On 9 Dec 2005 18:53:02 -0800, "tor" wrote:
Do you think its possible to get a smooth sanding job from planer to
performax with only 220 on the drum? Will I have to touch up with a 220
random orbit pass? Or will I need to go from planer to 150 to 220 to
random orbit? This is on an alder board say, 2.5 inches wide.
I hear all these online folks warning that a drum sander is just so
weak and slow compared to a wide belt sander. I fear its more of a toy,
and my manual sanding may be just as fast. Am I wrong? I cannot afford
a wide belt right now, so it seems my choices are a drum sander, a belt
sander like the woodtec described above, or nothing. I would love to
automate a bit more, but only if it will actually help me.
I just purchased a General 24" Dual Drum sander, looked at all the
options. Right now I have 80 and 120 on the drums, does a decent job
but does leave ridges, it is not a finish sander. I still have to use
a hand sander, starting with 120, tried 150 but the ridges are to
large. Think someone else said the same. You could probably go to a
120/150 or 100/150, although I haven't been able to purchase any 150
to try it...only had the thing for a month. Would need a very light
touch and good DC though.
HOWEVER....I find most of the time sanding I was doing was done to get
the planer marks out and any uneveness at the joints, after that came
the finer grits, so even though my sander only goes part way to final
surface, I think it takes away a LOT of the work, you can throw
multiple pieces through it at the same time, with a 3 HP motor it
walks through anything I've done so far (including a bunch of resawn
5" alder, and oak).
So if you want a machine to get you to the point at which you'd
normally abandon the 80 grit, this is it, don't think the single drum
cantilevered type is that great myself, didn't see one I liked the
construction of. Since I only have a thicknessing head for my 8"
jointer, the fact I can now sand a larger panel flat is also a plus
for me.
--------------------
Steve Jensen
Abbotsford B.C.
chopping out the mortise.
BBS'ing since 1982 at 300 bps.
Surfing along at 19200 bps since 95.
WW'ing since 1985
LV Cust #4114
Nothing catchy to say, well maybe.....
WAKE UP - There are no GODs you fools!