pbrIf you're looking for a good, general purpose sander, and you're considering spending a few hundred bucks on a combination belt/disc sander, consider this...pThis Jet edge sander will give you a much higher capacity and will perform all the tasks of the belt/disc sander plus give you new capabilities.pIt will surface-sand pieces up to 36" with full platen support underneath the piece (you don't have to move the piece to fully sand the entire surface). The end of this sander COULD eliminate any desire you have for an oscillating spindle sander, as well. The curved end of the belt enables shaping and smoothing of curved pieces.pAnd, of course, it's great on door edges.pDust collection is better than you'd expect, too.pI use this machine a whole lot more than I ever expected to, and it is one of the best tool purchases I've made.pGreat belt tracking, quick belt changes.pOne warning, though... It's topheavy, so be careful! You can't push against the platen without turning the machine over! It needs to be secured to a platform or either placed against a wall.pThe machine comes with an import motor, of course (a Mao Shan), but mine's been smooth and quiet, and never seems strained.pOverall, a great machine!

This is an excellent product, built with the quality that I have come to expect from Jet. The factory alignment was right on, in terms of right angles, and the tracking needed only minor adjustment, which is easily done. I especially like the end table, for sanding contours. Dust collection seems to work pretty well. The only defect is cosmetic; the paint is peeling from the cast iron table edges.

I bought this instead of a 6x48" with 12" disc combination sander, and a careful comparison of the Powermatic Model 80. And i really dislike the way the lower end Jet 6x48 with 9" disk is made.
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br /The fit and finish are good. Everything appears better than I anticipated for a sander in his price range. It's essentially a low end edge sander and there are features I wish were better and went in questioning them but I really wanted something this size and can't get something twice as expensive nor do I have room for much larger.
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br /Powermatics' Model 13 uses a cast iron platen, this uses laminated steel. It's very, very thick and graphite coated. I spoke with someone at Powermatic and asked "what's the advantage of the cast iron platten, since the prices of these 2 machines is the same." They said it doesn't really matter, there's no benefit.
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br /The way the table adjusts or moves up and down is rather Mickey Mouse but it's not terribly awkward as I originally feared it may be. It's not that bad at all.
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br /What is more bothersome to me is the fact that the table will only go so low robbing 1 1/2 inches of belt width when the sander is on the verticle. You have a 4 1/2 usable width which irks me. I don't think it would have been asking too much to atleast split the difference.
br /It's fine when you move the sander to horizontal. You now have a full 6" width but you have to use the supplied steel edge fence if a fence is needed if you go that route.
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br /Powermatic makes a new Model 80 edge sander that oscilates and the cast iron table moves vertical if you place the sander on its horizontal. The model 80 also has a tiltable table on the front. Features i really liked but the platen is held on by only 4 screws which are towards the middle and the platten appears thinner, features i don't like at all. This sander is also a compromise. This Jet does have a heavier platten and is held on by 8 screws, 4 along each edge from front to back and is very thick and machined flat.
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br /So faced with compromises I felt I needed a heavier platten vs. the moveability of model 80's tables. The Powermatic people also said they were compromises and neither stood out as a clear cut over the other. So far I'm pretty happy with this compromise.

I'm a big jet owner but am VERY disappointed in this sander. The table height adjustment is primitive. It takes holding it in place with two hands and tightening two knobs. Very, very poor design. And the table obscures over an inch of the belt, so this sander only has about 4 1/2 inches usable. Very poor.
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br /Table angle adjustment is very crude. A single toggle lever in a hard to access place. I don't tilt it much so it's not a big deal, but it is a poor design.
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br /I haven't tried/needed to adjust tracking yet but the adjustment looks like it is going to be a hassle, unlike my Delta drum/disk sander.
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br /This whole tool feels like one of Jet's first designs that never got improved. This is NOT the quality I expect from Jet. I'm sorry I bought it.
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First I'd like to comment on the packaging. I was pleasantly surprised how well they packaged this heavy item for shipping. Even though the carton was torn open at the corner from FEDEX, the styrofoam encased unit was not even scratched. While assembling the unit, I was extremely happy with the quality of the components. The unit runs smooth quiet. I also like the storage area below for spare belts etc.. My only criticism, and a minor one at that, would be a couple of steps in the assembly instructions that could be clearer. This is the second Jet Product in my shop. I also own the 3 hp. cabinet saw.