Jet 10" drum sander.

[hawkeye10]

I have wanted a drum sander for a long time and I really want a Supermax 16-38 but really it's too big for what I do and of course several more $100 than the Jet. Has anyone had any experience with the Jet 10" sander?

 

Thanks for any help.

[Gene Howe]

I had an identical one with different badging. Had trouble with keeping the sanding head aligned. Also, problems with the feed belt alignment. 

Don't waste your $$. 

Although they're limited to size, I'd much prefer a closed side sander. 

If you have a lathe (or a Shopsmith), building a thickness sander isn't difficult. 

Edited September 5, 2018 by Gene Howe

[lew]

28 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

building a thickness sander isn't difficult. 

 

The only things I bought were the bearings, 2 screen door springs and the hook and loop sanding stuff

 

 

Edited September 5, 2018 by lew

[Dadio]

I have had 3 Performax,a 10-20, (2) 16-32, now a Supermax 16-32.

 

The Jet is the Performax, bought them from the original owners who then came out with the Supermax, which is now ownered by Laguna.

Others,including myself have had problems with the feed conveyer belt alignment, on the Performax. Cannot vouch for the Jet. The belt wants to work over to one side or the other.

I did find the "sweet spot" on the first 2, on the third I was unable to before I replaced it with the Supermax.

The Supermax have performed very well, no problems so far, It has some very nice features ,like the speed lever to set the initial thickness. Also the smart feed that slows the feed rate to match the motor amperage to keep from kicking the breaker. Jet has this also. And the digital thickness gauge is a nice feature. That and the price, check Rockler has it on sale right now for $1079. + shipping. They all use the same sanding belts.

 

Herb

 

 

 

[Gene Howe]

 

[hawkeye10]

I saw Rockler had the SM on sale. I think the shipping was $75. There goes the free shipping with purchase of $35 or more.

[Dadio]

28 minutes ago, hawkeye10 said:

I saw Rockler had the SM on sale. I think the shipping was $75. There goes the free shipping with purchase of $35 or more.

That is what my shipping cost, but you have that on any brand that you buy. I paid $1100.= $75.00 shipping for mine. delivered to your front door.

It is too heavy to lift in and out of a truck w/o some really strong help. The guy that delivered it had a lift gate and a strong hand truck.

Herb

[Dadio]

39 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf2qfOm6bDg&t=22s

 

That is a unique idea,Gene, but is kind of limited to really small projects. I prefer the power feed.

Herb

Edited September 5, 2018 by Dadio

[Gene Howe]

4 hours ago, Dadio said:

That is a unique idea,Gene, but is kind of limited to really small projects. I prefer the power feed.

Herb

Yeah, I think the max on his is 20". Not sure I'd want to push that width through. Although, I've used his and the norm is to take off around 1/64". Probably could push it to 1/32". 

He uses it to even out his marquetry and that veneer is really thin.

Edited September 5, 2018 by Gene Howe

[Dadio]

47 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Yeah, I think the max on his is 20". Not sure I'd want to push that width through. Although, I've used his and the norm is to take off around 1/64". Probably could push it to 1/32". 

He uses it to even out his marquetry and that veneer is really thin.

I was thinking more of the length, a 4' long board might be max, also if there is a kick-back the family jewels are in jeopardy.

Herb

[Gene Howe]

You gotta point, Herb. 

[Dadio]

8 hours ago, hawkeye10 said:

I saw Rockler had the SM on sale. I think the shipping was $75. There goes the free shipping with purchase of $35 or more.

I found that they are shipped direct from the factory, not from Rockler. That is the reason for the shipping charges being added beyond the "over $35." If they shipped from the nearest Rockler, then the store has already included the shipping to them from the factory in the price. Does that make cents?

[Smallpatch]

I like school auctions for wood working equipment. Kids in high school never seem to be interested or involved that much to wear anything out. I've never been burned yet.....

 These two jewels were cheaper than a used Dewalt 788 would cost and the only thing wrong was a cracked on off switch on the saw but still works. Whups, I forgot about the tear in the conveyor belt.... that I used for a couple of years before I ordered a new belt. And I still have that old belt for a backup if need be... 

  And when I just now read where someone is thinking about buying a 10" drum sander, if you are young or middle age, save your money for a while and get a bigger size....You might not need it now but......Sure you could cut out drinking and smoking and in no time have enough for a 22-44" model. And if you are young and not married I didn't say anything about stop chasing the better half.

  Whats this about kick back on a drum sander???? I got A Grizzly 26" 2 drum model and the  Performax 22-44 and don't understand what you mean. Am I flirting with danger and didn't know it??

  And Thanks to Kelly I have a new 19" motorized table that fits a Performax with the motor and conveyor belt I don't need if anyone is interested.  

[Dadio]

4 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

Whats this about kick back on a drum sander????

I was referring to the video of the SS where the guy is using a thinner pusher to push the board thru because it doesn't have a power feed belt. He is pushing with his theigh, and using his hands to retrieve the board out the other side.

I was just noting that there is a possibility for the pusher to tilt down and get caught by the drum and kicked back at him and at the right height to damage the family jewels.

In all the years I used the drum sanders I only had one kick back and that was because the under side  of the piece was so smooth the feed belt could not grip it and the top side grabbed and it shot across the shop.

Herb

[ChuckJ]

I built my own thickness sander also. Looks similar to Lew's. It cost me about $300 total. That included about $100 for the motor. I made mine 24" wide. I used it to help make my own kitchen cabinets. The raised panel doors were made out of solid oak glued into wide panels. I used the sander to get the panels flat across the entire width of the panels. That is what I built it for to begin with. I also used the sander to refinish my 22' long shuffleboard table. My sander does not have a feed belt. You have to push it through. Not a big deal. You don't sand a lot at once so it is pretty easy to push through. 

[lew]

58 minutes ago, ChuckJ said:

You have to push it through. Not a big deal

Agreed. After a bit of practice the feed rate is constant. I made a couple of specialize push sticks that are thinner than the stock I am sanding so they slide "under" the sanding drum when pushing the material thru the machine. As far as kickback, it's never been a problem.