I own a PowerMax Supermax 25" single drum sander, which is one really well built machine. I purchased it before Powermax was consumed by Jet and then was spit back out as Supermax. I have been researching my alternatives to a wider unit. Back in college (20+ years ago) I had access to a 24" wide belt sander. When it worked it worked great, but when it broke down, it wasn't easy to repair. I am unsure if it was just the model (State college, lowest bidder) or if that is the case for all wide belt sanders. Does anyone have current experience with both types and if so, could you share the good, the bad, and the ugly on each type of wide sander? Thanks in advance for your consideration of this subject.
Certain types of machines: edgebanders and wide belt sanders
especially, which are used hard in industrial shops, get dumped
onto the second-hand market when they become problematic
to maintain. If you do invest in a wide belt take into consideration
parts support and dealer reputation. Restoring old table saws
and jointers is one thing, but wide belts and edgebanders is
quite another.
If you have the room for a wide belt but not the budget, a
used stroke sander is another option.
The wide belt sanders are almost always going to require 3 phase power, due to the large motors they operate on. They work very well, but at the price they bring, they should.
I have a Woodmaster 38" drum sander and am very happy with it. Made in the USA and a very substantial machine. Works on single phase and they're always on sale.
Thanks for all of the insights. I have tried to look at the major vendors for their version of a wide belt sander. Since I own a 25" PowerMax drum sander and am pleased with it's build / performance, I also looked at what Supermax had to offer and kicked myself for not buying the bigger unit originally. The footprints look about the same for similar capacity machines, but the headroom clearance required is significantly different as is the power supply. The Performax would be simpler to mobilize in my shop. The wide belt sanders appear to be fairly robust and therefore stationary by necessity. I was looking in the 37"+ wide sander range. I did like the looks of the Speedsander.
Where are you located? I just saw a 38'' WoodMaster on Woodnet that's 2 years old for $1600.00. Location stated as WV. I have the same sander and am very happy with mine. Good luck in your decision.
It's been a couple of years since you posted this, but I just bought a Powermax ShopPro 25 as part of a batch of equipment that had been bought by a retired fellow - and then never set up, plugged in or even used.
This is (other than dust and dirt) in brand new condition, and I'm curious as to your history with it.
I have nothing but excellent service from my PowerMax Sander. I have enjoyed tremendous customer service from the manufacturer, even after any type of warranty period was over with. I only wish more of my tools were built and operated as well as this sander.
I just bought the SuperMax ShopPro 25 and am having trouble getting the dust hood attached correctly. The manual does not cover the proper procedure for doing this. When the hinge is attached to the outside of both parts, the parts hit and the top won't close. When the hood is attached with the hinge inside the hood, it nearly (but not quite) closes. But that doesn't seem like the correct procedure. Does anyone know what the correct orientation is? And is there a workaround to the difficulty getting it to close? Should I leave the screws loose, for example?
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