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Hey all,

I found one thread in the archives on this machine that was about two years old so I thought I'd rekindle a discussion about it. I'd love to hear from anyone that actually uses one and from those who don't but may have some good ideas based on analyzing the machine which can be seen here:

http://www.stockroomsupply.com/V_Drum_Sander.php

Basically you get the guts of the machine but have to build a box and attach a motor. I have a 1/4 HP motor laying around and press board is cheap. I could have a drum sander together for about $300. I like that. The only caveat the way I see it is that it is not a true thickness sander. But for me, I do most of my thickening with a planer. What got me thinking about this is that I am working with some incredibly figured and slightly spalted maple and no matter how sharp my planer is it still tears out and so I'd love to just sand it nice and flush. Not to mention a mechanical sander would be great for other projects that I do like tables and what not.

I figure for something like sides you could probably double stick tape the side to some nice flat press/particle board and run that across the sander for an even cut with even pressure.

Thoughts?

I've seen on the Internet where people have used that kit and built a traditional thickness sander with it.
Doug

As long as you're comfortable with the concept of it being more like a jointer than a thicknesser, you'll be fine. I've seen it demoed at trade shows, and it seems to work fine. I'd make a nice big table if I were to make one. Well, big enough for guitar woods...

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

I thought of building one of those before, but decided to buy a used thickness sander instead.By the time you spend all that money on supplies and your time to build it i don't think it would be the way to go.And it will probably take alot longer to thickness thin tops and sides as well.I got a used 18-36 delta and i'm real happy with it.It makes quick work of thicknessing my sets.I'm glad i went that route.

Finally! Something I can contribute. I've got a v-drum sander. It does most of what they say it does. It doesn't heat up. It doesn't load the paper. You can sand glue lines no problem. You can change the paper very quickly. There is absolutely no dust left on the wood and without any collection, very little in the air. No dust with suction. I picked it up at a show figuring it wasn't too expensive and with a healthy dose of skepticism. It's not really like a jointer since there is only one table plane. It's more like a jointer that needs someone to set it up better.

What I've found it best for is cleaning up rosettes. Since it magically sheds sawdust and glue, (so far) it hasn't smeared a rosette for me.

For guitar stuff, I don't know has useful it is. The best way I've found to use it is to use a backer board of MDF with a thin strip blued across the trailing edge to push the wood through. With that, I still get variable thickness both entering and exiting, as well as side to middle. I've thought about gluing the corners to the board with some hide glue to hold it flat, but haven't gotten around to trying it. Works better for thick things like cabinet doors and such.

The other problem is keeping a steady feed rate. If you slow down, it leaves a hollow.

I need to build a bigger table.

It was cheap. It's sometimes useful. I'm glad I have it, but the time and money to make it a functional thickness sander would be better spent on a functional thickness sander.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

Thanks for all your replies. I went and got me a Jet 10/20 drum sander. Sears actually had a really good sale yesterday online. After mulling over several plans for building one I figured I'd just use the money from my last guitar sale for the shop. I haven't gotten a new toy in a while any way

I ordered one too - same sale. If you find problems/tricks, please post. I'll do the same.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I'm with Mike. They're not a thickness sander. I bought the kit - didn't have time to build the table. The next year they came out with the table, so I bought that. The table is dished so isn't useable as is, so it sits in a corner waiting on me to figure out a better table material.

I think if it was dialed in and working properly it could be a nice way to sand out thickness sander scratches.

You think someone could order one for me too while they're at it. I'll be real nice with my posts.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

Sorry Nick, Momma said only 1 and no accesories either!

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"