Drum sander opinions

I agree with Mikes comments about eliminating snipe. I've gone one step
further by adjusting both the infeed/outfeed tables up slightly as I did on
the planer and it works. On mine, skewing the work slightly (even a bit) is
often the best solution when I'm running a lot of pieces thru.

Bob S.

"Mike G" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi Mike
>
> An ideal situation for the wide belt sander.
>
> I occasionally get some snipe with both my planer and belt sander but only
> if I get careless.
>
> After a lot of experimenting I am of the opinion that snipe on the stock
at
> the beginning is not caused, as I first thought, by the shift in position
as
> the outfeed roller starts to press down on the stock. A contributing
factor
> yes, but I believe the primary cause is a momentary hesitation of the
> feeding stock caused by the front edge hitting the outfeed pressure roller
> and for a split second halting the feed.
>
> I can eliminate snipe entirely by supporting the stock at both ends as it
is
> about to transition between the two rollers and keeping some forward
> pressure on the stock until the leading edge is past the outfeed roller.
I
> found that trying to eliminate snipe by just supporting the stock as the
> leading edge , especially with the sander, went under the outfeed roller
was
> a hit or miss thing that cleared up if I just made sure the stock kept
> moving smoothly along until it was under both rollers. .
>
> Good luck.
> --
> Mike G.
> [email protected]
> Heirloom Woods
> www.heirloom-woods.net
> "Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:ck%[email protected]...
> > Mike G wrote:
> > > I've got the Delta 18/36 and it works well and I've got no reason to
> suspect
> > > the performax doesn't also perform well.
> > >
> > > However, what you may want to do is seriously consider your
> requirements.
> > > They are a great tool if you do a lot of panels but they do produce a
> > > tremendous amount of dust and do require some setting up. I do do a
lot
> of
> > > panels and find it a useful tool but it isn't the kind of tool I brush
> the
> > > dust off of for every little job or individual board that needs
milling.
> > > There is a good chance that, unless you do do a lot of wide panels and
> after
> > > the novelty wears off you'll be reaching for you random orbit sander
> more
> > > then the wide belt sander.
> > >
> > > A good dust collection system is a must. The job can be done with shop
> vac
> > > set up if you have one of those clean stream gortex filters and don't
> mind
> > > stopping every ten minutes or so to shake it out. All in all though, a
> > > regular bag system would best. Even at that the bags will have to be,
at
> the
> > > least, shaken out after every use to maintain any decent level of
> > > efficiency.
> > >
> > > Then again, a new tool is a new tool. and if there isn't something of
> > > comparable price that you really need, it is a nifty shop toy.
> > >
> > > Good luck.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > Mike,
> > Thanks for the reply.
> >
> > I plan on taking guitar sides/backs down to their final thickness (after
> > resawing and surface planing) so I doubt I'll be hogging much material.
> > My primary intrest in getting a drum sander is the tendency of having my
> > 12 inch planer destroy my carefully made sides when they get a bit thin
> > :-). I'd read about their dust production but that shouldn't be a
> > problem either. Since my shop is in my basement I invested in an Oneida
> > system a few years back.
> >
> > My big concern is the size of the unit. I've got precious little room
> > in my shop and didn't want to loose too much space. Thus my intrest in
> > the smaller sander.
> >
> > Do you still experience snipe using this machine? Even using every
> > trick I've read about I'll still get a bit of snipe when using my
planer.
> >
> > Thanks again,
> >
> > Mike
> >
>
>

Bob S. wrote:
> Think you mean the 16/32 is what I have - good machine. A Google search
> should result in many threads about this product.
>
> Bob S.
>
> "Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Greetings,
>>
>>Anybody have any thoughts on the available drum sanders? I'm
>>considering getting one and have been thinking about the Performax 10-20
>>(if I can find it). Does anybody have one of these? Your opinions
>>would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>How about the Jet/Delta alternatives?
>>
>>Thanks and merry Christmas,
>>
>>Mike
>>
>
>
>
Bob,
Thanks for the response.
Performax has a new 'bench-top' model out... the 10-20 (Ref:
http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/Performax/Tools/1020Plus.html ). It's
fairly new and Google does have some hits but I always like to query the
folks here too. :-)
Mike

