wally247 Report post Posted February 21, 2013 I'm asking because I'm thinking about purchasing one and wondering if I could put a rheostat on it to slow it down. From what I've read you can rheostat a brushed motor but not a brushless. Or would I be smarter to just deal with higher speeds and not worry about burning up the motor? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billymac814 Report post Posted February 21, 2013 I have a similar oscillating spindle sander and they don't soon that fast, I think you'd be fine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
evandailey Report post Posted February 21, 2013 I'm asking because I'm thinking about purchasing one and wondering if I could put a rheostat on it to slow it down. From what I've read you can rheostat a brushed motor but not a brushless. Or would I be smarter to just deal with higher speeds and not worry about burning up the motor? I don't know about the motor, but I have this same sander and see no reason why it would ever need to be slowed down for leather work. It's the best deal going for a spindle sander in my opinion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wally247 Report post Posted February 21, 2013 I was just looking at the specs and this model turns way more RPM's than a "real" leather tool would. (which is way out my budget.) By slowing it down you would be able to use finer grain sandpaper. I'm really just brainstorming like you said I might not need to do anything. Just looking for cheaper ways to accomplish things since I'm a younger guy just starting out in this whole leather adventure. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billymac814 Report post Posted February 21, 2013 Where can you get a real leather sander? I think the closest thing would be a shoe finisher and they spin quite fast. What is the RPM showing in the specs? I wouldn't think its much more than 2000rpms or so. I used a belt sander for a long time, I much preferred it over the spindle sander and it was cheaper too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billymac814 Report post Posted February 21, 2013 I just checked mine and its 2000 rpms. I used 80 grit and could probably have went finer although I never needed to. The sander I'm currently using is 1750rpms and its a little on the slow side really, I may at some point change the pulley to speed it up just a bit. Here's a link to my current setup. It could be built for about the same money as a spindle sander and it burnishes the edges too so it kills two things at once. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=46027&view=&hl=&fromsearch=1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wally247 Report post Posted February 21, 2013 Well I guess I was worrying about nothing, thanks guys! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lwm803 Report post Posted February 22, 2013 I have used my Ridgid oscillating belt/spindle sander on wood for several years and recently on leather also. I have not felt the need to alter its speed for either material. It has been a very useful bit of equipment for me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
electrathon Report post Posted February 22, 2013 I have not been into one, but would comment that it is highly unlikely that it is a brushed motor. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
