What a great tutorial on drum sanders. I am sad to see that you probably aren't in the UA-cam game anymore, but thank you so much for leaving your content up for all to learn from!
Finally! A really useful video on drum sander basics and tips. I’ve been amazed at how poor so many offerings have been, but this one is great. Thanks!
I wish I had seen your video when I first started using my 19/32 SuperMax. Needless to say I bought some wrong grits which I need to return and I struggled with burning my vertical grain cutting boards until I figured most everything out. Your video is absolutely the best and most complete one I've seen on drum sanders. What a terrific job!
I just purchased a Jet 16-42 drum sander and though many of your tips are included in the operating instructions you did have a lot of other points and good ideas that were very helpful and which I will keep in mind when I start using it. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
I have a bungee cord and two eye screws in the ceiling. One end of the bungee cord is permanently hooked on one of the eye screws. I then lift the DC hose and put the bungee cord under it and then hook the loose end of the bungee cord to the other eye screw. That keeps the DC hose up and out of the way for me. I like your idea even better tho.
Fantastic! I'm in the market for a drum sander because I love working with highly figured wood. You have the best information for what to look for and expect from a drum sander. You present well too. I'm sick of "basically" and "pretty much" from other videos. Thanks!
I purchased the original Performax 16-32 and it never stayed in horizontal alignment to the table. The vertical height adjustment screw had way too much lash and was unpredictable. Sanding small boards was about all it was good for. Longer boards or wider stock created too much heat on the drum and would ruin a nearly completed board. This tool was so frustrating I wound up selling it. Your tips are all very good and your comments on the grits should be heeded. 120 grit was impossible for me.
A plastic stick sandpaper cleaner is essential for any power sander. I use it with every pass. Otherwise the belt clogs up and burns. Why does nobody ever mention this. It prolongs belt life a hundredfold.
Thank you for the information. I have a woodmaster planer/sander/molder combo and I'll be needing paper soon for it. I'll check Industrial Abrasives out. :)
Great video! I really like your thoughtful reviews. Any tips for dealing with that pesky clip that holds the paper in? Hard to keep paper taut and get it clipped in...at least for me! Thanks again!
Yeah clipping that roll in is a pain. Wish they made the wrap start near the column and end on the far side since there's more room there. Could even have a hole and pin so you could lock out the drum to keep it from turning while doing the change. So it's not just you!
I definitely do, but I can also see how reasonably flat boards could be planed with 40 grit and worked up. The drum sander, though, is particularly good for woods really prone to tear-out. I have a helical head on the planer, but even then, some boards will still get 'micro tear-out' that the sander fixes nicely.
Thanks for all this information. getting ready to buy the Jet 10-20. Wish I could afford and have room for the 16-32. QUESTION I will have occasion when I need to work with a board wider then 10". Any advice on doing this? I am concerned about having a seam that will compromise the surface for glue. I make segments bowls, if there is any inconsistency is the surface my layers will not glue properly.
Do you have any insight into a problem I am having with play in the height adjust handle? The threaded shaft goes into the cast piece. No adjustments I can see. I have jet looking into it. The play is a bit more than a half turn.
hmm, can't think of a reason. Like a plane depth adjuster, only advance it (in this case lower it). If you go backward, you get all the backlash of the threads. Also, is it possible the drum-to-body attachment point is loose? Once it has the pressure of stock underneath it, maybe it deflects up that much? Bit of a reach I know.
Wow, can’t thank you enough for this excellent video on drums sanders. I’m looking into buying a drum- sander, your vid was very helpful. Question, if you could only have a planner or a drum sander, which one would you purchase. Cost of the unit is not the question, which one is most most versatile is my concern. Again, thanks for en excellent video. From Missouri
Jack Dotzman without question, I’d get a planer. These days it is easy to get one with a spiral head that works well with highly figured woods. Once planed, you can always sand on your own. Do recall that a drum sander is linear so you’ll get sanding lines that still need to be sanded out with a ROS.
I've now watched view videos on this sander and so far they all have been just running small pieces through can you run a slab of wood through thats larger say 2"x18" x 48"???
Heard of Random Orbit Sanders. What's a Random Drum Sander? :) Remote controls often use infrared LED's to transmit their message. So they actually will be more likely to work with line of sight for the IR light to get to the machine.
