite good. Fit and finish are flawless(as are most Jet products), and it is well worth the extra money over the Delta.

One "MIGHTY Machine"

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 5.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I received this sander recently. My first job was four walnut Queen Anne table legs. This is one heck of a machine. It makes the Delta, Ridgid, etc. machines look and perform like toys! I finished shaping and sanding those walnut legs in less than an hour. I recommend it without any hesitation. You will not be disappointed.
br /
br /It came out of the box in excellent condition and was ready to use in an hour or so (clean wax the top, check squareness, etc.). The only concern I have is the device to set the 90 degree position for the top is inadequate and impossible to set with any "level" (no pun intended) of assurance. I believe Jet can do better on such a wonderfully engineered machine. Be prepared to spend an additional $200 or so for sanding sleeves. I had to order them directly from Jet. Shame on Amazon for selling a piece of equipment and not selling the sanding sleeves.

All the quality and performance of it's big brother!

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 5.5 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
Every bit the quality product I expect from JET. Not my first JET purchase, and it won't be my last. I had the Ryobi unit a few years ago, sold it with some other tools when I moved. It came time to buy another spindle sander, and I looked at them all. Tilting table is a big plus, nothing else has it in the price range, and it stays at the angle you set it at! The only spindle you don't get is the 3 inch, and you would have to decide if you even need it (it IS an expensive add-on). Yes, it is probably expensive by comparison to ... others in this size range, but it's worth every penny. Yes, I do recommend this unit if you want something that will probably outlast all of us, but you don't need or can't afford the big floor unit. You will not regret this purchase. Enjoy!

Who knows?

Rating: 3 out of 5
Weight: 5.1 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
This might be a great sander, but it's hard to tell. I read all of the reviews, did my due diligence and decided on this sander despite it's relatively high price. The reason I can't tell has to do with a product defect. When I removed the sander from the box and installed the largest spindle, I noticed that the spindle wasn't centered in the table insert. It was just touching the edge on one side. When I turned the sander on, it rubbed against the insert, ruining the sanding sleeve. There is no way to adjust the table and center the spindle- other than completely removing the table and attempting to bend the support legs. I tried to shim the table, but it threw the spindle out of square with the table. I guess I could return it to Amazon- their reputation is good, but why should I have to do that for a "high-end" product. Repacking the sander, hauling it off to UPS, and waiting for the replacement is too much to think about. For $50 more I could have purchased the new Grizzly 1hp floor model with built in disc sander. My only other experience with Grizzly (A 6" jointer) was positive. I remember also another reviewer here mentioning a table problem.brCaveat Emptor- Let the buyer beware!!

Great bang for the buck

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 4.9 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I have an entire shop filled with Jet products and I've been very pleased with all of them. I had to write in about the benchtop spindle sander though because this product has far exceeded my expectations I had of it when I purchased it. I've always been a fan of buying high powered, full sized machines in lieu of benchtop machines but I've read some great reviews about Jet's benchtop spindle sander and I thought the price was fair. I've had it about 4 months now and it is probably one of the best tools I own. It provides flawless work each and every time and I've done alot of jobs with it. I do alot of woodworking so from everyone between the skilled craftsman to the weekend woodworking warrior, this tool will not let you down.

Questions Answered

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 4.9 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
One of my questions was with the smaller sleeves/spindles. The way the sleeves were secured to the smaller spindles seemed rather [shoddy] and would it really work. Well the answer is a resounding "YES" the smaller sleeves do work and do not slip on the spindles. I must admit I went to a woodshow to check this out before I made the purchase. I had the 1/4" spindle/sleeve installed and began on some hardwood. It did perform very well. The unit is built sound and with the weight, it won't move around the bench while in use. I did shim up the throat plate some to make it level with the table. It was just low enough to make a ridge around the plate. If you are working with small projects they tend to "stick" coming off of the plate onto the table. But all in all this is a good machine and I'm sure I'll have it for a life time. I don't think anyone would be sorry they purchased this one. One question unanswered is why isn't the sleeves offered by Jet? Looking in the catalogs or at [Amazon.com] they seem not to exist????

Good Sander For The Money

Rating: 3 out of 5
Weight: 4.5 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I just received my Jet benchtop sander along with my Jet 16 1/2 drill press last week from Tool Crib. Overall, I think Jet's 1/2 hp sander is pretty good. Set-up was easy and the overall fit and finish was good. pMy table top seemed to be mounted on a little crooked. There's no way to adjust for that I guess. I didn't have a problem getting the table square with the spidle though...the most important thing of all. I wish the table was a little bigger, too.pOverall, it's a nice package if you don't want to spend twice as much and don't wan't the heavier floor model. I was going to but the $X BOSS spindle sander, but it's only 1/4 HP and can bog down pretty quickly. The Jet is definitely worth the extra $X.