Bob S. wrote:
> I agree with Mikes comments about eliminating snipe. I've gone one step
> further by adjusting both the infeed/outfeed tables up slightly as I did on
> the planer and it works. On mine, skewing the work slightly (even a bit) is
> often the best solution when I'm running a lot of pieces thru.
>
> Bob S.
>
> "Mike G" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Hi Mike
>>
>>An ideal situation for the wide belt sander.
>>
>>I occasionally get some snipe with both my planer and belt sander but only
>>if I get careless.
>>
>>After a lot of experimenting I am of the opinion that snipe on the stock
>
> at
>
>>the beginning is not caused, as I first thought, by the shift in position
>
> as
>
>>the outfeed roller starts to press down on the stock. A contributing
>
> factor
>
>>yes, but I believe the primary cause is a momentary hesitation of the
>>feeding stock caused by the front edge hitting the outfeed pressure roller
>>and for a split second halting the feed.
>>
>>I can eliminate snipe entirely by supporting the stock at both ends as it
>
> is
>
>>about to transition between the two rollers and keeping some forward
>>pressure on the stock until the leading edge is past the outfeed roller.
>
> I
>
>>found that trying to eliminate snipe by just supporting the stock as the
>>leading edge , especially with the sander, went under the outfeed roller
>
> was
>
>>a hit or miss thing that cleared up if I just made sure the stock kept
>>moving smoothly along until it was under both rollers. .
>>
>>Good luck.
>>--
>>Mike G.
>>[email protected]
>>Heirloom Woods
>>www.heirloom-woods.net
>>"Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:ck%[email protected]...
>>
>>>Mike G wrote:
>>>
>>>>I've got the Delta 18/36 and it works well and I've got no reason to
>>
>>suspect
>>
>>>>the performax doesn't also perform well.
>>>>
>>>>However, what you may want to do is seriously consider your
>>
>>requirements.
>>
>>>>They are a great tool if you do a lot of panels but they do produce a
>>>>tremendous amount of dust and do require some setting up. I do do a
>
> lot
>
>>of
>>
>>>>panels and find it a useful tool but it isn't the kind of tool I brush
>>
>>the
>>
>>>>dust off of for every little job or individual board that needs
>
> milling.
>
>>>>There is a good chance that, unless you do do a lot of wide panels and
>>
>>after
>>
>>>>the novelty wears off you'll be reaching for you random orbit sander
>>
>>more
>>
>>>>then the wide belt sander.
>>>>
>>>>A good dust collection system is a must. The job can be done with shop
>>
>>vac
>>
>>>>set up if you have one of those clean stream gortex filters and don't
>>
>>mind
>>
>>>>stopping every ten minutes or so to shake it out. All in all though, a
>>>>regular bag system would best. Even at that the bags will have to be,
>
> at
>
>>the
>>
>>>>least, shaken out after every use to maintain any decent level of
>>>>efficiency.
>>>>
>>>>Then again, a new tool is a new tool. and if there isn't something of
>>>>comparable price that you really need, it is a nifty shop toy.
>>>>
>>>>Good luck.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>Mike,
>>>Thanks for the reply.
>>>
>>>I plan on taking guitar sides/backs down to their final thickness (after
>>>resawing and surface planing) so I doubt I'll be hogging much material.
>>>My primary intrest in getting a drum sander is the tendency of having my
>>>12 inch planer destroy my carefully made sides when they get a bit thin
>>>:-). I'd read about their dust production but that shouldn't be a
>>>problem either. Since my shop is in my basement I invested in an Oneida
>>>system a few years back.
>>>
>>>My big concern is the size of the unit. I've got precious little room
>>>in my shop and didn't want to loose too much space. Thus my intrest in
>>>the smaller sander.
>>>
>>>Do you still experience snipe using this machine? Even using every
>>>trick I've read about I'll still get a bit of snipe when using my
>
> planer.
>
>>>Thanks again,
>>>
>>>Mike
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Mike/Bob,

Thanks for the tips guys. Have a very merry holiday season,

Regards,
Mike

I have a Delta 18-36. It works okay, but I am not really happy with it. It
has a tendency to easily burn wide panels (12+ inches) with finer grits
(150+) no matter how slow I run the feed and no matter how thin of a bite I
take. Friends with the Performax 16-32 don't seem to have this problem.

