In my shop, I have just about everything I need, but a drum sander. Can't afford a wide belt. Many of the reviews that I can find on these are not encouraging. Anyone have positive experiences with drum sanders in $1000 dollar range?" It looks like the Performax brand is now marketed under Jet. If so, is it the same quality that was manufactured by Performax?
I have the small proformax sander and it does a great job on finish sanding up to about 10" wide. I dont like the the result when I use 60 or 80 grit and try to take off alot. But for finsh snading its great. Randy
I have the 22" Performax, I don't see any reason to doubt the quality of the rebadged Jet version. It works great but you must realize that it has its limitations. It will rethickness wood except about 5-10 times slower than the typical thickness planer. I like to use mine to smooth a surface and or sneak up on a precise thickness. You must use dust collection. The larger 22" model Performax and "probably" the Jet have a feed speed regulator. If you are feeding too fast it will automatically slow doe to a more acceptable rate. This is a nice feature that probably has helped to prevent stalls. Buy your paper in bulk rolls for about 1/3 the price of precut rolls.
I have an 18 X 36 Delta and it has really improved the speed and quality of my panel sanding. Us it to clean up any glue up mismatch, get to a flat panel, then go to the ROS for finish.
However, if you don't have dust collection you need to be able to take it outside (what I do). It makes a lot of dust.
Performax was made in a US factory in Minnesota. WHM after purchasing Performax,closed that facility, moved it to the far east and eventually rebadged the brand to JET. It would be good to get opinions from anyone who has used both versions. I have not.
Of course, my 18 x 36 was also made in the US and now it comes from the far east.
Frank
Frank Howell wrote:
I have been very happy with my Performax 22/44. I've also read some of those reviews. The main I idea I saw is that some of the folks expected the tool to require less operator skill than it does. Some of the much more expensive tools probably don't require much skill, but...
Random thoughts: - The sander is a finesse tool, it is not a thickness planer. Forcing too heavy of a cut, too heavy of a cut with too fine a grit, failing to properly guide it in or out, etc... May do as much damage as a router mistake. 8^( - I've sanded parts as large as 40" x 86" x 5/4 (a QSWO table top) and a small as 3" x 3" x 1/8" (walnut panels). The table top required two people, but with 15 seconds of adjustment, turned out great. - I now use the sander on every part that won't be hand planed, as well as some that will, as they come out of the thickness planer. I can stop thickness planing a pass early and easily have tearout-free stock ready for a single ROS pass for trim, or suitable smooth plane or scraper for furniture. - I've run 100's of feet of s4s red oak trim through it at 120 grit, followed by a fast ROS pass, directly to a finish, with great results. - It needs a good dust collector. I wouldn't even consider using one without at least a 1200 CFM DC and unrestrictive ductwork. - I don't like the optional in/outfeed tables. I got tired of futzing with them and simply developed operator techniques to get great results. I only bother to install the tables when doing long boards, simply as a place to rest one end as I maneuver the board into place on the belt. - Changing and replacing paper is easy after you do it once or twice, there is a special tool that makes it easier. My sander included the tool, but I don't think older or smaller models do the same.
My sander is on my short list of tools I'd replace in a minute if it died tomorrow.
I have no idea, but Performax was a WMH (Jet's parent) when I bought my
22/44.
Thanks for the info. Does the smaller Performax, ie 16", have speed regulator?
I have the US version, badged Performax, and have looked at the JET badge. Fit and finish are somewhat less, but I really didn't see obvious crummies, though I haven't had the best experience with Chinese motors.
As I recall, no. The easiest way to tell on these models if they have an automatic speed regulator is to look for a small Red LED light on the control box close to the speed regulator switch. When the load is too much the speed regulator slows down and the red light comes on.
Never mind about smaller Jet having feed control, I found out it does. Another question I forgot to ask, is about dust collection. When looking at Grizzly sanders, found negative info on dust collection. How well does Jet dust collection work in your opinion?
I have the 16" Performax and use my Sears shop vacuum for dust collection. Works much better than I thought it would. Very little visible crud. An air filter picks up the rest of the airborne stuff. mahalo, jo4hn
Actually yes they all have speed control, IIRC not all have "automatic" speed control, in case you have set the speed control to fast.
I use a Jet Pleated Element 1100 CFM dust collector. Dust is simply not an issue when using the 22" drum sander or my 15" stationary planer. None, zip.
Yes. At least it did when I bought my 16-32 around 11 years ago. It isn't automatic though...I usually set it somewhere between 50% and
80% depending on what I am sanding (how wide, how hard).A decent place for abrasive rolls is
Before I spent a "boat buc" ($1,000.00) on a drum sander, think I would see if there are any commercial shops in your area.
The one I use charges $26 for the first 15 minutes and $1/minute there after.
Most of my jobs are less than 20 minutes.
You have to sand a lot of wood to recover $1000.00 at those rates
Lew
Good point Lew. It takes a lot of sanding to warrant the expense. BUT! having said that, it is invaluable for insuring small assemblies are of uniform height. Back in December I was building 2 jewelry chests that had
24 drawers IIRC. To tweak for the perfect height spacing and fit I ran the drawer assemblies in pairs to get exactly what I wanted, height wise. I am finding more to do with the sander than the typical flattening or sanding of a wide surface.I have owned a few and used many.
Used can be found. I recently purchased an older performax double drum sander, 25" I think. It is in storage right now but I think it was less than $1000, but I'd need to look in my records to be sure.
Last time I had some stuff sanded, a contractor was there with a pick-up full of face frames for a cabinet job.
A couple of passes thru that 48" wide, 3 drum sander with a 25HP dust collector took care of the job.
Contractor estimated he saved at least a half day's sanding.
Lew
Only 34 jobs at 19 minutes :-). How many jobs have you done that way so far?
Of course, that doesn't include operating costs, but my guess is that somewhere between 40 and 50 jobs would still be break-even.
From memory, probably 8-10 jobs over the last couple of years.
This piece of commercial equipment has been fully depreciated for years.
Motor nameplates indicate 68-69 construction.
Unit has three (3), 25HP motors, each driving an individual drum.thru the old VariDrive, the mechanical variable speed drive from US Motors.
Another 25HP motor drives the dust collector which has it's own bag house.
Now you know why it's $26 to turn the machine on.
100HP demands a lot of inrush current to get started.My guess is that today, it would cost well in excess of $100K to replace it.
A home shop unit is not from the same gene pool, not even close.
Lew
Lots of good info for you Frank...one thing I will mention is that if you can find one used, the Ryobi makes a decent 16/32 drum sander...not a great one, but good.
From what I've seen, the same basic design as the Performax/Jet and I got mine with a couple dozen belts fr under $100.
Check out CraigsList for one.
Mike
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