I Need a Replacement for My Craftsman In-Line/Orbital Sander

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Skeezix

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In 1976 I bought a Craftsman 1/2 HP in-line sander from Sears for $50. It used sandpaper that was around 4 inches wide and 6 inches long. The paper wrapped up and over the front edge of the sander's pad and also along the back edge, and a clamp at each end held the paper in place. A lever would change the pad's action from in-line to an orbital path. I can't remember how many walls and 2x6's I sanded with it but it was a lot.

After 40 years of home-owner use my sander went belly-up. I looked for a replacement but couldn't find one so I bought a pad sander to replace it. That was in 2016. The pad sander just isn't working out well. Where can I find a replacement inline sander?
 
Having owned both, I would not recommend an inline sander.

Buy a random orbit sander that has a vacuum port to hook up to your shop-vac.
 
I just saw this thread & apologize for a reply so long after your initial post, Skeezix.

If it's not too late, I've owned several Third Sheet sanders that can be set to in-line or to orbital. I got frustrated with the machines dying or falling apart. (The longest lived was a Craftsman from 1975.) I decided to buy the cheapest I could find and consider it a "Throw Away". I bought a WEN Model 20 from 1967,

It is the very best of the bunch. I bought it a few years ago used on eBay for $14.00 including postage. (They show up on Bonanza once in a while, too.)


I absolutely can't find fault with it and use it very, very often. Once I sanded a 12 foot by 12 foot oak floor with it. The tool never complained. It is a far superior tool than the other brand new, spiffy ones I've purchased over many years. Perhaps one of those may be of interest to you.

Note that the WEN name has been sold by the family to another company. I understand the new WEN tools are a good value, but I only own one. It's a sacrifice sharpener that I use to touch up machine tool lathe bits & a drill once in a while. It was quite inexpensive, but works fine.

I've had a couple of 1/4 sheet pad sanders. They're very slow to cut when compared to third sheet and third sheet can give a finer finish in Straight mode.

Paul
 

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