[tobnpr]

Buy the HF Belt Sander. Fifty bucks or so with the coupon. They work...while I might get "dissed" for actually using one in a commercial capacity, all they do is turn a sanding belt, and as long as the table is square to the belt, that's all it need do.

Mine runs every day, for nearly a year now, and hasn't burned up.

Get a recoil pad jig (I use Miles Gilbert). Fit the pad professionally with the jig, then put the jig up for sale on Ebay if you think you need to. They're cheap enough, but you'll be able to re-sell it for a few bucks less than you paid.