So, I have a little tax return money coming my way and I want to invest in a proper drum sander. I've been using a shop built attachment to my spindle sander. It works fine, but I'm getting to a point where I need to invest in a better piece of equipment to grind lams with.
In my non-bow building life, I'm a licensed plumber. I've learned over the years to never skimp on tools (or work boots). Buy something good and cry once.
My thoughts at this point are that I'll go one of two ways.
Option 1: Jet 10-20. Woodcraft has this machine for about$775. Since I doubt I'll do much more than grind lams with it, the small size might not be an issue. But, I can't help but feel like I'm at the Ford dealership looking at a new F150.
I'm thinking, "Well, this is probably plenty of truck".
But my gut is telling me, "Don't be a chicken ass". Buy the F350 with the turbo diesel. "You won't regret the extra capability and room to grow in the future".
That leads me to option 2. The performax 16-32. Probably more than I "need", but is a lot more substantial piece of equipment. The price is quite a bit higher though. I'm thinking it's probably worth it.
I might consider something from Grizzly, but, to be honest, Grizzly seems like something from Harbor Freight compared to Jet tools. I may be wrong though.
I'd love to have some input from other guys making 15-20 bows a year and looking to expand a little.
So, what do you guys think?
I have several Grizzly tools and can't compare them to Harbor freight , or Delta but the Jet 10-20 weighs in at 96 # and the Griz 10" weighs in at 220# so either she's built or just fat! :) .
Of 2 bandsaws and 2 tablesaws I've had from Griz, the fences were dead on for ripping on all of them.
They are built pretty heavy built and I have run some of them for several years without much problem.
So with no experience with Jet, I didn't help you much, but I know guys like them too. :thumbsup:
I have the Performax 22-44 I love it had it for a lot of years now its worked flawless had the Delta before and hated it , it would go out of adjustment a lot !
I have to admit the Grizzly G0458 is tempting. Hmmm. ;)
I have the grizzly 10 in. I bought it when it first came out and it was under $300. A very heavy well-built machine. The only issue is it's a little difficult changing paper but I think they have that worked out now. Otherwise it's a fantastic machine. I use 35 grit on the drum which takes down material extremely fast and leaves a really rough surface for gluing
I've had the G0459 for 3 years and have had no problems with it.
I only bought the wide drum for panels & counter tops if Your only griding lams I think you could get by with a much narrower head I have only used mine for parallel core lams so far but nice to have the width for honey dews & other projects !
https://www.supermaxtools.com/products/wood/19-38-drum-sander-71938-d/
When it comes to open end sanders I believe this is as good as it gets, a bit expensive though
QuoteOriginally posted by C. Johnson:
I have to admit the Grizzly G0458 is tempting. Hmmm. ;)
I have a G0458 that I bought used. The number one complaint I have about it is that is does not have pressure rollers, they are pressure plates. That being said, the more I thinker with it the more I feel they work "ok" but having the money to spend again I would get one with rollers.
The other side of that is that it's an 18" sander that can do upwards of 36", which I have used it for and it does a fine job as long as you don't try to eat too much all at once. Use multiple light passes and it does a great job.
Grizzly has it on sale right now for $675, down from $895, that's a pretty good sale.
After just messing with mine I would have to say get the most accurate one... You are dealing with thousandths of an inch... I would stay away from open end sanders... You don't need an open end for sanding lams anyway...
I would stay away from open end sanders... You don't need an open end for sanding lams anyway..
X's 2
All ya need for a 2 inch wide lam.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjSbwgKB7FA
Thank you, everyone, for your input.
Can anyone recommend a good closed end drum sander?
I run this one in my shop, it is a workhorse. May be more than you need and it takes an air supply to run....
http://www.grizzly.com/products/18-Wide-Belt-Sander-5-HP-Single-Phase/G0527?utm_campaign=zPage&utm_source=grizzly.com
Grizzly G0716
Almost 300# but it comes on a nice stand with wheels and handles to move it around easily.it is a closed end but you can make it open to do 20" if needed. 1.5 hp which is nice and overpowered for only 10"
Thats a sweet machine Kenny last a life time !
