More drum sander questions.

brianlanning wrote:
> I asked some questions in another thread earlier today, but I was a
> late arriver to the thread. So I'm posting them again (with more
> questions) so that more people may see them. I hope this doesn't start
> a holy war. :-)
>
> What is the advantage to having dual drums? Is it worth the extra
> expense and setup time?

Two drums is less sanding time. I just bought a dual drum, haven't had
a chance
to use it yet (I need to rearrange my shop to fit it in).
The second drum has it's own height adjust relative to the first drum.
So you could
put 60 grit on both drums to start if you want, then you could do
80/120 after you were done
with the 60.

> So on a thickness sander, what is the finest grit sandpaper you use?

I've used up to 150 .. I think they sell 220 girt (and maybe even
finer). To me, it's not worth it to sand down to the real fine grits.

>
> How critical is a variable speed belt?

It's very nice.. If you start to feed in a piece and you feel you've
taken too big of a "bite", it's nice to be able to slow the drum down.
It's also nice to be able to speed the belt up on narrow pieces.

>
> Flat drum with spring clips or velcro?

Never used Velcro. The clips work great and can be changed fast.

>
> At what point is the machine too big for a typical home shop dust
> collector (say 1200 cfm)?

The one I just got says 1200 is the minimum.. that's the cfm I have
also, and I might have to upgrade. Mine has two DC ports on it. For a
point of reference, the one I just got is the Performax 37" wide. (got
a deal on a used one).

>
> Should the drum spin in the direction of board movement or against it?

Against it. If it spun with it, wouldn't it tend to want to fling the
board forward? Although I am not 100% positive, as I never paid
attention.

"brianlanning" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I asked some questions in another thread earlier today, but I was a
> late arriver to the thread. So I'm posting them again (with more
> questions) so that more people may see them. I hope this doesn't start
> a holy war. :-)
>
> What is the advantage to having dual drums? Is it worth the extra
> expense and setup time?
(SNIP)

For me no. If you have large quantities of the same material to sand it may
be practical but too much trouble to wrap and adjust the second drum for
small batches. I have completely disconnected the back drum on my old
Kuster by installing a shorter belt that only goes from the motor pulley to
the front drum. The belt now makes contact around 180 degrees of both
pulleys and belt slippage even with heavy cuts is eliminated.
Earl Creel

"brianlanning" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I asked some questions in another thread earlier today, but I was a
> late arriver to the thread. So I'm posting them again (with more
> questions) so that more people may see them. I hope this doesn't start
> a holy war. :-)
>
> What is the advantage to having dual drums? Is it worth the extra
> expense and setup time?

I am not for sure on this but if you put a finer grit on the follower drum
you make half as many passes and finish in half the time.

>
> Do you put the same grit on both drums, or different grits?

See above.

>
> What would you say is the difference between a finish sander and a
> thickness sander? Could one machine be both or are they mutually
> exclusive?

A finish sander can be used in the same direction as the grain. A thickness
sander cannot always be used in the same direction as the grain
particularily when sanding rails and stile panels.

>
> So on a thickness sander, what is the finest grit sandpaper you use?

I have seen 220.

> How critical is a variable speed belt?

With out it you may stall the drum.

> Flat drum with spring clips or velcro?

I would be leary of Velcro. IMHO the cushy backing may deliver inconsistant
results.