midtnwoodworker Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Would you go with this for $500? https://nashville.craigslist.org/tls/5685193384.html It's 15 mins from my house is mainly why it's being considered. Everything is typically an hour away at least. Pros-Dual Drum, Fully supported drum Cons-Non-variable feed rate, used, grizzly Or just get a supermax? Almost ready to pull the trigger on the supermax, but then this pops up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 10 minutes ago, midtnwoodworker said: supermax I and many others are happy with this purchase. Put your cape on, and get the supermax! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtnwoodworker Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 I'm almost there. I just need somebody to stop by and tell me how much of a bear turd the grizzly is I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Drum sander is not a tool to go cheap on. I have the predecessor to the Supermax and I'm considering upgrading to it. There is a learning curve to running a drum sander. The finer the grit the less you turn the handle on each pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Most of my equipment is Grizzly but I've never cared for their drum sanders. I'd go Supermax before I bought a Grizzly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 wdwerker speaks true. There are certain tools where there really isn't any such thing as an "OK" one. They either do their job correctly or they are pretty worthless. Like a jointer that won't flatten boards or a bandsaw that won't cut straight, I put a wide belt or drum sander in this category. I'll assume you are sure you want a drum sander. Some folks get them thinking their sanding days are over. This is no more true for a power sander than it is for a power planer in my shop. Don't get me wrong, my Supermax saves me plenty of time to qualify for its enormous footprint and I wouldn't want to give it up. As for a used sander; at a third of the cost it can seem like a dream but, could also be a nightmare if it doesn't work well or cannot be made to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Yep agreed. I can't endorse buying Grizzly anymore at any price. Too many problems, constantly. The Supermax will cost you 3X more but it will work beautifully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtnwoodworker Posted July 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Yeah I have used a supermax and an old jet before. I just haven't had one personally in my shop. I know that they in no way replace hand sanding. The cost and being able to pick it up today is what was driving my decision. Thanks for leaving me with no doubts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Supermax hall da whey ! Sent from my SM-N910W8 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted July 21, 2016 Report Share Posted July 21, 2016 Supermax and don't look back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted July 22, 2016 Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 Yes buy me a Supermax and don't look back... wait, no, I phrased that wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
difalkner Posted July 22, 2016 Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 SuperMax 19-38 here with DRO - an amazing machine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 22, 2016 Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 DRO ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted July 22, 2016 Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 8 hours ago, wdwerker said: DRO ? Digital Read Out. Although I am a fan of these and have them on my planer and tablesaw I found that on the router table and the drum sander they were of little actual use to me. Probably depends on how you use them and what you do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted July 22, 2016 Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 Not having sandsmart and variable speed would be deal breakers for me on a DS. You are going to burn so much paper and projects while you become educated on speeds and grits. I would buy the grizzly if i was tight on cash, making cutting boards for sale, and knew i was only going to have it a year or so before selling it for the purchase price and upgrading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
difalkner Posted July 22, 2016 Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 9 hours ago, wdwerker said: DRO ? Yes, digital read out - sorry, I was in a hurry. I find the DRO to be indispensable. My machine is well setup and calibrated and I find the DRO to be very accurate. The main thing I do is guitar woods - backs, sides, tops - and if I want a top to be 0.095", for instance, then I can dial it in and know that's what I'll get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted July 22, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 22, 2016 DRO - pfff. Relative dimensioning for the win. Seriously, in all my years woodworking, I've never encountered a moment where a set of calipers or a simple test fit didn't suffice. And honestly I would never trust those DROs for critical stuff, not when thousandths of an inch matter anyway. Sneak up on that bad boy and save the money for another toy. That's poetry. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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