tossing ideas around to build a thickness/drum sander based upon a combo of plans from Wood mag annd shop notes.

plan is to make a 25" wide unit but am not sure about using a conveyor or drive rollers to move stock.

any input gents?

Conveyor.

My opinion is it would help the stock move through and stay flatter.

I can comment based on what I have seen and used, I use a performax, it obviously uses a conveyor system, so I am assuming the engineers knew somthing. Yet on the other hand, surface planers use rollers, so, hmmmm. Was I any help?

I am sorry John, I am stuck on this one, I was digging for something creative to give you some good input, but for once I am at a loss for words!

The American Woodworker said:

I can comment based on what I have seen and used, I use a performax, it obviously uses a conveyor system, so I am assuming the engineers knew somthing. Yet on the other hand, surface planers use rollers, so, hmmmm. Was I any help?

I've been leaning towards a conveyor but my concern on the conveyor is will the high spot of the seam have an influence?

for the rollers it's will they cost an arm and a leg and be able to move the stock without causing snipe

The conveyor on my Performax, has a seam, but no rise in it. Think of the seem as a half lap joint, or a ship lap. It is completely flush. depending on how big you want your sanding drum, I bet you could purchase a conveyor belt from performax. I don't really see a way that you could duplicate such technology.

Don't know if there's anything at the link below that will help but it's about a homemade drum sander.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=146427&highlight=sander

thanks for the link