Comments on Delta 18/36 Drum Sander

I’ve worked in commercial shops, factories and custom shops since 73. I would get a stroke sander! I’ve used widebelts, stroke sanders and all kinds of sanders and in metal working as well. By far the stroke sander is the most versatile and affordable tool you could ever own. Drum sanders are at the bottom of my list. Sandfleas are even lower on the list…negative numbers!

-- Few folks really know how to maximize the potential of their tools!

Rick,

Be cautious about dual drum sanders. Setting the second drum properly is tedious, and the offset between the two drums changes with each grit change. Essentially, the first drum removes some thickness from the panel, and the second drum has to account for that removal if it is to contact the panel face properly.

Watch the used marketplace. Woodmaster makes a great 50” drum sander that is about $3,000.00 new, so you can likely find it in your budget if you are careful. The hook and loop method of holding the paper allows for quick changing, and since MOST of your sanding will be less than 25” wide, you can actually run 2 grits on the same drum and switch between sides of the sander. When you need wider, just swap out the paper on the drum.

RW

-- Fast, Fair, Superior Sanding Supplies

I have the same sander, Delta…
It was a step ahead of nothing.
Now I am looking for a drum sander with capabilities of over 20 inches but under 36.
Space is important and so is having enough HP to clean up my lumber.

Something will show up eventually. Until then the delta will have to do.

-- Safety first because someone needs you.

That’s interesting. I have a Jet and I have never had the problems you described. The only time I get a little burning is with highly figured maple, but a second pass through without changing the height removes any burn marks. I seldom have to clean the sanding belt and have never experienced a conveyor stall. I thought all drum sanders were pretty much the same, but I guess not.

-- I don't make mistakes, only design changes....www.dgmwoodworks.com

Stroke sanders have their place but for sanding wide, glued up cabinet door panels a drum or wide belt sander is needed. These panels MUST be completely flat and uniform before they’re millled on the shaper. There’s really no way a stroke sander can economically do that IMHO.

I’ve looked at and wondered about the Woodmaster line. It is the hoop and loop sandpaper idea that I didn’t like. Seems like the sandpaper would eventually bunch up on the “downwind” end of the drum. Maybe others can comment on this. Their machines look good quality. Great idea about the different grits on a single drum.

Rick

I bought a delta as my first sander the first piece I tried to sand stoped the conver belt. I looked underneath an found it had a 1/4 rubber belt that drove the sander thats when I loaded it back on my truck and returned it.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/