Bob

"Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Greetings,
>
> Anybody have any thoughts on the available drum sanders? I'm
> considering getting one and have been thinking about the Performax 10-20
> (if I can find it). Does anybody have one of these? Your opinions
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> How about the Jet/Delta alternatives?
>
> Thanks and merry Christmas,
>
> Mike
>

Hi Mike

An ideal situation for the wide belt sander.

I occasionally get some snipe with both my planer and belt sander but only
if I get careless.

After a lot of experimenting I am of the opinion that snipe on the stock at
the beginning is not caused, as I first thought, by the shift in position as
the outfeed roller starts to press down on the stock. A contributing factor
yes, but I believe the primary cause is a momentary hesitation of the
feeding stock caused by the front edge hitting the outfeed pressure roller
and for a split second halting the feed.

I can eliminate snipe entirely by supporting the stock at both ends as it is
about to transition between the two rollers and keeping some forward
pressure on the stock until the leading edge is past the outfeed roller. I
found that trying to eliminate snipe by just supporting the stock as the
leading edge , especially with the sander, went under the outfeed roller was
a hit or miss thing that cleared up if I just made sure the stock kept
moving smoothly along until it was under both rollers. .

Good luck.
--
Mike G.
[email protected]
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:ck%[email protected]...
> Mike G wrote:
> > I've got the Delta 18/36 and it works well and I've got no reason to
suspect
> > the performax doesn't also perform well.
> >
> > However, what you may want to do is seriously consider your
requirements.
> > They are a great tool if you do a lot of panels but they do produce a
> > tremendous amount of dust and do require some setting up. I do do a lot
of
> > panels and find it a useful tool but it isn't the kind of tool I brush
the
> > dust off of for every little job or individual board that needs milling.
> > There is a good chance that, unless you do do a lot of wide panels and
after
> > the novelty wears off you'll be reaching for you random orbit sander
more
> > then the wide belt sander.
> >
> > A good dust collection system is a must. The job can be done with shop
vac
> > set up if you have one of those clean stream gortex filters and don't
mind
> > stopping every ten minutes or so to shake it out. All in all though, a
> > regular bag system would best. Even at that the bags will have to be, at
the
> > least, shaken out after every use to maintain any decent level of
> > efficiency.
> >
> > Then again, a new tool is a new tool. and if there isn't something of
> > comparable price that you really need, it is a nifty shop toy.
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> >
> >
> Mike,
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> I plan on taking guitar sides/backs down to their final thickness (after
> resawing and surface planing) so I doubt I'll be hogging much material.
> My primary intrest in getting a drum sander is the tendency of having my
> 12 inch planer destroy my carefully made sides when they get a bit thin
> :-). I'd read about their dust production but that shouldn't be a
> problem either. Since my shop is in my basement I invested in an Oneida
> system a few years back.
>
> My big concern is the size of the unit. I've got precious little room
> in my shop and didn't want to loose too much space. Thus my intrest in
> the smaller sander.
>
> Do you still experience snipe using this machine? Even using every
> trick I've read about I'll still get a bit of snipe when using my planer.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Mike
>

Think you mean the 16/32 is what I have - good machine. A Google search
should result in many threads about this product.

Bob S.

"Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Greetings,
>
> Anybody have any thoughts on the available drum sanders? I'm
> considering getting one and have been thinking about the Performax 10-20
> (if I can find it). Does anybody have one of these? Your opinions
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> How about the Jet/Delta alternatives?
>
> Thanks and merry Christmas,
>
> Mike
>

Mike,

I have the Performax16-32 Plus and am very happy with it, found it on ebay,
new in box, and paid less than 700 with shipping. Manufacturer's warranty
included and honored when I had to have one small part replaced due to minor
shipping damage, replacement was prompt and WMH Tool Group (MFR Rep) very
responsive.