I disagree that a drum sander won't give you a snipe occasionally.. Short thickpieces can be prone to getting a divot at the trailing end. Still, less likely than on a planer.
Yes! haha! but with more circus and less "vlogger". That said, though, Angle Madness is safe in a corner. I refuse to work on it further off camera so videos for that will come back when it comes up in queue.
Oupss ... You speak veryvery much and for very long secance...Only, at the end video, some little tests/ short demonstrations on the machine ( and whithout visualy controled..?) Of course it's realy interesting only for "anglosaxon or fully comprehensive people !"´For the others (strangers...) it's approx about to "nothing"!...
What a great tutorial on drum sanders. I am sad to see that you probably aren't in the UA-cam game anymore, but thank you so much for leaving your content up for all to learn from!
Finally! A really useful video on drum sander basics and tips. I’ve been amazed at how poor so many offerings have been, but this one is great. Thanks!
These tips are nuggets of gold to me. Thank you for reducing the learning curve.
Excellent, corrected many of the problems I was having. This is the first video that was really helpful. Thank you
One of my favorite tips is at around 12:00 -- that back and foreth skewing to finish a grit is very smart!
I wish I had seen your video when I first started using my 19/32 SuperMax. Needless to say I bought some wrong grits which I need to return and I struggled with burning my vertical grain cutting boards until I figured most everything out. Your video is absolutely the best and most complete one I've seen on drum sanders. What a terrific job!
I just purchased a Jet 16-42 drum sander and though many of your tips are included in the operating instructions you did have a lot of other points and good ideas that were very helpful and which I will keep in mind when I start using it. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Glad it helped, Mike!
Just diving into using my Jet drum sander, VERY helpful video tutorial covering all your tips! Thanks for making this!
I have a bungee cord and two eye screws in the ceiling. One end of the bungee cord is permanently hooked on one of the eye screws. I then lift the DC hose and put the bungee cord under it and then hook the loose end of the bungee cord to the other eye screw. That keeps the DC hose up and out of the way for me. I like your idea even better tho.
Fantastic! I'm in the market for a drum sander because I love working with highly figured wood. You have the best information for what to look for and expect from a drum sander. You present well too. I'm sick of "basically" and "pretty much" from other videos. Thanks!
Excellent class. Although a bit rough on the neighbor
This was actually a very informative video. I know it's a few years old but well done for sure.
Great tips! Been thinking seriously about this sander because it has an adjustment for wide panels so they stay flat. Hhope to see more from you.
Hi Paul. Great tips, thank you. I just broke the belt drive and hoped you would show the install, but saw it in the Jet review. Again thanks
Having just got a drum sander this video has good info. Thanks
Hey Paul, love your videos! Please keep making some more, pls!
just bought my first drum sander and this was so so informative! Thank you!
Awesome video. I noticed you are not posting on UA-cam? I do miss your excellent videos.
Great deal of knowledge in just 1 video. Thanks for taking the time to share.
Thanks! I just bought the same unit w/ SandSmart on CL for $350. Appreciate the tutorial.
I purchased the original Performax 16-32 and it never stayed in horizontal alignment to the table. The vertical height adjustment screw had way too much lash and was unpredictable. Sanding small boards was about all it was good for. Longer boards or wider stock created too much heat on the drum and would ruin a nearly completed board. This tool was so frustrating I wound up selling it. Your tips are all very good and your comments on the grits should be heeded. 120 grit was impossible for me.
Great review! Thanks for the tips. Very helpful.
Yes, super helpful!
If the paper is from Supermax then the backing of the paper is cloth and you can soak those rolls in mineral spirits to clean it.
Michael Ford ooh excellent idea, thanks!
A plastic stick sandpaper cleaner is essential for any power sander. I use it with every pass. Otherwise the belt clogs up and burns. Why does nobody ever mention this. It prolongs belt life a hundredfold.
Good information
Great video
Thank you for the information. I have a woodmaster planer/sander/molder combo and I'll be needing paper soon for it. I'll check Industrial Abrasives out. :)
Great video! I really like your thoughtful reviews. Any tips for dealing with that pesky clip that holds the paper in? Hard to keep paper taut and get it clipped in...at least for me! Thanks again!