Great Sander

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 4.5 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
Easy to set up, quiet, and very little vibration. As a die hard Delta user, it's hard for me to say this is a better choice than the BOSS, but it is.

Off Center

Rating: 3 out of 5
Weight: 4.3 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I received this sander and all went well until I put a spindel on it. It was touching on the right side,as some other reviews reported. A quick call to Jet and they told me there were some of the castings bent in shipping and upon checking what they told me to I found on the right side it was out of shape. They are shipping me both sides of the bracket that holds the table on. It look more to me like a casting problem than a bent in shipping one. I give it a three stars for this reason. If the castings solve the problem I think it will be a very reliable product. I have squared it front to back and tried a small spindel. Very quiet and seems to have plenty of power. I would have rated it higher had it not been for the bent casting. Maybe higher later,after seeing how Jet service performs.br 6/03/2004 After sending the first model back,I have received a second one that was square right from the box. I still give a 4 star because of being off square on the first one. However I have to compliment the service from Amazon on getting a second one here in good time,and very good service on the return!

Darn good choice

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 4.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
Glad I reviewed the amazon site before making a purchase. Must say it helped.pGot my sander and set up was soooooooo easy. Just wiped off the goo from the table with some kerosene and I was off and running, just about, had to attach a spindle.pWish the unit came with a holder for the wrenches though, only thing I want, other than that, it has plenty of power for what I do, occasional furniture making, was going to get the floor model but did not have space, this sander seems to have enough umppph for me and did not mind saving the $.pAlthough I am a Deltaboy, the BOSS did not have a tilting table and the 1/2 hp of the jet seemed to be to my liking.

Best Sander for the Money

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
Been running this sander for about four months now. Others have had trouble with table being square and getting it out of the box. I have not had any problems what so ever. Have had some problems with paint coming off and wish a 1" drum was available.... No one seemed to know the length of the sleeves, I now know they are 6" which I find is a good length. Execellent sander and I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed to buy one.br /

this baby works

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.2 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
this sander has tons of power, and the fact that i can move it around easily is even better. it is built like a tank no noise or vibrations at all. highly reccomend.

Excellent machine

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.2 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
Good job, Jet.
br /
br /Love every aspect of the basic machine. Only suggestion is to offer a suitable low height stand accessory which would put the tall sander at a better useable height.
br /
br /Otherwise, for the money, it's a great value. High quality and superb operation.
br /
br /P.S. It would be helpful if the sanding tubes were offerred somewhere in multiple grits, easily accessible. Amazon please note. The basic machine comes with just the most coarse.

Very good product, great service

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I ordered the Jet 708404 Benchtop Oscillating sander on Sunday and it was set up and running in my shop the next Friday. Again, outstanding service from Amazon.[com]pThere are only a few things that prevented me from rating this machine a full five stars. pFirst, the packaging had to be cut away from the machine to remove it since I am not a weight lifter. Opening the top of this 79 lb. Box I was confronted by a molded two piece polystyrene enclosure. You might say what's wrong with that? Well nothing except it is split vertically and there was no way to get it out short of (a) cutting the box apart or (b) lifting the machine and styrene enclosure out of the box. I chose (a) then standing amid the pieces of cardboard and chunks of styrene, I read "...do not discard any shipping material until the sander is set up and running properly." pSecond, as is so common, the "provided wrenches" for the spindles leave a lot to be desired. These stamped metal wrenches are too short for the design of the table. Trying to get my fists in there to "...tighten the spindle nut (A, Fig. 2) counter-clockwise while holding the spindle housing flat (B, Fig. 2) with the other wrench." Well, you get the idea. Come on Jet, I know this is a new product for you but surely you guys could have come up with a better shape for the wrenches in time for the release.pThe cast table is nothing short of beautiful. Fortunately, it was well protected under a layer of goo covered with paper. Here again, the instructions say, "...clean all rust protected surfaces with a mild solvent or kerosene." About 20 minutes of working with acetone had the table perfectly clean. Is acetone a "mild solvent"?pBottom line, the Jet Oscillating Spindle Sander seems to be a great machine, all of the things mentioned above are of little consequence in getting the job done. I like it, I like it a lot.

