On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 17:01:30 +0100, "RzB"
wrote:

a number of the furniture makers raved about
Drum Sanders.

Horizontal or vertical ?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/default.asp?part=629004M

Horizontals, aka "thickness sanders" or "poor mans wide belt sanders"
are very useful. They're a thickness planer that leaves a fine
surface finish, and that can be used on assembled frame and panels
constructions without demolishing them. OTOH, they take almost no cut
depth.


Vertical:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/default.asp?sub=37

Traditionally a patternmaker's tool. They're useful for odd shapes
that are hard to do by other means, or for people / timbers where you
can't use a spokeshave, such as cabriole legs in mahogany. Handy for
curved work in plywood too. If you're not careful though. they make a
very uneven surface. Bugger all use for anything else.

Some "Drum" sanders are useless, especially the free-range hand-held
ones. The drums that fit a spindle moulder are dubious. Divots and a
poor finish await. What you need is a "bobbin" sander, wher the drum
oscillates sideways too. For finishing work with a soft paper, the
inflatable drum sanders can be useful

They need dust extraction. Filthy things.