Yeah clipping that roll in is a pain. Wish they made the wrap start near the column and end on the far side since there's more room there. Could even have a hole and pin so you could lock out the drum to keep it from turning while doing the change. So it's not just you!
Duct tape a repair on your sand paper mistakes / underside . & The tips to prevent them from wearing off .
Do you use a Planner much. Think a drum sand can be used in place of a Planner if you take your time. And its sanded ready for finish sand and stain.
I definitely do, but I can also see how reasonably flat boards could be planed with 40 grit and worked up. The drum sander, though, is particularly good for woods really prone to tear-out. I have a helical head on the planer, but even then, some boards will still get 'micro tear-out' that the sander fixes nicely.
Great video thanks for passing on all your tips.
Very well done!
Paul I am getting a lot of snip from the sander. any recommendations?
Thanks for all this information. getting ready to buy the Jet 10-20. Wish I could afford and have room for the 16-32. QUESTION I will have occasion when I need to work with a board wider then 10". Any advice on doing this? I am concerned about having a seam that will compromise the surface for glue. I make segments bowls, if there is any inconsistency is the surface my layers will not glue properly.
Do you have any insight into a problem I am having with play in the height adjust handle? The threaded shaft goes into the cast piece. No adjustments I can see. I have jet looking into it. The play is a bit more than a half turn.
hmm, can't think of a reason. Like a plane depth adjuster, only advance it (in this case lower it). If you go backward, you get all the backlash of the threads. Also, is it possible the drum-to-body attachment point is loose? Once it has the pressure of stock underneath it, maybe it deflects up that much? Bit of a reach I know.
Actually, I have had material kickback from my thickness sander numerous times and never from my thickness planer.
Must of been a hot one that day. Your face was getting more and more red as the vid went on:0)Thanks for the info. Looks like a great tool to have
Wow, can’t thank you enough for this excellent video on drums sanders. I’m looking into buying a drum- sander, your vid was very helpful.
Question, if you could only have a planner or a drum sander, which one would you purchase. Cost of the unit is not the question, which one is most most versatile is my concern. Again, thanks for en excellent video. From Missouri
Jack Dotzman without question, I’d get a planer. These days it is easy to get one with a spiral head that works well with highly figured woods. Once planed, you can always sand on your own. Do recall that a drum sander is linear so you’ll get sanding lines that still need to be sanded out with a ROS.
Thanks for getting back to me.
I really enjoy your video’s, I always come away learning something.
Great tips! Thanks!
Thanks for the tips, they were very useful. Here's one I'd like to add: Lin-knee-er :-)
I don't buy black cherry from any state south of PA because there's too much gum in the wood and it ruins drum sander paper
36 grit is useful for end-grain cutting boards.
I've now watched view videos on this sander and so far they all have been just running small pieces through can you run a slab of wood through thats larger say 2"x18" x 48"???
Steve Arnold sure, why not?
So I shouldn't use 36 grit on balsa and white sugar pine? Lol
Great tips Paul. Where do you get your bulk paper from?
Old video but great tips..
Heard of Random Orbit Sanders. What's a Random Drum Sander? :)
Remote controls often use infrared LED's to transmit their message. So they actually will be more likely to work with line of sight for the IR light to get to the machine.
RIP. The circus took you from us
nice post man, thanks. But I don't think you want to have your crotch right in front of the feeder if the board shoots out. :)
I'm surprised the drum doesn't oscillate
how far from Marc Spagnuolo do you live??
I disagree that a drum sander won't give you a snipe occasionally.. Short thickpieces can be prone to getting a divot at the trailing end. Still, less likely than on a planer.
well you talked me out of getting DRUM sander
You still liven?
Yes! haha! but with more circus and less "vlogger". That said, though, Angle Madness is safe in a corner. I refuse to work on it further off camera so videos for that will come back when it comes up in queue.
Oupss ... You speak veryvery much and for very long secance...Only, at the end video, some little tests/ short demonstrations on the machine
( and whithout visualy controled..?)
Of course it's realy interesting only for "anglosaxon or fully comprehensive people !"´For the others (strangers...) it's approx about to "nothing"!...