Great sander

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I've been waiting for this sander to become availible, very similar to the Powermatic version. Perfer it to the quality of comparable Delta unit. Sands as advertised and is a real time saver around the shop. Recommend buying the optional 3" dia. spindle. Despite its small size it has great capacity and is a pleasure to use because of its easy setup.

Good Product

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Sep 12, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
Received the Sander in great condition, however the quality control at the factory is poor. The table was not square to the spindle. I did some checking and found the table mounting brackets were not drilled and tapped at the same height. I ordered replacement brackets and they were the same as the originals. I fixed it buy installing some brass shim stock under the bracket that the hole was low on and this fixed the table. The spindle insert storage rack slots were also to narrow to insert the spindle table inserts. Jet provided me with a can of paint so I can file them wider and repaint the mount. I think the QA at the factory needs to be looked at. The tool as a whole works very well.

Needs more storage space better dust collection.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Aug 16, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I use my spindle sander a lot, and it works great. My biggest problems are:
br /
br /1. The dust collection simply does not work - at all. I have to stop every few minutes and vacuum off the table surface and under the table (I have mine attached to an 1100 CFM dust collector). I'd like to see some dust collection slots in the plates and a shroud around the bottom of the table. Right now a 2" port just sits next to the hole under the table. If you use the right insert, there's almost no gap and no way for the sawdust to get under the table. Oops.
br /
br /2. The unit needs more storage.
br /
br /2a. Everyone I know buys the 2" 3" spindles, but there aren't enough holes to hold them. So you always end up playing 'where's the spindle'.
br /
br /2b. Same with the table inserts - you end up with one or two too many and no place to put them.
br /
br /2c. You have to use 2 wrenches to mount new spindles, and it would be nice to have a mounting tray or something on the sander to hold them. Velcro will work, but it's not great.
br /
br /3. You have to use 2 wrenches to change spindles. Hello? Spindle locks?
br /
br /On the up side:
br /
br /a. plenty of power, it's never bogged down.
br /b. almost completely silent - well balanced and designed
br /c. rock solid and no vibration or shifting
br /d. immaculate finish and fit. (aka the normal Jet quality).
br /
br /I'd highly recommend this unit.
br /

Great

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
This Jet spindle sander works great. I wish I had bought it a lot sooner

How did I live without it?

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 3.0 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
Quite, pretty, precise, fast. I make a lot of finished curved pieces in hard wood; breathing hard wood dust can be nasty. Attached to my dust collector system, this machine leaves practically no dust. Don't know how I lived without it.

waste of money

Rating: 1 out of 5
Weight: 2.8 out of 10
Created: Jun 30, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I originally had the Delta Boss spindle sander that worked great with daily use for five years and purchased this one as an upgrade model. I would NEVER reccommend this to anyone- it is a poorly made piece of Chinese junk!!!!!! The spindle removal system using two contrived wrenches with little working space was clearly designed by somone who will never use the unit. The individual spindles are some of the poorest quality steel that I have ever seen- two of them bent out of balance within the first month of use; all of them rusted within two months of purchase for no reason. The threaded spindle port was not cut clean out of the box and never worked correctly from the start- it appeared crossthreaded and never tightened down fully. The unit did not come with the 3" spindle - it was an extra upgrade. The dust collection stinks- basically, there is none- a small hose port in the back with no sealed system. The half priced Delta unit works FAR better. I have a lot of nice tools and treat them all very gentle and delicately. This tool fell apart from very gentle use- I wasted almost $450 when it was all totaled and am close to throwing this in the garbage just to get rid of the frustration of having it around.

Indispensable tool you never knew you needed

Rating: 5 out of 5
Weight: 2.6 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
Have had this tool for about a year now, and would rather give up my routers than this (though I mostly work 'unplugged' anyway)
br /
br /If there is a fault at all, I'd say the tilt locking mechanism is a little flimsy - do check for true if you tap the front edge with your work. Having said that, I wouldn't swap it out for a fixed top model - too useful, and it may just be that I'm a little too oafish :)

sander

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 2.4 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
yes i do like this sander. works great for sanding things from 1/2" to a lot bigger that you could imagine. but don't buy a powermatic 66 like I did feb 07 and still haven't got it(Aug 07.) you will will be waiting forever with tons of excuses.
br /

Every bit

Rating: 4 out of 5
Weight: 1.1 out of 10
Created: Dec 25, 2008
Mark As: Useful, Not Useful
Thanks for your feedback
I have a RBI Hawk Scroll Saw and this sander is every bit a tool as the Saw. It is the perfect compliment for what I do. It is one of the very best if not the best.