Drum Sander advice

[mefgames]

I started building a DIY drum sander awhile back, but just haven't finished it. I was thinking maybe I should look into buying one used. I've seen a few used drum sanders locally, but they had sold buy the time I called. I was searching the net and came across a sander called the Flatmaster. Anyone have any experience with these ? I also saw one called the Sand Flee, but it looks a little underpowered. Any info or insight on these or Jet, Grizzly, Delta units would be appreciated. I'm leaning towards the smaller ones like the 10/20 or the 16/32.

Thanks, Mike

[R. Stratenstein]

Hi, Mike--
Greetings from another frustated would-be DIY drum sander builder. Mine is collecting dust under my bench after some design flaws revealed themselves in the latter stages of construction. What plans or design did you use? I used one from Woodshop Notes (I think that's it--down in basement, I'm up in my office)--uses a 16" wide sanding belt as a feed belt, and hand cranked feed. Also used modifications to your table saw to power it, which I did away with and used a 1.5 HP motor instead.

I'd be interested in swapping notes with you. I've pretty much decided I'm going to abandon the extremely troublesome belt feed and replace it with a solid platen, and hand-feed wood through the thing. Simplify life, and the ones I've seen designed like this seem to work well.

Rick

PS--Regarding a good used drum sander--they seem to disappear as soon as they're posted. Anybody with a job, who isn't already half-way to the seller's place when the posting hits, will lose out, because with the slightest delay, somebody else will get the goods.

[mefgames]

Here's the plan I was working from or at least very similar. I can't seem to find the exact plan.

http://woodgears.ca/sander/plans/index.html

[Moldy Oldy]

Greetings, guys, from yet another DIY drum sander builder. Does three make a club? I picked up an old treadmill to use for parts, so no real plan. I don't have the motor on the conveyor yet, but it seems to track fine when I push it by hand, so I remain hopeful. I estimate that I only have about 1000 more hours to completion.

[iocari]

i have just had a look at the plans for the drum sander and noticed it was belt driven with a long belt, i would be tempted to move the motor closer (or perhaps use gears) as less belt to go wrong, plus if the motor is not exactly lined up it will pull at the structure so be careful

[guitarbuilder]

I've made my own, bought a Ryobi one, bought a Ross ( real name of Drum sander company...now defunct) and now have the Delta. None were perfect. The Delta is OK. The open endedness has pluses and minuses.

[bullfrogblues]

I have an old Performax 16-32 that does a decent job. Not perfect, as the open end can result in a little deflection, but it has been a life saver for me. Especially with figured maple. Run that through a planer and you'll regret not using the sander.

[R. Stratenstein]

Originally Posted by mefgames

Here's the plan I was working from or at least very similar. I can't seem to find the exact plan.

http://woodgears.ca/sander/plans/index.html

This guy's sander is based on the one I built, only he had better luck, and the smarts to make some mpds where needed.
http://www.woodworkstuff.net/EDTSander.html

He obviously had a good deal more money invested in his, and apparently a lot more time to put into the project.

BTW, the plan you linked to is based on phawley's sander, and except for the long, exposed belt and pulleys (I like my fingers where they are, thank you), is what I am considering modifying mine to be like.

[R. Stratenstein]

Originally Posted by bullfrogblues

I have an old Performax 16-32 that does a decent job. Not perfect, as the open end can result in a little deflection, but it has been a life saver for me. Especially with figured maple. Run that through a planer and you'll regret not using the sander.

Exactly. Years ago, in my ignorance, I fed a piece of highly figured walnut into my planer. Even though I was taking, and always take, shallow cuts, and had almost new knives in it, the board was essentially destroyed, torn into little chunks. Since then, I have always used the tricks like moistening the wood surface, and taking even thinner bites on figured wood, but still get occasional chunking.

A thickness, or drum sander seems like a good compromise between the accuracy of a planer, and the delicacy of sanding. Unless you spend upwards of $5-6K or so to get a solid frame, supported-at-both ends type of sander, for guitar work at around 13" width, you have to go with an open end one that can deflect. If I knew then what I know now, I'd probably just save my pennies and keep trying to find a good used Performax or equivalent, but they are rare, and get snapped up as soon as they appear around here.

Also, I've now got an investment in time and $ in the one I've started, and am stubborn enough to be of the mindset that I WILL make this thing work, b'gawd, by whatever means necessary.

[R. Stratenstein]

Originally Posted by Moldy Oldy

Greetings, guys, from yet another DIY drum sander builder. Does three make a club? I picked up an old treadmill to use for parts, so no real plan. I don't have the motor on the conveyor yet, but it seems to track fine when I push it by hand, so I remain hopeful. I estimate that I only have about 1000 more hours to completion.

Treadmill parts should be good--heavy enough bearings, good rollers. Engineering the power drive--challenging, and if you use a varriable speed
DC motor--potentially expensive. I have an old AC powered BBQ spit motor that was never used for that purpose. Geared way, way down and runs slowly that I was considering using for the purpose. Not so sure now. And yeah, when you start venturing out into your own engineered designing, planning and fabricating, the hour meter starts running at double speed.

Originally Posted by sjgidman1982

i have just had a look at the plans for the drum sander and noticed it was belt driven with a long belt, i would be tempted to move the motor closer (or perhaps use gears) as less belt to go wrong, plus if the motor is not exactly lined up it will pull at the structure so be careful

I had noted the long expanse of uncovered belt. Pant cuffs, shirt sleeves, hair, and fingers are all fair game for such a long unprotected expanse of belt, not to mention the vibration, deflection, and mis-alignment potential as you point out. I've seen similar designs where the motor sits right under the feed plate or belt, making for a much shorter belt run, which is a modification I plan to make on mine.

[mefgames]

I just found the actual file. Note the shorter belt.

http://www.rockslide.org/Images/drum_sander.pdf

[SacDAve]

Performax 16-32 great tool for guitar stuff money well spent,

[fretman_2]

Building your own drum sander is a bit like building your own airplane. At some point you wonder if you'd be better off flying than building.