Enjoy,
Drew

"Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Greetings,
>
> Anybody have any thoughts on the available drum sanders? I'm
> considering getting one and have been thinking about the Performax 10-20
> (if I can find it). Does anybody have one of these? Your opinions
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> How about the Jet/Delta alternatives?
>
> Thanks and merry Christmas,
>
> Mike
>

Mike G wrote:
> I've got the Delta 18/36 and it works well and I've got no reason to suspect
> the performax doesn't also perform well.
>
> However, what you may want to do is seriously consider your requirements.
> They are a great tool if you do a lot of panels but they do produce a
> tremendous amount of dust and do require some setting up. I do do a lot of
> panels and find it a useful tool but it isn't the kind of tool I brush the
> dust off of for every little job or individual board that needs milling.
> There is a good chance that, unless you do do a lot of wide panels and after
> the novelty wears off you'll be reaching for you random orbit sander more
> then the wide belt sander.
>
> A good dust collection system is a must. The job can be done with shop vac
> set up if you have one of those clean stream gortex filters and don't mind
> stopping every ten minutes or so to shake it out. All in all though, a
> regular bag system would best. Even at that the bags will have to be, at the
> least, shaken out after every use to maintain any decent level of
> efficiency.
>
> Then again, a new tool is a new tool. and if there isn't something of
> comparable price that you really need, it is a nifty shop toy.
>
> Good luck.
>
>
>
Mike,
Thanks for the reply.

I plan on taking guitar sides/backs down to their final thickness (after
resawing and surface planing) so I doubt I'll be hogging much material.
My primary intrest in getting a drum sander is the tendency of having my
12 inch planer destroy my carefully made sides when they get a bit thin
:-). I'd read about their dust production but that shouldn't be a
problem either. Since my shop is in my basement I invested in an Oneida
system a few years back.

My big concern is the size of the unit. I've got precious little room
in my shop and didn't want to loose too much space. Thus my intrest in
the smaller sander.

Do you still experience snipe using this machine? Even using every
trick I've read about I'll still get a bit of snipe when using my planer.

Thanks again,

Mike

Mike,

Yes and use the same tricks as you do on a planer (skew the board, slightly
lift the ends, run a scrap in first, etc.). Just keep in mind that this is
for sanding to one grade of grit below what your finishing schedule is and
make the final sanding by hand or ROS, etc. You certainly can do finish
sanding with it depending on the piece - I just prefer doing the final
sanding to get rid of the straight-line striations the drum sander leaves.

Bob S.

>
> Bob,
>
> Do you still need to contend with snipe using these machines?
>
> Mike
>

Well I'll be dipped - a mini ! Didn't know they made a smaller one but if
it's anywhere near the quality of it's bigger brethren, it should be fine.

Thanks,

Bob S.

"Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Bob S. wrote:
> > Think you mean the 16/32 is what I have - good machine. A Google search
> > should result in many threads about this product.
> >
> > Bob S.
> >
> > "Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> >>Greetings,
> >>
> >>Anybody have any thoughts on the available drum sanders? I'm
> >>considering getting one and have been thinking about the Performax 10-20
> >>(if I can find it). Does anybody have one of these? Your opinions
> >>would be greatly appreciated.
> >>
> >>How about the Jet/Delta alternatives?
> >>
> >>Thanks and merry Christmas,
> >>
> >>Mike
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> Bob,
> Thanks for the response.
> Performax has a new 'bench-top' model out... the 10-20 (Ref:
> http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/Performax/Tools/1020Plus.html ). It's
> fairly new and Google does have some hits but I always like to query the
> folks here too. :-)
> Mike
>

> >
> >
> Bob,
> Thanks for the response.
> Performax has a new 'bench-top' model out... the 10-20 (Ref:
> http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/Performax/Tools/1020Plus.html ). It's
> fairly new and Google does have some hits but I always like to query the
> folks here too. :-)
> Mike

How would a drum sander work for some minor thicknessing? Say rough
4/4 stock down the 3/4" or the occassional drop to 1/2" or so?

