Replies

1. 
   GRW | Oct 04, 2007 03:24am | #1

   Woodman,

   I have the Performax 22-44. I've had it for only about 6 months.  It works pretty well after you climb the learning curve.  It's not a production tool. I use it about 2 hrs a week. I has saved me about 50% off my sanding time.  I didn't buy the base that Performax makes. I was told that none of the wheels swivel. So you can only move it in a straight line.

1. 
   Woodman880 | Oct 04, 2007 06:31am | #3

   I appreciate your input. I’m loosing the excitement I felt about getting a drum sander. I can do my own finish sanding. I really just wanted the drum sander to level out glued boards but I’m getting the feeling these at home machines really are not made for what I want them to do, at least not without a lot of constant, time consuming, fine tuning. I just found a cabinet maker who will run my glued boards through his $20,000 machine for $20 plus a dollar a minute, which I think is reasonable since it is almost impossible to level out a large table top. The only negative is I have to drive 40 miles (round trip) to his shop.

1. 
   RickL | Oct 04, 2007 03:32pm | #4

   It sounds like you should do a bit more prep for your glue ups. Using curved cauls I get perfect registration and only have to sand off planer marks. There are no board leveling  issues. I typically face joint and finish plane right to my finished dimension.  I can glue up 4' x 8' panels single handed in one shot.

   Most folks don't realize that the platen on a widebelty sander is a major option which allows you to go right to finishing. A widebelt without the platen is a glorified drum sander which still needs hand sanding to get the panel ready.  If one has enough space and a limited budget the stroke sander is the way to go for finish sanding panels and doors.

2. 
   woodhacker | Oct 04, 2007 04:04am | #2

   I've got the Performax 16-32 and am generally pleased with it. As others have mentioned, it's not suited for stock removal. You can make a board thinner by going to a coarse paper (like 36 grit or some such), but you'll then spend the rest of the evening with progressively finer grits getting rid of the scratch marks. I've also found that it tends to roller-coaster the surface at times.
   You'll also want to watch that the sanding belt is kept absolutely tight, because if it loosens up even a little the wraps will ride up on each other, then you'll get burned residue on the ridges and the belt is shot. And the sanding belts are far from cheap!

3. 
   bones | Oct 04, 2007 06:56pm | #5

   I have the delta 18/36 x5 and it does a fine job. These tools sure do make life easier.  I looked (long) at the x5 and the Performax 16/32.  Final tipping point in the x5 favor was a couple of things.  One, I preferrede the fixed head frame over the adjustable one of the performax. I read several reviews that mentioned the fiddling required to keep the performax on level. One reviewer had even modified the unit by placing some lock nuts in places to lock it in place and that helped.  I looked at both units side by side at woodcraft and that feature (fixed arm) along with cast base for the feed belt and Delta had a sale going on and a 5 year warantee, tipped it in the delta column.  If you can wait a bit, woodcraft has delta days 10% off delta tools in the fall approaching christmas.  Delta occasionally puts extra discounts on the x5 line as well.  I've used mine a lot and love it.  I hope you don't think it will be a thickness planer, cause even with the 80 grit paper it takes a long time to remove stock.  I get my panels or stock parts close with the planer and then finish with the sander.  One other note,  dust collection is a must! This thing will put a huge amount of dust out!

   Anyway there is my two cents worth. 

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
   
1. 
   Woodman880 | Oct 04, 2007 08:01pm | #6

   To a degree I was looking for a thickness planner. I’m talking about 1/4 inch here and there. Thanks for your thoughts. I’m in no hurry and I’ll look at the Delta.

1. 
   bones | Oct 04, 2007 09:00pm | #8

   "To a degree I was looking for a thickness planner. I’m talking about 1/4 inch here and there. Thanks for your thoughts. I’m in no hurry and I’ll look at the Delta."

