Replies

1. 
   WillGeorge | Nov 07, 2009 07:08pm | #1

   I only have a Performax 10-20 with one drum. The dust form this little thing can clog a filter (big shop Vac) in about 10 minutes of work. I wonder what two drums would do! Shop Vacuum works OK with a large paper bag filter that collects most of the dust. At least for me... Once I found the paper bags, I never use my vacuum without one when using my drum sander. I LOVE my sander!

   Without vacuum the dust will collect on the infeed (in huge amounts) and ruin the stock. I know from experience.

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   Edited 11/7/2009 11:12 am by WillGeorge

   
   

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   Edited 11/7/2009 11:14 am by WillGeorge

2. 
   dgreen | Nov 07, 2009 10:05pm | #2

   I own this one and have been very happy with it. It does require a healthy dust collector, a shop vac would not be adequate.

    

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
   ~ Denis Diderot

1. 
   kreuzie | Nov 08, 2009 12:03am | #3

   I second Mr. Green on the Shop Fox 1678. I also own one and am very happy with it.

   It's a double drum, and does not oscillate, but when properly used gives excellent results. About the same price as the Jet.

   Personally, I feel that 1 3/4 HP is way underpowered for a sander that wide. The Shop Fox has a 5 HP motor, and you can bog it down if you try to remove too much stock in one pass. One turn of the crank = 1/32 in., and on wide stuff, I'll only remove 1/64" or less.

   Definitely use a dust collector with some oomph. I have a 3 HP, 220 volt which works very well from 30 feet away.

   kreuzie

3. 
   DougGF | Nov 08, 2009 03:08am | #4

   I have no experience with the unit you are considering but I did own a Performax 25" dual head sander.   You absolutely need a significant DC system.  As others have stated, a shop vac will not keep up with the machine.  In fact, I modified the hood on mine to house 2-4" dust ports.  These are big machines and unless you have a very large shop, rollers are a necessity.  I never encountered any problems with the rollers and since the feed is conveyor belt, there is very little force pushing against the machine unless you feed is really misaligned. 

   IMHO, anything under 3hp for a single-head drum sander is totally inadequate.  Mine was 5hp unit and I could bog it down when using it to dimension wood.

   A comment about the dual head: after the novelty wore off I found that I really only used one drum for most of the work.  I found that the calibration was not sufficiently "tuneable" to get the proper sanding results when using 2 different grits. 

   I sold the unit and where I doing it over again I would buy the oscillating model.  Rarely, if ever, was I able to sand with 220 and get a finished product.  The drum puts noticeable striations that must be taken out with RAS or scraper.  Except for working veneer, I have not regretted getting rid of mine.

   Doug

1. 
   zehutiman | Nov 12, 2009 03:35pm | #6

   I'm considering the Woodmaster 3875.  Does anyone have any experience with this machine?

   Mo

    

2. 
   zehutiman | Nov 12, 2009 03:38pm | #7

   "I sold the unit and where I doing it over again I would buy the oscillating model"

    

   Doug, what exactly does the oscillating model do?  Do the drum go up and down?

   Mo

1. 
   DougGF | Nov 12, 2009 07:00pm | #8

   The drums rotate and simultaneously move laterally side-to-side.  The next best thing to a stroke sander.

4. 
   fussy | Nov 08, 2009 12:27pm | #5

   Boss Hog,

   Hop into your Big white Cadillac drop-top and head to Kansas City, Mo. the home of Woodmaster Tools, Inc.  (http://www.woodmastertools.com).  Some of the best stuff on the planet in every test I've read.  The only drawback I can find is it's MADE IN AMERICA AND IS PRICED ATTRACTIVELY, IS TOUGH AS NAILS, AND SERVICE IS THEIR MISSION.  Did I mention it's made in AMERICA?

   Seriously, look them up and do yourself a favor.  And yes, they need SERIOUS dust collection.  They sell that too.

   Hope this helps.

   Steve

   There are two secrets to keeping one's wife happy.

   1.  Let her think she's having her own way.

   2.  Let her have her own way. President  Lyndon Baines Johnson

5. 
   katiedobe | Nov 22, 2009 05:12am | #9

   I have one of those American made machines, a single drum 36" unit and I love it. I too say go with a single drum unit over a double drum. Get as big as a machine as you can and good dust collection.

6. 
   fussy | Dec 20, 2009 04:29am | #10

   Boss Hogg,

   Try the Woodmaster-- http://www.woodmaster.com/sanders. Solidly built, reasonably priced, great performer, roll kits available. and they're MADE IN AMERICA! Check them out. I used a 25" planer/molder and hated to leave it. They're great. Staff and service good to.

   Merry Merry all.

   Steve

7. 
   Don01 | Dec 20, 2009 11:53am | #11

   Boss,

   I bought into the V-Drum idea a number of years ago stating with an 18" kit and 2 years ago bought a 30" Flatmaster.

   http://www.stockroomsupply.com/Flat_Master.php

   Pros: Small foot print, small HP requirements, very good dust control, doesn't bog down in glue, resin or paint, easy paper changes, 30" can handle more than one grit depending on width of work.

   Cons: manual feed. With long stock you have to watch your feed rate. to fast is not good.

   I loaded it up with 60 grit and used in to get a bunch of teak to near final thickness. Then I finished in the planer. Much easier on the planer blades.

   It is not for everyone but works well for me.

   Don