Delta B.O.S.S. Benchtop Oscillating Spindle

Delta B.O.S.S. Benchtop Oscillating Spindle

Anyone with an affinity for curved lines can appreciate the challenges it poses when it comes to preparing your woodworking project for finishing. When a piece comes off the bandsaw, they are not even close to being ready for finishing. At this point you have a few options, using a spokeshave, scraper, or a sander. The most common option is the sander. The best choice among sanders is the oscillating spindle sander.

Delta Boss Benchtop Spindle Sander

The Delta Benchtop Oscillating Spindle Sander (B.O.S.S) is exactly what it claims to be. It isn’t a large freestanding tool but fits nicely on a bench. Since space is limited in my shop (a unique problem among woodworkers I’m sure) I like to keep mine below my bench and take it out only when being used. I weighed mine with all the accessories at 47 pounds. I wouldn’t want it to be much heavier or moving it around the shop would be a little difficult. The height of the unit could be a little high for some if place on your bench, from the bottom of the feet to the cast iron top it measures 12 1/4 inches. The height works great for me but some may prefer it on a table height rather than bench height.

Spindle and Abrasive
The spindle oscillates while spinning, this action prevents the straight sanding marks that normal drum sander or belt sander can leave. The oscillation does reduce the effective usable height but that is not often a concern. The abrasives are rather tall at 4 1/2 inches. The abrasives are available in 3/4", 1", 1 1/2", 2" and 3". This covers a great deal of your curved sanding needs. I use the 3" most often because a gentle curve benefits from the largest possible diameter drum possible.

Top
The top is made of machined cast iron. The machining is relatively coarse compared with other power tools. The top is machined flat, I did not notice any issues with flatness.

Motor
The motor is a 1/4 horsepower induction motor. Not a workhorse but more than adequate for the job. If you bog down the motor you’re using too much pressure. I have used mine for a few years now and I have not had any issues with the motor.

Dust Port
The sander has a dust port like many other types of sanders. Like other sanders, it is to a large degree cosmetic. Sanding throws up a lot of dust (my evil nemesis) so I try to avoid dust as much as possible. The sanding port catches dust but not enough for me to be happy with the results. The cloth bag is also not exactly a HEPA filter either. I have found if you can power the sanding port with a shop vac or better yet a dust collector, you’ll reduce the dust to a very manageable level.

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