   To take a even an 1/8" off, will take a ton of time and numerous passes! It will do it, but very inefficiently! (very).  To even take of  a 1/16Th takes a few passes.  No big deal if have the time, and you will use some sand paper!  The two tools are different! It does a great job of taking glue ups down, and making panels nice and flat (within reason).  The planner will take woood down in a hurry.  Hope this helps. 

    

    

    Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

1. 
   Woodman880 | Oct 04, 2007 10:08pm | #9

   My mind is far from being made up when it comes to buying a drum sander. I’ve read numerous comments about the machines on the net and right now the negative is winning about 3 to 1. I have to come one conclusion. Many of us hobbyist have dreams of building the big stuff with our small, beginners type equipment, and although it is possible to do so, it is a major pain. My advice is - if you can only afford the small equipment, stick to small projects. Or perhaps I should say, if you only have small equipment, stick with the ugly girls.

1. 
   bones | Oct 04, 2007 11:29pm | #10

   I think they are wonderful, but as a combination machine, no.   They serve a specific purpose.  I'll give you an example.  Before I had the sander, and just a thickness planer, I would glue up panels in pieces (12 or smaller), and then plane and get the panels flat then join then repeat. Time consuming and a pain, but it could be done.  Now I can just plane the pieces to the general thickness glue up and not be to concerned.  I am limited to a 35"in wide I like an inch over lap, to sand down.  When I'm done, those puppies are nice. I throw on the 220 belt, and its ready to finish.  Attached is a picture of a project I made this past fall for my niece as a wedding present.  The cedar chest top, and the cedar/oak base were run through the sander. If I had not had that sander, I would have had to take much more care in glueup and milling to minimize sanding (by hand) and or planing.  Since I had it.  I just glued it up and ran it through the sander rotated it around and sent it back through and it was flat and perfect. Now keep in mind my, this was numerous passes and 3 grits 120,180, and final 220.  It finished like a dream.  If I could only have one, the planner would be the winner, but I do love the sander!

    Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

   
4. 
   frenchy | Oct 04, 2007 08:52pm | #7

   Woodman80,

     I bought a Grizzly 18 inch open end sander to do my really wide boards and stuff that's too big to fit in my 20 inch wide planner..

    It works but slowly. That is, don't attempt  to remove what a planner will in a single pass. 

     What I really like about it is it's snipe free and consistant.. I've run about 5000 bd.ft. thru mine thus far and it works as advertized. 

5. 
   frenchy | Oct 05, 2007 12:02am | #11

   Woodman880

     Please do not seriously consider a delta planner. I had two of them and the happiest two days were when I sold one and gave the other away..

    I don't like to bad mouth a persons choice of equipment  but I'll make an exception in the case of Delta. 

       If you want a small bench top planner the best I've heard about seems to be Mikita.. . although the Grizzly at only $239.00 seems to be getting some decent remarks..

      

1. 
   bones | Oct 05, 2007 12:19am | #12

   I have the makita 2012 and it has served me well for many many years without a problem.  I like the dual sided blades.  Pop them in, use when dull flip them around and, and then throw them away and put new ones in.  They fit on posts that require no alignments with the magnetic holders that comes with the planer (at least the old model had that). A change takes 10 minutes most. The last set I bought was $32.00. Heck, you cant  find a good shapener for that price for dual sided.  I would not mind having one of the bigh 20" Grizz's, but until the makita dies, can't justify, and besides it sits under my bench and helps hold it down (hehe). Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

6. 
   colebearanimals | Oct 05, 2007 12:56am | #13

   Hi Woodman,

                 I have a Grizzly double drum sander that works well. Changing paper is a real pain, though. If I were to do it again I would spend a little more ( or a lot more ) and get a wide belt sander.

                 But, for an entry level machine it's worth it. It is a bit finicky, though.

                                                                    Paul

1. 
   Woodman880 | Oct 05, 2007 03:37am | #14

   I appreciate your words and from what you have said, I’ll have to put another check mark in the negative category for drum sanders. Very few people have had nothing but good things to say about their drum sanders.