Seeking Advice on Thickness Sanders

Yes, the Performax and Jet sanders are identical. The big difference between these two is open ended vs closed design. The Jet allows for two pass sanding of panels up to 20” wide. The Grizzly has a max capacity of 12 inches. Either one would be a useful addition to the shop for small boxes. I just recently put a Performax 16-32 in the shop and am just getting the hang of using it. As far as thicknessing goes, these things are quite good at taking about 1/64” off in a pass with little hoopla. Any more than that and you run the risk of burning, binding, stalling…etc. I’m just debating on what abrasives to have around the shop. I thought about 120 and 150, but on another forum, I’m told that 80 and 120 are probably better because this unit is best at leveling, rather than finishing. I think ROS are better for the final grits anyway.

I hope that helps a bit.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

I have the Ryobi 16/32 and I’m pleased with it. I got it at a Ryobi outlet store many years ago. I don’t remember what I paid, but it was cheap.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I’ve got the Performax 16/32 and I really like it. Like Tom said, it’s much better for thicknessing than finish work. I’ve found that while you can “technically” do 32 inches, though it’s really not that good an idea. The overlap area after you flip it around generally requires additional work with a ROS to get a consistent surface. All in all, I like the Performax.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

Thanks for the advice. Does anyone have the grizzly mini?

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I have heard good things about the Grizzly. I am running on a Grizzly dual headed drum sander with a variable speed feedrate. I have had great luck with it. It is very accurate and I can sand veneer work with it. I think the key to this is that the drums are wrapped with velcro which allows it just enough give to not burn through the veneer. It does not make for a “spongey” or inaccurate drum.

I have taken a whole series of photos of this machine to blog.

I would lean toward the closed end machine. One thing I like about it is the feed belt is like the bigger machines and is very durable.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Blake, You might check in the Lumber Jocks store and see if you can help Martinwhile getting a really good deal. I too am looking to get one of these but can’t seem to afford the one I want; the Oliver double drum that osilates. So, other than that I have no advise for you. Good luck.

Jet and Performax are the same company

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Oscillation good!

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Thos.-I just looked up the sander you referred to, I want one!

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Me too, Todd. Maybe if I move to Billings we can go partners on one. It is something else.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Blake I have the Performax 16-32 and have nothing but good things to say about it. It will flatten a glued up panel and thickness a board – but that is not it’s strong suit as it, as Tom (Mot) said only takes about 1/64th off at a time. I think if I were only going to have the Performax 10-20 or the Grizzly to choose from, I go with the Performax.

I like Grizzly products, but I have heard that changing the sanding belts on the Grizzly can be a pain – the Performax is quite easy to change.

Mot, I think you make a good point on the best grit to have around. I’ve been using mostly 220 in mine – but I find that the finish is not sufficient – it tends to leave straight scratches that still have to be sanded out with the ROS. I think I may switch to 120, as you say – you still have to finish with the ROS and I think that the 120 grit will remove material a little quicker than the 220.

Thomas I refuse to look at the Oliver double drum – I don’t need more temptation, I’m a toolaholic and can’t stand the pressure :-))

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Blake, I have the Performax 10-20, which is the same as the Jet. The etiology of the naming is a function of time. Jet, Performax, Wilton and Powermatic were purchased by the WMH tool group. They decided to re-brand the Performax line as Jet (I believe this will be the name on the hood for the entire line eventually). So the one on Amazon is an effort to move the older machines off the shelf.

I experienced something similar on Amazon when I recently purchased a Fein Multimaster VS Detail Sander/Oscillating Saw/Scraper. I priced a local tool vendor and Amazon won the race, especially when tabulating sales tax against the cost of shipping, and in this case I chose expedited shipping with a bullet. The difference I found was that the Amazon machine utilized a wrench based tool changing system, versus a tool-less sprocket changing system. And the case was of an older metal style, unit had slightly less amperage draw (power). Still a worthy tool, but not exactly the apple to apple comparison (of the same model numbers) I thought I was making when I nosed out the pricing.

