Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 5:25 pm


All times are UTC - 5 hours


Forum rules


Be nice, no cussin and enjoy!




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:18 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:58 pm
Posts: 1449
First name: Ed
Last Name: Minch
City: Chestertown
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21620
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I have access to an older Performax 16/32 Plus with a fresh belt for $350. Looking on Craigslist locally, it looks like this is a good deal. I currently pay a local cabinetmaker $20 3 times a year to thin the B+S for an the few instruments I build, so the only way this works is if it is worth a bit more than I would pay.

Thanks

Ed


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:34 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 22, 2014 1:45 pm
Posts: 1445
First name: Michael
Last Name: Colbert
City: Anacortes
State: WA
Focus: Build
Ruby50 wrote:
I have access to an older Performax 16/32 Plus with a fresh belt for $350. Looking on Craigslist locally, it looks like this is a good deal. I currently pay a local cabinetmaker $20 3 times a year to thin the B+S for an the few instruments I build, so the only way this works is if it is worth a bit more than I would pay.

Thanks

Ed


Ed,

$60 a year seems like a no brainer...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:55 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5924
Ed,
You should snap it up, before someone else does. Drum sanders are useful for many more things than guitarmaking. If you do other wood working (which I'm sure you do) you will find a million other uses for it. That is cheap enough I would consider buying it just to have a spare (if you don't buy it please let me know)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 11:22 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 2:35 pm
Posts: 2951
Location: United States
First name: Joe
Last Name: Beaver
City: Lake Forest
State: California
Focus: Build
I use my mostly for guitar building. You'll be surprised at the number of things you will do with it. In addition to Backs, sides, and tops, I final thickness many parts of the guitar including:

Braces, binding I cut myself, head plates, back plates, pieces of wood I plan to use for inlays, bring the newly installed rosette and back strip flush, thickness the fingerboard to my specs, and probably a few more that slip my mind.

_________________
Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 11:43 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:50 pm
Posts: 2246
Location: Seattle WA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
I was paying $100 an hour at a shop for wide belt sander and resaw, so 20 bucks is a steal. If you have room though a drum sander is quite handy. And you could always sell it for more than that if it's in decent condition. I use it to size a lot of stuff, bindings, fretboard, Bridge, scarfed neck blank, etc

New username, same ole Pat Macaluso!

_________________
Pat


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 12:41 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:47 pm
Posts: 2422
First name: Jay
Last Name: De Rocher
City: Bothell
State: Washington
I got my Performax 16-32 for about that same price (a steal in my opinion) on Craigslist and I was lucky enough to get there first because the seller was contacted by a bunch of other buyers while I was on the way over to his house to pick it up. It's definitely one of the most important and useful tools in my shop.

_________________
Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 12:55 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:37 am
Posts: 4777
For $350, I wouldn't think twice. I use mine all the time. As mentioned above: tops, backs, sides, bridge plates, headstock plates, braces...


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 2:09 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:08 pm
Posts: 871
As everyone has already mentioned, it sounds like a great deal. If you have room for it and dust collection (they sure make a LOT of dust ) you might find yourself using it for more than just back and sides. As long as you have the cash to spare for it, I think you'd like having it conveniently at the ready to use anytime.

_________________
jw ( o)===:::


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 3:23 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 10:10 pm
Posts: 2477
Location: Argyle New York
First name: Mike/Mikey/Michael/hey you!
Last Name: Collins
City: Argyle
State: New York
Zip/Postal Code: 12809
Country: U.S.A. /America-yea!!
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
I got one 19 years ago when they first came out.
Still works great!
Just get a good dust collector for it.
Mike

_________________
Mike Collins


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 4:02 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 6:08 pm
Posts: 2712
First name: ernest
Last Name: kleinman
City: lee's summit
State: mo
Zip/Postal Code: 64081
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Professional
PITA fogetaboutit


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 4:26 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:58 pm
Posts: 1449
First name: Ed
Last Name: Minch
City: Chestertown
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21620
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I got it for $325 including unopened 50 foot rolls of 120 and 180, and a roll of 80 with just one loading off of it. On a stand, runs good. I don't have dust collection in my shop as I work mostly with hand tools and can live the small amount of dust I make. I will keep this guy in the garage next to my surface planer, and wheel them both out of the garage for use.

Thanks all for the comments

By the way, the guy was over 70, a graduate of the North Bennett St. School. and worked in woodworking his whole life. Great shop with lots of BIG machinery - 12" jointer, 16" table saw. amazing furniture - lots of Federal with the inlays. Here the idea of the day - an old shopping cart to haul around 300 pounds of clamps. Up to about 18" they hang off the sides, and wooden hand screws fit on the shelf below. Also, a Folger's coffee can is the right size to fit 4" dust collection flex hose, and easy to build into a shop-made collection box for various tools.