QuoteOriginally posted by kennym:
I run this one in my shop, it is a workhorse. May be more than you need and it takes an air supply to run....
http://www.grizzly.com/products/18-Wide-Belt-Sander-5-HP-Single-Phase/G0527?utm_campaign=zPage&utm_source=grizzly.com
Thanks Kenny!
Truthfully, this is more than I can manage right now financially, but, dang that would be nice!
Do you lubricate the bearings with pure testosterone? ;)
Ha ha ha.... All the tools in my shop don't add up to that price... Some of my stuff is a notch above third world engineering... But it works and can be very accurate... ;) :)
LOL Craig. If he did the bearings would dry up.. :)
QuoteOriginally posted by C. Johnson:
QuoteOriginally posted by kennym:
I run this one in my shop, it is a workhorse. May be more than you need and it takes an air supply to run....
http://www.grizzly.com/products/18-Wide-Belt-Sander-5-HP-Single-Phase/G0527?utm_campaign=zPage&utm_source=grizzly.com
Thanks Kenny!
Truthfully, this is more than I can manage right now financially, but, dang that would be nice!
Do you lubricate the bearings with pure testosterone? ;) [/b]
Ha, actually that is the only thing I don't like about the machine. (Besides initial cost)
It has greasable bearings, so you have to watch how much you give it.
QuoteOriginally posted by Jsmith74:
Grizzly G0716
Almost 300# but it comes on a nice stand with wheels and handles to move it around easily.it is a closed end but you can make it open to do 20" if needed. 1.5 hp which is nice and overpowered for only 10"
I was just checking it out online. If Kenny says Grizzly is good, that's good enough for me!
Truthfully, I just bought a 1980's vintage Grizzly 6" jointer recently. I gave $100 dollars for it and it works like a champ. I got it from an older guy who hadn't used it much in the last 15 years or so. All I had to do is shim the outfeed table and I was good to go.
12 in. Baby drum from Grizzly and 14 in. bandsaw is Jet. The Jet has been 0 trouble. I had to replace the feed table motor and rive on the Baby drum. But cant tell you how many feet of wood and bows have been thru it. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I have looked at and considered the baby drum but there is something about having to tape your paper to the drum that doesn't set well with me.
I have the baby drum sander.
There is a velcro backing on the paper and velcro on the drum. It's called hook and loop paper. It's very easy to tape the ends, only takes a minute per side.
Don't go velcro.... It will round off near your edges...
Rich, do you mean edges of lams or edges of drum?
Edges of the lams... I had that problem way back... The back of my bows actually had a little convex shape to them... Took that crap off and now I put a light spray of adhesive on the back of my paper and tape off the ends...
The grizzly uses a metal drum with slots and clamps to hold the paper tight. No hook and loop and no adhesives
Not all of them do.
I've never noticed the edges rounded over.
The performax has a really nice system for changing the paper it has 2 clips at the end that are inside the drum it takes about 3 minutes to change grits I have a friend that has the grizzly not sure what model but likes his, with the open ended drum sanders you have to readjust the drum as there set a little higher on the out bound side as to not leave groves in wide panels but I have never had a issue for parallel core lams I just reverse as I'm grinding but I'm going to readjust before I try tappers but it's not difficult to adjust !
I saw a 16" grizzly for about $1300 that looks good.If I ever get another it would be the one I would look at getting
QuoteOriginally posted by Roy from Pa:
Not all of them do.
I've never noticed the edges rounded over.
It is slight... Put a straight edge across the back of your lam... Or glue up about 5- .050" lams under and air hose... And compare one side to the other with a straight edge...One side will definitely be more rounded...
I have the small performx 10-20 it has worked great for several years now. Just can't hog wood off, gotta go slow. I did add a strap to the open end to take out any flex. Works like a charm.
I noticed you were from the springs. Check Denver craigslist, theres a guy selling a nice looking Delta 31-255x on casters. Might be able to get a better deal than what he's asking. Not to many drum sanders pop up for sale in our neck of the woods. trust me, I've had an eye out for quite some time.