Everyone else has stated the thicknessing facts about the 10-20 machine. I consider mine indispensable, especially thicknessing figured wood, assemblies, in-lay strips, etc. Another option is the Luthier's Friend thickness “planer”. It is a drill press add-on that uses a Robo-sand drum sander (has a bottom bearing that operates like the bearing on a pattern routing bit) and a pivoting fence. This unit is height challenged, but for small parts and guitar nuts, saddles, inlays etc. a neat little tool. The design is patented, but an inventive sort might be a to gin up a version of their own with adaptations.

And BTW, the Jet 10-20 has a max 3.5˝ height and isn’t that great about leveling a open framed assembly like a box unless you are making an effort at keeping the outfeed piece firmly pressed down on the outfeed table, after the outfeed roller. The box will rise up as it exits and snipe occurs unless you are diligent. Planecraft works okay for the patient and the galoot-ish (or is the word Galootatory?).

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

I thought Doug had some really great comments on the units you are looking at. He is a tool maven for sure. Too bad you don’t have the budget for a bigger machine. It will change your life in the shop. My sander allow me to work highly figured wood that would nearly be impossible to even think about handling. The bigger closed end units are heavy enough to thickness wood with.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Blake, I have a lot of large table tops in my future so I saved and saved for the Performax 22×44 open end drum sander. Once you have the machine setup it runs like a dream. Great dust collections and very quite. The design on the 10-20 & 22-44 machines are the same.

-- GOD CREATED THE EARTH WITH TREES, GOD CREATED MAN WITH BRAINS TO MAKE A SAW. THE REST IS UP TO US. LETS MAKE SOME SAW DUST.

Blake,

I thought long and hard about a drum sander when I got mine…a Delta 18×36 open ended drum sander. I think that an open ended model is the way to go for a small(ish) shop. The ability to do a piece wider than the drum itself is a little bit over-rated 99% of the time. 99% of the time I don’t do anything wider than the drum…but when I do…holy cow is it handy. So I would stick with the Jet/Performax over the grizzly.

Take a look at your local craigslist. That’s how I got mine…it was brand new…I had to finish putting it together when I got it home…even though it was 5 years old. Got it for 60% off street price. Saves dough…saves the world from having to make another one….

-- Scott, Austin-Texas...

Stott, thanks for the advice. My financial situation has gotten a little tighter lately and I can’t afford either of these for now anyway. Which means that I have a perfect reason to keep searching craigslist in the mean time for a used one. I had been searching for a while for a used drum sander, but you hardly ever see them and I was getting impatient.

Thanks for the advice about the opened end models. Oh, and by the way, you don’t have to say much to convince me to Consider Buying Used Tools.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Blake.
I have a grizzly 16” dual drum sander which I purchased on ebay for $450. Since these are not “finishing” sanders. I don’t think having dual drums is worth the extra costs. I do not put paper on the second drum. Mine does not have velcro for attaching the paper so changing the paper is somewhat of a challange to do by yourself. Grizzly does make a conversion kit but I already have a substantial amound of snadpaper si it does not pay at this time to convert. For the price, it was a great deal. Keep looking on ebay and craigslist.

I have the Ryobi 16-32 same as Karson. Had it for many years. Still running strong. I am considering getiing another so I can have two. I it will most likely be the Performax 10-20 from Amazon. Mostly because of the free shipping and the availability of abrasives.

-- ..... art for lifes sake

I bought the performax drum sander that was made several years ago as an addon to a radial arm saw. It bolts to the vertical tube and is powered by the saw motor with a pully replacing the saw blade. It works fine once I made a drive unit to smoothly pass the project wood under the drum. The drive motor is a DC motor that came off a motorized wheel chair. Being cheap and not in too much of a hurry helps.

-- Abe Low, Fine furniture, Sacramento, CA

Thanks for all the advice, folks.

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