Roland Johnson takes a look at drum sanders to see how they sand, thickness stock, and mill out cups. He looked at cantilevered and closed frame models, and included units from Delta, Grizzly, Performax, RB Industries, Ryobi, and Woodmaster. The charts he compiled include the machines’ maximum stock width and minimum length, conveyor speed, drum motor size, weight, and price. He includes information on how to set sanding depth, change abrasive strips, and adjust drum alignment for wide stock. This article details each model’s strengths and weaknesses.

From Fine Woodworking #145

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Festool Cleantec CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor

The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.

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Ridgid EB4424 Oscillating Spindle/Belt Sander

With five spindles sized from 1/2 in. to 2 in. and a 4 X 24-in. belt, this sander has become a staple in many a shop Fine Woodworking visits.

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Craftsman Random Orbit Sander

While this sander is among the least expensive models in the test, its performance ranks among the best. The stock removal was excellent, and dust collection was solid when used with a vacuum. It handles really smoothly, too, and has a tall body that fit my hand nicely whether I was holding it from above or around the waist.

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