Skil 4.5 Amp Belt and Disc Combination Sander

Why this combo sander earns a spot on my bench

In a small shop, bench space is precious, and a single machine that covers a lot of sanding tasks has to justify its footprint. After several weeks of shaping edges, truing miters, knocking down mill marks, and easing corners, this Skil combo sander has proven to be a genuinely useful, compact workhorse—so long as you’re willing to do a little setup and understand its limits.

Setup and build quality

Out of the box, assembly was straightforward. The cast components feel solid for a benchtop machine in this price class, and the fit and finish are clean. I bolted the base to a 3/4-inch plywood platform so I could clamp the whole unit to various work surfaces as needed. If you plan to keep it stationary, the pre-drilled mounting holes make permanent installation easy; if you prefer mobility like I do, the plywood base keeps vibration down and the machine planted.

The belt angle adjustment moves from horizontal to vertical smoothly and locks down with minimal flex. The disc table tilts from 0 to 45 degrees; the mechanism is basic but holds its setting once tightened. The quick-tension lever for belt changes is one of the highlights—it genuinely speeds up abrasive swaps and belt tracking tweaks. My one immediate gripe: there’s no onboard storage for the included Allen wrench. I stuck a small magnetic strip on the side to keep it handy.

Power and performance

This sander runs a 4.5-amp induction motor rated at 3,600 RPM. It’s quieter and smoother than many small benchtop units that use universal motors, and it doesn’t have the harsh start-up kick. On the belt, I could flatten end grain on 3/4-inch maple and break edges on oak without the machine bogging down, as long as I used a light, steady touch. If you lean too hard, you can slow the belt and generate heat quickly (that’s true of most benchtop combinations), but the torque feels appropriate for hobby and light shop work.

On the disc side, the 6-inch diameter is great for smaller parts: squaring small miters, tuning box components, and refining curves. For larger furniture components, the diameter limits contact time, so the belt is generally more efficient. The motor handled extended sessions of light shaping without tripping a breaker or overheating; I gave it breaks during heavy stock removal, which is good practice with machines in this class.

Belt side: control and convenience

• Adjustment range: 0 to 90 degrees (horizontal to vertical)
• Tracking: Stable once set; necessary minor tweaks after aggressive use
• Belt changes: Fast with the quick-tension lever

With the belt horizontal, the platen is flat enough for cleanup and edge work; with the belt vertical, I like the control it offers for detail shaping and sanding to a line. The tracking control is responsive and holds well. Changing belts is genuinely a 60-second job, which encourages using the right grit for the task rather than trying to make one belt do everything.

One note: I measured a small amount of crown across the platen. It didn’t affect general woodworking tasks, but if you’re trying to sand to very tight tolerances, be aware and keep pressure light and consistent.

Disc side: quick shaping with a catch

• Disc size: 6 inches
• Table tilt: 0–45 degrees, locks firmly
• Abrasive attachment: PSA (pressure-sensitive adhesive)

The disc side excels at quick touch-ups, squaring ends, and refining curved profiles against the table and fence. The table tilt is easy to set with a protractor or digital gauge, and once locked, it didn’t drift.

My main annoyance here is the PSA adhesive discs. They work fine, but they’re slower to replace than hook-and-loop, and if you like swapping grits often, the peel-and-stick method is clumsy. I ended up sticking a conversion pad on the disc so I could use hook-and-loop paper. It’s a worthwhile upgrade that makes the disc side as convenient as the belt.

Accuracy and adjustments

Out of the box, I had to do some squaring. The disc table wasn’t perfectly perpendicular to the disc, and the belt fence needed attention. With a machinist square and a few shims, I was able to dial both in. Once tuned, they stayed true between sessions. The included miter gauge is usable for rough work but has a bit of play in the slot; it benefited from a strip of tape on the bar to remove slop. For precise miters or repeatable angles, I’d rely on a better aftermarket gauge or a dedicated jig.

The angle scales on both the belt and disc tables are best treated as rough references. If angular accuracy matters, use a square or digital angle gauge to set your tilts.

Dust collection

The single 2.5-inch dust port is a win. With a standard shop vac and a small separator, collection at the disc is quite good. The belt is more challenging (typical for open-ended designs), so some fine dust escapes. I made a simple cardboard-and-tape shroud that directs more airflow across the belt, which noticeably improved capture. Even with good suction, wear a mask for longer sessions; fine dust will still find a way into the air.

Noise and vibration

For a benchtop machine, the induction motor’s tone is surprisingly gentle. It’s not whisper-quiet, but I can work without ear protection for short tasks—though I still recommend hearing protection. Vibration is minimal when the unit is properly mounted. If you run it loose on a bench, it can wander under load; bolt it down or use a clamped base with rubber feet for best results.

Ergonomics and usability

Switch placement is convenient, and the main controls are intuitive. The belt angle and table tilt levers are reachable and secure well. The footprint is compact enough to share space with a small drill press and benchtop planer on a rolling cart, which matters in cramped shops. Small touches I’d love to see improved in the next iteration: onboard tool storage for hex keys and a slightly more robust miter gauge.

Consumables and maintenance

Belts are widely available in a range of grits, and the quick-tension lever encourages swapping for the task at hand. The PSA discs work, but I prefer a hook-and-loop conversion pad for faster changes and easier sourcing of abrasives. Keep the platen and tables clean, wax the surfaces to reduce friction, and vacuum the machine after each session to keep the bearings and motor shroud free of dust. Expect to occasionally recheck belt tracking and snug the table tilt locks—normal maintenance for this category.

Who it’s for

• Hobbyists and DIY woodworkers needing a compact, do-most-things sander
• Small shops looking for a quiet, reliable benchtop unit for light-to-moderate work
• Makers who value quick belt changes and flexible belt orientation

Who should look elsewhere: If you need production-level stock removal, ultra-precise miters right off the table, or larger disc capacity, step up to a heavier, more specialized machine. This sander is about versatility and convenience, not industrial throughput.

The bottom line

The Skil combo sander hits the sweet spot for versatility, footprint, and ease of use. The induction motor is quiet and sufficiently stout, the belt orientation options expand what you can do at a small bench, and the quick-tension lever makes grit changes painless. You’ll need to tune the tables and fence for square, and the PSA disc is a minor frustration until you add a hook-and-loop pad. Dust collection is decent with a proper vac, better with a simple belt shroud, and the machine behaves best when firmly mounted.

Recommendation: I recommend this sander for hobbyists and small-shop woodworkers who want an affordable, compact machine that covers both belt and disc tasks with minimal fuss. It offers solid performance for its class, and with an hour of setup and a couple of inexpensive tweaks (hook-and-loop conversion pad, magnetic wrench holder), it becomes a dependable everyday tool on the bench.