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Performax
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=51142		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Ruby50 [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Performax
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
Author:  Michaeldc [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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...
Author:  Clay S. [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 9:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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)
Author:  Joe Beaver [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 11:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  Pmaj7 [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 11:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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!
Author:  J De Rocher [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  James Orr [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 12:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
For $350, I wouldn't think twice. I use mine all the time. As mentioned above: tops, backs, sides, bridge plates, headstock plates, braces...
Author:  joe white [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 2:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  Mike Collins [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
I got one 19 years ago when they first came out.
Still works great!
Just get a good dust collector for it.
Mike
Author:  ernie [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
PITA fogetaboutit
Author:  Ruby50 [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 4:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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
Author:  StevenWheeler [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 5:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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
Author:  Clay S. [ Sun Oct 21, 2018 7:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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).
Author:  banjopicks [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 7:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  Tim L [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 10:37 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  George L [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 2:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
Great find. Add my voice to the chorus calling for dust collection/protection.
Author:  Steve Marcq [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  Ruby50 [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 4:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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
Author:  wbergman [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  Colin North [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
That works for me.
Author:  Clay S. [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 7:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  Haans [ Mon Oct 22, 2018 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  Ruby50 [ Tue Oct 23, 2018 7:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
Thanks all - good to go

Ed
Author:  Barry Daniels [ Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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.
Author:  Colin North [ Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Performax
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
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