Alan

Bob S. wrote:
> Well I'll be dipped - a mini ! Didn't know they made a smaller one but if
> it's anywhere near the quality of it's bigger brethren, it should be fine.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob S.
>
> "Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Bob S. wrote:
>>
>>>Think you mean the 16/32 is what I have - good machine. A Google search
>>>should result in many threads about this product.
>>>
>>>Bob S.
>>>
>>>"Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>>
>>>>Greetings,
>>>>
>>>>Anybody have any thoughts on the available drum sanders? I'm
>>>>considering getting one and have been thinking about the Performax 10-20
>>>>(if I can find it). Does anybody have one of these? Your opinions
>>>>would be greatly appreciated.
>>>>
>>>>How about the Jet/Delta alternatives?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks and merry Christmas,
>>>>
>>>>Mike
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>Bob,
>>Thanks for the response.
>>Performax has a new 'bench-top' model out... the 10-20 (Ref:
>>http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/Performax/Tools/1020Plus.html ). It's
>>fairly new and Google does have some hits but I always like to query the
>>folks here too. :-)
>>Mike
>>
>
>
>

Bob,

Do you still need to contend with snipe using these machines?

Mike

Alan,

That is the reason I got my sander. Planing squirrelly grain resulted in a
lot of tearout even using all the tricks. So, I start out with 60 grit to
get it down close then move up to 80 or 100 and finish with 150. If you're
taking it down to 1/2" or thinner, then try to resaw the boards first or
waste away the bulk on the jointer and planer first leaving enough so any
tearout doesn't ruin the face side of the stock.

Bob S.

"Alan W" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > >
> > Bob,
> > Thanks for the response.
> > Performax has a new 'bench-top' model out... the 10-20 (Ref:
> > http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/Performax/Tools/1020Plus.html ). It's
> > fairly new and Google does have some hits but I always like to query the
> > folks here too. :-)
> > Mike
>
> How would a drum sander work for some minor thicknessing? Say rough
> 4/4 stock down the 3/4" or the occassional drop to 1/2" or so?
>
> Alan

Very very slowly. They are great for the final 1/8" or 1/16" but they are
more a finishing tool then a thickness tool.

--
Mike G.
[email protected]
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Alan W" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > >
> > Bob,
> > Thanks for the response.
> > Performax has a new 'bench-top' model out... the 10-20 (Ref:
> > http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/Performax/Tools/1020Plus.html ). It's
> > fairly new and Google does have some hits but I always like to query the
> > folks here too. :-)
> > Mike
>
> How would a drum sander work for some minor thicknessing? Say rough
> 4/4 stock down the 3/4" or the occassional drop to 1/2" or so?
>
> Alan

bob wrote:
> I have a Delta 18-36. It works okay, but I am not really happy with it. It
> has a tendency to easily burn wide panels (12+ inches) with finer grits
> (150+) no matter how slow I run the feed and no matter how thin of a bite I
> take. Friends with the Performax 16-32 don't seem to have this problem.
>
> Bob
>
> "Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Greetings,
>>
>>Anybody have any thoughts on the available drum sanders? I'm
>>considering getting one and have been thinking about the Performax 10-20
>>(if I can find it). Does anybody have one of these? Your opinions
>>would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>How about the Jet/Delta alternatives?
>>
>>Thanks and merry Christmas,
>>
>>Mike
>>
>
>
>

Bob,
Thanks for the input. I'd have to agree that I'm leaning towards
Performax at this point too.
Mike

I've got the Delta 18/36 and it works well and I've got no reason to suspect
the performax doesn't also perform well.

However, what you may want to do is seriously consider your requirements.
They are a great tool if you do a lot of panels but they do produce a
tremendous amount of dust and do require some setting up. I do do a lot of
panels and find it a useful tool but it isn't the kind of tool I brush the
dust off of for every little job or individual board that needs milling.
There is a good chance that, unless you do do a lot of wide panels and after
the novelty wears off you'll be reaching for you random orbit sander more
then the wide belt sander.

A good dust collection system is a must. The job can be done with shop vac
set up if you have one of those clean stream gortex filters and don't mind
stopping every ten minutes or so to shake it out. All in all though, a
regular bag system would best. Even at that the bags will have to be, at the
least, shaken out after every use to maintain any decent level of
efficiency.

Then again, a new tool is a new tool. and if there isn't something of
comparable price that you really need, it is a nifty shop toy.

Good luck.



--
Mike G.
[email protected]
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Mike Howland" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Greetings,
>
> Anybody have any thoughts on the available drum sanders? I'm
> considering getting one and have been thinking about the Performax 10-20
> (if I can find it). Does anybody have one of these? Your opinions
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> How about the Jet/Delta alternatives?
>
> Thanks and merry Christmas,
>
> Mike
>