All Replies on Drum Sanders

Jet 16-32 – love it. Bought it new.
Bought a 10-20 Jet used… gave it away. Too hard to change paper and I think someone abused it.

-- Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

I did a ton of research on this from industrial to cheapo sanders, and the best I fond is the Rigid osolating drum/belt sander. This is a $150 sander thats worth ten times that much. I have had it for three years now. I have used it heavily everyday in my professional shop and its still going strong. The change from belt to drum and back are fast! Like @ 20 seconds to switch. The dust collection is great! It uses the same belt as my regular belt sander. When this one finally does give up the ghost I’m going to run out and buy the exact same one no questions asked! Buy this sander!

-- Rogue

Rogue,
Thats good to know but I was referring to the Performax by Jet or other brands. I really need a drumb sander for my next tool purchase.

The other thing that made this the choice for me is that I found a WOOD magazine from 15 years ago and there was a drum sander artical in there. The same model of rigid was in the test. This told me that is been around a long time so it prooven.

-- Rogue

I have a 16/32 Ryobi WDS1600. Don’t even make them anymore i believe. Looks just like the Jet and Performax. Love it. Only thing i did was replace the conveyor belt. Put one from a Performax on it because it was like sandpaper where the Ryobi was smooth.

-- Chris Ward

Due to the high cost of them, i am working on building my own. However, I would LOVE to get my hands on a Performax 16/32 or Ryobi WDS1600. Just make sure you are collecting all that dust that is produced!

Rogue, I believe the OP is talking about wide drum sanders, I believe you are talking about the Ridgid EB4424, which is an oscillating edge belt / spindle sander. Not the same thing…

-- Manufacturer of fine quality sawdust since 1984. Comments and advice on my shop welcome. Check it out at http://lumberjocks.com/dbhost/workshop. Gladly accepting shop build donations!

Going to love this. When i ordered the Ryobi it came with one of the legs broken. Think it’s case aluminum.
Anyway i called Woodcraft where i ordered it from and they sent me a new one and said to leave the old one by the garage. Well the UPS came and didn’t pick up the old one. Called Woodcraft and they said they send someone out. Never did. So i hung on to the broken one for a year. Then i had someone weld the leg back together. Just like new. Sold it since it was never used for about $50 under new cost. So basically i got a Drum sander for about 50 bucks.

-- Chris Ward

Wow thats an awsome story. What a stroke of luck. Sounds like the deal of the century.

I have a delta 18 by 36. Bought it used on craigslist for 400.00. It had hardly been used. One of the best things i got

-- Joe, Ga

Jet 16-32 on sale at Woodcraft currently for $799.

-- Optimists are usually disappointed. Pessimists are either right or pleasantly surprised. I tend to be a disappointed pessimist.

I have the smallest one grizzy sells I think. Called “Baby drum sander” it is 12” wide and suits me fine. Needs dust collection for sure. Uses a LOT of power. (occasionaly pops a 20 amp breaker.) Changing sandpaper is a snap. It is a thickness sander and I use it to sand off my inlays also.

-- In God We Trust

Scott, I have the Performax 16/32 and love it. If I could afford a 22/44 that would be my druthers though. It’s one of the earlier ones (circa mid ‘90s). Jet bought them out and everything is sold under the Jet name now. Same Same…....I bought mine used for about $400 and it had extension tables, SEVERAL EXTRA boxes of paper and several feet of harwood thrown in (GREAT DEAL). Come on over and try mine out so you can get a hands on look and try. If you like, then just keep a watch on craigslist and one will pop up sooner or later, be patient. Can’t comment on the Ryobi as I have never touched one. If their drum sander is anything like their other tools it might be worth looking at. My concern would be replacement parts in the years to come. Jet and Performax parts are VERY available. Just something to think about. You have my number, call me. Oh yeah, the dust thing. A dust collector is a must. You might want to move the dust collector to the otherside of the garage from where it’s at now though to minimize dust going into the house.

Jim

-- Jim Roberts, Port Orchard Washington

Live4ever thanks for the heads up on the price reduction. I’ll be ordering mine today!

-- www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

Thanks Jim, Ill do that. I was drooling over the 22/44 but that might have to wait a while for the tool fund to get a lot bigger.

I don’t know if the new 16/32s include the Tuf-Tool. If not, get one. WC carries them, makes changing the paper a breeze.

-- The Wood Nerd -- http://www.workshopaholic.net

I have a PerformX 16/32. I’m not overly happy with it. The open end has never been level with the closed end. I’ve tried to adjust it many many times. No Cigar. If I had it to do over I would buy the Delta. The drum section doesn’t move the table moves. I feel that this makes the drum section more rigid with less flex. The drum is belt driven and this eliminates a heavy motor attached to the drum section. The moving table moves on 4 threaded rods similar to a surface planer. Much more stable. If I ever get the opportunity to swap my 16/32 for a Delta without it costing a fortune I’ll do it.

To “The WoodNerd” – The “Tuf-Tool” helps, but it’s not a solution. Why in the heck didn’t PerformX put the tension paper attachment on the outboard side were you could get to it

Pop

-- One who works with his hands is a laborer, his hands & head A craftsman, his hands, head & heart a artist

Lots of threads about drum sanders, if you get bored ;-)

Got my Performax 16-32, used, nearby.

It came with a (not yet installed) Accura polypropylene conveyor belt—BIG improvement from the OEM.

It’s got a motor and lots of things that turn/move, so … check ALL of those things for smooth operation, and near-zero play.

It needs a flat drum surface, or you’ll never get a smooth result. Take OFF the abrasive, and take a GOOD straight edge. Hold the straight edge up to the drum, and slowly turn the drum. If you see light behind the straight edge, then … the drum is suspect.

Bigger … is pretty much always better. Buy once, cry once ;-)

You’ll need a decent dust collection system. A drum sander WILL create LOTS of fines—the stuff that’s really, really bad for you.

I still see used drum sanders on CraigsList quite often. Keep your eye out, and start to learn what market pricing really is.

And …. be as patient as you can. Wait for your pitch !

-- -- Neil

Scott, Beener pointed out something I hadn’t thought of and that’s the surface of the drum. Good hit Beener, I’ll have to check mine out…..He also pointed out the sanding fines, that’s why I suggested you moving the dust collector to the oposite side of the garage from where it is now.

Jim

-- Jim Roberts, Port Orchard Washington

Pop – Check out my article on aligning the 16/32, it works perfectly for me.

As for the Tuf-Tool, I disagree that it makes it easier. It makes it easy, period. And I think that no matter which holder ended up inboard it would be hard to reach.

-- The Wood Nerd -- http://www.workshopaholic.net