Ed


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 5:31 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:01 pm
Posts: 1104
Location: Winfield, IL.
Nice score Ed, I payed $600 for one and that was a good deal. You absolutely need dust collection to run that tool. Without it the sand paper will load up in no time. I use a good shop vac and a Dust Deputy on mine.

Steve


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:56 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5924
I wheel mine outside, take the cover off and use a cheap plastic dust brush to "sweep" the dust off as it's running. I used to use compressed air to blow the dust off, but the dust broom is less setup and works about as well ( just mind the wind direction).


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 7:52 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:19 am
Posts: 1323
First name: Richard
Last Name: Hutchings
City: Warwick
State: RI
Zip/Postal Code: 02889
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
My brand new 19-38 is in transit to my house as we speak. I feel like this belongs beside the bandsaw as top tools for building flat-top guitars. I also bought the Dust Deputy for my shopvac. I'll let you know how that works out.

_________________
Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:37 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:14 am
Posts: 819
First name: Tim
Last Name: Lynch
City: Santa Cruz
Zip/Postal Code: 95060
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Ed find a good filtered mask for when you run the sander. The dust is fine and you will be breathing more of it than you think. I wear a good mask and use the dust collector.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 2:37 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Fri May 09, 2008 2:25 pm
Posts: 1954
First name: George
City: Seattle
State: WA
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Great find. Add my voice to the chorus calling for dust collection/protection.

_________________
George :-)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 3:01 pm 
Offline
Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:14 pm
Posts: 102
Location: Allenstown, NH
First name: Steve
Last Name: Marcq
City: Allenstown
State: NH
Zip/Postal Code: 03275
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I just use a shopvac for dust on my 16/32, it's more than enough for what you should be taking off with it.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:33 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:58 pm
Posts: 1449
First name: Ed
Last Name: Minch
City: Chestertown
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21620
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Got the machine and it works great. A question:

I put a piece of 7" wide oak through it and took down both faces so they were nice and flat. I cranked down 1/8 of turn, and passed the board through about 4-5 times to make sure everybody was happy, then I measured thickness at the two edges. The outboards side is less then .01" thicker than the inboard side. Can the machine be adjusted to tolerances tighter than that?

I have the manual on line so I know HOW to do it, just wondering if I SHOULD do it.

Thanks

Ed


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:35 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:42 am
Posts: 1574
Location: United States
I don't think you should. However, there is a method using a backer board rather than adjusting the machine. Prepare your backer board with sandpaper on one side. Put that side down on the feed belt and run the board through until it is all new wood. Then flip it end to end and use it to back any future pieces. I have read about this, but I actually never did it myself. I think your setting is close enough.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:37 pm 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:44 am
Posts: 5398
First name: colin
Last Name: north
Country: Scotland.
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
That works for me.

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 7:00 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 5924
It's better to have the outboard edge leave the work a little thicker So if you have a piece wider than you can do in one pass it will leave the "middle" slightly thicker rather than making a ridge where the second pass overlaps.
If you sand a 16 inch wide top and use 13 inches of the width of the drum you will have very little difference in thickness from edge to edge after turning the board and making the second pass.



These users thanked the author Clay S. for the post: Colin North (Tue Oct 23, 2018 8:07 am)
Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2018 7:20 pm 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:34 am
Posts: 3081
I had a modern version of the Jet 16-32 (same thing) and set it up for a slight taper and ran each side through. Taper was less than .01" and was actually just the beginning of my mods of the top. Worked fine as long You went through the grits and had your paper wound right.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 7:59 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member

Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 4:58 pm
Posts: 1449
First name: Ed
Last Name: Minch
City: Chestertown
State: MD
Zip/Postal Code: 21620
Country: United States
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Thanks all - good to go

Ed


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:11 am 
Offline
Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:02 am
Posts: 3227
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
First name: Barry
Last Name: Daniels
I think that 10 thousandths difference over a 7" board is a bit too much because that will be about 40 thousandths on a guitar back or top. My performax only has about 5 thousandths difference on a guitar back after I adjusted it. When I flip the back around and sand it again then the middle is about 3 thousandths thicker than the edges which is ideal in my book.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Performax
PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:30 am 
Offline
Contributing Member
Contributing Member
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:44 am
Posts: 5398
First name: colin
Last Name: north
Country: Scotland.
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Ruby50 wrote:
Got the machine and it works great. A question:

..........................The outboards side is less then .01" thicker than the inboard side. Can the machine be adjusted to tolerances tighter than that?

............................, just wondering if I SHOULD do it.

Thanks

Ed

Yes, you can get it better adjusted.
0.01" difference, and thicknessing a top or back plate to typically 0.1" makes that a 10% difference.
Whether you're happy with that is up to you.
I believe at least one boutique/factory maker deliberately makes the treble side thicker than the bass, supposedly to enhance the bass and treble responses, not sure how well that works...….
Personally I use the backer board idea thang. idunno

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: doncaparker, Ken Lewis, mikemcnerney, Terence Kennedy and 56 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com