Drum Sander


midtnwoodworker

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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.

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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.

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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

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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. 

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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.

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