The 1 Inch Belt Grinder Solution Featured

As I have mentioned I used the 1x30 Harbor Freight belt grinder for years. I could have just bought another one and financially it would be just fine. Instead I bought two other bench top belt grinders. A 1x30 from Wen and a slightly more powerful 1x42 from Buck Tools. ...

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My second-hand Delta 1x30 has been trouble free.

I suspect if I didn't use it every single day my original 1x30 Harbor Freight belt grinder would have lasted a lifetime.

I'm not a big fan of Delta. I spent a lot of money on a brand new 220V commercial 14" radial arm saw from Delta some years back, and now it sits outside. The power was okay. Adequate would be the best description. The automatic brake SCREAMED at all times under power. I had to remove it to use the saw, and now I have to jam a piece of wood into the blade to stop it from spinning for a crazy long time when powered down. I guess that means its got good bearings at least. The safety hardware was always in the way and would bind when trying to use it properly by pushing it out of the way with the work piece as you moved the blade. Delta Rockwell might have been good once up a time, but I'd buy a higher end cheap import before I'd buy another Delta power tool. When I've talked about this on other groups the consensus seems to be, with the exception of a few "well mine doesn't do that" fan boys," Delta is no longer a premium brand. Some take the extra effort to say, "and that's being polite."

Usually when I "need" a tool I don't have the luxury of perusing yard sales until I find a used one from back when the company used to be decent.

I would actually buy another HF 1x30 if I needed one today. I probably wouldn't buy another Wen. I'd definitely buy another Buck Tools 1x42.

Delta Rockwell might have been good once up a time, but I'd buy a higher end cheap import before I'd buy another Delta power tool. When I've talked about this on other groups the consensus seems to be, with the exception of a few "well mine doesn't do that" fan boys," Delta is no longer a premium brand. Some take the extra effort to say, "and that's being polite."... Bob La Londe

------------------ My stuff is mostly quite old so perhaps that is the case. I don't need it to make a living as you do and can afford to wait for bargains. When I was working I spent a lot of company money on high quality equipment I'd never have bought new for myself.

I try to get the best bang for my buck for the most part. That doesn't mean the cheapest solution, but it rarely means the state of the art latest and greatest either.

Most of the time getting the tool I can afford and getting the job done works out better than not getting the tool at all, because then I can do the job and get paid. Often that cheaper tool pays for a better tool. The old "buy once cry once" mantra is often a barrier to entry. I've got a lot of very decent quality tools, but they were almost always paid for with a cheaper tool. I get the idea of that, but its not a truism.

I try to get the best bang for my buck for the most part. That doesn't mean the cheapest solution, but it rarely means the state of the art latest and greatest either.

Most of the time getting the tool I can afford and getting the job done works out better than not getting the tool at all, because then I can do the job and get paid. Often that cheaper tool pays for a better tool. The old "buy once cry once" mantra is often a barrier to entry. I've got a lot of very decent quality tools, but they were almost always paid for with a cheaper tool. I get the idea of that, but its not a truism.