Well, I'm pleased to announce a new addition to my shop! I finally got my drum sander. I got the Jet 16-32. In spite of it being a larger machine than I really "need", I went with it because it will allow me to do other projects with it. This made my better half less resistant to me dropping that kind of coin. I told her it will be pretty handy for the cabinet building project she wants me to do. ;)
It works like a champ once I got it dialed in. I need to buy or fabricate some taper sleds though.
Congrats you sly old dog.. LOL
I wanted one but the wife was not crazy about me spending that much money. So a couple weeks before xmas I bought her a new all in one PC.. Well next thing ya know she asks if I still wanted that drum sander, LOL I said sure.. :)
QuoteOriginally posted by Roy from Pa:
Congrats you sly old dog.. LOL
I wanted one but the wife was not crazy about me spending that much money. So a couple weeks before xmas I bought her a new all in one PC.. Well next thing ya know she asks if I still wanted that drum sander, LOL I said sure.. :)
Nice!
Be carefull what you ask for Mr Johnson I did the same thing with my whole shop and now Im remoldling the whole house in between bows
Oh ya. We removed a small built in oven and I converted the old oven space to a cupboard. I made a really cool door out of western red cedar for it. It's really sharp, so the wife says why don't you do all the cupboard doors like that. There's only 13 more doors!
I said I don't think so.. :)
(http://i.imgur.com/q0Gwr9p.jpg) (https://imgur.com/q0Gwr9p)
Before I made my first bow had to tear out a cup board closet and build in this, the counter top made out of a walnut log I cut , could have built 5!bows in the same time, you opened a can of worms there Mr Johnson
Yeah, I knew there'd be a price to pay.... I'm just glad she hasn't tried to leverage this into getting another dog. :D
Cabinet doors look great though Roy!
I like that built in Yellowwood. I actually kind of enjoy trim and finish carpentry. It's nice to build something beautiful and have other people able to see and enjoy it.
As a plumber, if I've done my job well, no one ever sees my work or even thinks about me. So, it's nice to do something a little different from time to time.
She doesn't want them Roy says she wants the cottage look thats fine buy me
Mr Johnson you got to keep them happy if you want to make bows in peace most of my family is plumbers ! I dont really care for cabinet work much any more only the part of making her happy !
Congrats on the buy, but you could have gotten about 20 of my lam grinders for that price....
(//%5Burl=https://imgur.com/exe79jm%5D%20%5Bimg%5Dhttp://i.imgur.com/exe79jm.jpg)[/url] [/IMG]
You might have a little more production out of yours though :D
I'll have to post a pic of what I was using. I made a shop built attachment to my spindle sander. Actually worked pretty well.
Yeah, I was really impressed with my homemade setup. I get .002" tolerance if I take the last few passes slow.
Hell... That's lookin' purty cool there Morv... Post a side pic or two... I got an extra one of those laying around...
BMorv, how do you adjust thickness on your grinder?
(https://i.imgur.com/ks2hS73.jpg)
This is the lam grinding attachment I built. It actually worked pretty well.
Wow. Don't know why that pic came out so huge.
(https://i.imgur.com/F5E8g91.jpg)
Roy tells me to take the s off https if using imgur and it works.
Yup that could help.
You want http:// not https://
So when you paste the url in here, just delete the S.
You can go back and edit it out.
Mr Johnson, your homemade design looks more precise than mine (and it looks huge!!)
I can't claim my design as my own as I've copied what I've seen from others in the past.
One end of the board is hinged and there's a bolt under the board on the outfeed that adjust the thickness. 1/2 turn does about .005". There's small bungee cords that keep the board from moving much. I'll more pics later if you all are interested.
Hey Craig just thought I would let you know how good Jets customer service is I bought some ready made drum 60 grit paper from them 3 rolls, One had a tare in it they apologized and said there so sorry and when I got home yesterday 3 brand new rolls at my door step over night express really good customer service !