A GIANT SANDING TOOL FOR A SMALL COST!
(The Ryobi OSS500 Oscillating Spindle Sander)
Most of my boat-building friends know about Ryobi
and they sometimes buy Ryobi tools to use. I found a great Ryobi
tool that has been overlooked by many a boat builder. Yes it
is the OSS500 Oscillating Spindle Sander that is made to sand
quickly and without choking you with a dust cloud. It is a product
that goes head to head with other name brands and costs hundreds
of dollars less. There must be a catch, how can it be so inexpensive?
When I picked up my sander and got it home I had to have help
because the top of the sander is solid cast iron. Once it was
on the table I was using I found the sander was bigger than
I expected and it had compartments for all of its accessories.
I read the provided owners booklet for using it first, a step
that is often overlooked and serious results may be encountered
if not read. I urge everybody who buys a new tool to do the
same and accidents from misuse would go down in number. I read
it even though I was very anxious to get started. It is a must
read type of thing even if you have used similar tools this
one might have something that is different.
The OSS500 is built like a tank and has plenty of power for
sanding the toughest jobs. I started sanding some numbers I
made for my outside address. It seems that some of the freight
haulers bringing new tools to my house couldn’t find my
house number. So I made them so they were 12” tall and
had plenty of inside curves. You can see the numbers for a quarter
mile now. This sander took care of that project in short order.
It comes with seven spindle sizes from ½” to 3”
that give it a very wide range of sanding diameters to meet
your every need. The up and down action and spinning motion
give the highest amount of sand paper to your project without
causing burns. It has a 5/8” stroke that operates 58 times
per minute. The rpm is 2000 but I can assure you it is not too
fast but just right.
Along with the spindles you get six throat plates that keep
your project and fingers from getting dragged down below the
throat plate. Ryobi also provides three complete sanding tube
sets in three grits 50, 80 and 150 grit. They also give you
a wrench and a few different size washers. Everything you need
to start sanding those parts that have been so hard to do before.
With its large cast iron table you can support very large pieces
of wood.
Since making the letters I have found many new use for this
sander. The holes for port lights in plywood are easily sanded
this way if you need just a little extra room. My mast step
hole for my brick was short work with this sander. If only it
didn’t freeze at night I might get to glass it in. My
wife likes this sander also for her art project but I didn’t
say that! Pound for pound this is the best spindle sander for
the price. I have always wanted a spindle sander but never bought
one because they are so expensive, the Ryobi unit changed all
of that. This is not an industrial unit with a 20-amp motor
but it has more than enough power for even my shop. It is very
easy to use and install. It also has a great dust collection
port
At the same time I hooked the sander to my new
dust collection system so when I turn it on hardly any dust
is left on the table. What little is still there I turn the
machine off and leave the dust collector on so I can push the
remnants into the dust ports to finish the job. It does a wonderful
job removing material and depending on the grit you use can
leave a very nice finish. With all the other tools in my shop
I can see this one used more than most. I also did some price
comparisons with other brands and the Ryobi is the least expensive
but it is a very high quality tool. You must remember to use
the proper insert with the right spindle; otherwise this machine
could be very dangerous. We are all smarter than that just because
of the fact we build boats!
Sanding corners to even them out is now just a few minute job.
Radius sanding can become your friend and not a hated task like
it was before I received the OSS500.
The bottom line is that it is a cast iron decked
sander that costs hundreds of dollars less than other brands
and it has everything you need to start as soon as you read
the manual.
Go to the Ryobi site and look
at the great tool.
It can give you a great finish and make it happen much faster
with it. It also has everything right on the sander so you don’t
have to search for any parts. With a price tag of just $99.00
you get a lot of sanding power to help you finish your boat
perfectly in record time.
Take a few minutes to look at this great sander; you just might
see the great deal I saw. I am very glad I did this review because
now I know what I have been missing!
From my tool crib to yours,
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