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CHANGING PAPER ON SUPERMAX DRUM SANDER
(I've slayed the beast)

This is focused on the far end, the last step of loading the paper into the take up spring-slot of a 19-38 SuperMax Drum sander.

The steps refer to a photo, Figure 4, on page 14 of the SuperMax 19-38, 03/2017 Owner’s Manual. It may apply to every SuperMax ever sold, I don’t know, but his is how it works on this model:

Refer to the photo, Figure 4, page 14, of the SuperMax 19-38, 03/2017 Owner’s Manual.

https://lagunatools.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/19-38-Manual-ENG-120622.pdf

IF USING THE RED HANDLED BENT WIRE PAPER INSERTION TOOL:
1. With the paper wrapped to the far end of the drum and held tight in place (awide piece of tape can assist), rotate the drum so the paper slot is positioned at 10:00 o’clock. The tension lever with the tool hole will be almost horizontal.

2. Point the red end of the tool handle to the back wall of the cabinet (away from you).

3. Engage the small end of tool into the hole located on the tension lever, coming up from the bottom.

4. While lifting up, and opening the tension lever clamp, rotate the red lever CCW until it engages the drum and locks the paper in place on the top of the drum.

5. Insert the paper tail into the slot (trim shorter as required so it doesn’t bottom out on the drum).

6. With the paper flat on the top of the drum and with the paper tail inserted into the slot (poke paper further into the slot with a tool as required, and trim as required). Lift the red handle and rotate CW, back to the starting position pointing away from you while you slowly lower the tension lever.

7. I marked the drum axle with a white paint mark while it was at 10 o'clock.....


IF NOT USING THE TOOL:
1. With paper wrapped and tight, rotate the drum so the paper slot is positioned at 11:00 oclock

2. Using the left hand, place the fleshy part of the palm, under the thumb, on top of the drum.

3. Open the spring tensioned tension lever with your pointer finger. Insert the paper tail then release.

4. As stated above, the tail may need to be trimmed in length so the end doesn’t crash into the inside drum wall. You can also add taper to the tail if necessary so it fits in the width of the slot. Do it in small increments or you’ll blow a 20’ piece of paper.

END

_________________
Measure Twice,

Karl Borum

Mine is branded Jet but suspect it is the same machine. Changing the abrasive has always been a challenge - I've never got the bent wire thingy to work. And if you don't get it right you can't use the final few mms of width which matters if you have a max of 16 ins.

What would really help would be a video of the whole process. If anyone was up for it a lot of people would be extremely grateful!

Dave M

My wife recently bought me one (16/32) for my birthday. It is pretty new and I have only changed paper 3 times but other than the first time just trying to figure it out it is a breeze changing rolls. I change it by hand so far and have not messed with the tool. I don't see a need since it is pretty easy to do.

I remember the first time the lever seemed to be backwards but it turned out the lever was all the way forward. Once I figured that out and moved the lever so it was pulling on the paper everything went smooth. The last time I installed a new paper I had to cut off about 1/4" because the tail was binding and wouldn't let the lever move back.

So far, I love this machine. I have always used hand planes and scrapers to thin wood (which is still my preference) but I had a back issue and was not able to wield my planes so my wife bought me my Supermax. I feel a bit guilty when I use it because I would prefer to make shaving rather than dust... but It is a real back saver

Cheers,
Bob

I've had a Supermax 25X2 (just a dual drum 25" wide machine) for several years and I think the take-up mechanism is the same as the newer machines. I've had no problems with paper install but it always seems like it's a 3 hand operation with barely room for one.

It helps me to bend the last end so it wants to go thru the last fastening slot in the drum. Not a sharp bend but an arc. I'm attaching a youtube done by someone that clearly shows the operation in the first 2 minutes.

The bitter end take-up mechanism is dual acting - it grips the paper and most important, keeps tension on it to take up slack. The tricky part is holding the take-up mechanism all the way up while pushing in the paper end all the way and then releasing the grip part without letting the take-up go until the paper is firmly secured. Sometimes a tool can help hold it up. The gripper section has a tendency to slip a little on a new install and you might have to reset it a time or two till it pulls the paper tightly before initial operation.

Once the paper is on, I'd also suggest running something thru the machine as that actually tightens up the paper on the drum. Then re-adjust the take-up one last time for maximum effect. Should be good to go.

Once you get the hang of it you should find it pretty easy and it works well.

I rarely use the dual drum as such but I love having two grits w/o changing paper. I just raise or lower the drum I want to use so it contacts the wood and passes by the other drum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWg3J3bJrRI

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

That's a great video to see how the mechanism works thanks for sharing.
On the 19-38 the casting that surrounds the drum, and the lifting screw housing, obscure the view, and limit the hand access, making it much more difficult to load the paper. So difficult that they developed a tool that lifts the spring tensioner. But, until you have the drum, and the tool, oriented in the right position, at the same time, you can neither see nor engage the tool. Using a mirror every time made it easier for me, but rotating that drum to 11:00 made all the difference in the world because you can see the whole mechanism, if you hold your mouth right....

_________________
Measure Twice,

Karl Borum

Karl, I looked at the page in the manual you posted and saw the mechanism looked the same, didn't dawn on me the picture was taken with the drum OUT OF THE MACHINE for the photo. That's cheatin'!

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

My drum sander is a pre-Jet Performax Shoppro 25, which is essentially the same machine as the Supermax version, and which has the same sort of paper clasping mechanism on both ends of the drum as you find on the newer Supermax machines.

I have found that it is pretty important to trim the ends of the paper just the right amount, and feed the first end into that left clasp just the right amount, so that there is neither too much nor too little tail on the far right end for being grabbed by that clasp. Maybe that's obvious, but it is something I needed to tinker with on my machine in order to avoid unwrapping and starting again.