On 2/14/2016 12:39 AM, Leon wrote:
On 2/13/2016 10:17 PM, John McCoy wrote:
"dadiOH" wrote in :

Before you can join an edge, you must have a flat face. I can - and
do - get that with my drum sander.

OK, I'm a little confused here - how is that different from
running a board thru a planer? Seems like it would make it
smooth but not flat.

Obviously confused. Did he mention anything about a planer? I don't
believe that he said any thing about a drum sander being better suited
than a planer. He simply said, I can and do get a flat face with his
drum sander.

But to answer your question, the drum sander pretty much will do what a
planer will do except at a much slower pace. Given that, a rum sander
has many advantages over a planer.

A jointer makes surfaces flat, planer makes them parallel and the
required thickness and a drum sander makes them smooth. Confusing
their purpose is common, but doesn't always work. Trying to get wood to
a required thickness with parallel faces with a jointer or sander is
fraught with disappointment.

If you are using rough cut lumber, re-using, re-purposing lumber, making
wood from firewood and other such things, you need a jointer and a
planer. I would not but either unless they had segmented, spiral cutter
heads. If you can't afford that, save your pennies.

If you use a planer (hopefully with a segmented spiral cutter head) you
probably need a jointer (hopefully with a segmented spiral cutter head)
Tis not easy to build fine furniture w/o a planer, as store bought
lumber is not always the correct thickness for proper esthetics, among
other things.

Jointing an edge is a luxury with a jointer, but can be done ok with a
TS. A Flat face, a requirement for use with a planer, is done on a
jointer. Generally speaking, 6" wide is enough, as (generally speaking)
wide boards should be made up of *less* than 6" wide pieces.

--
Jack
Add Life to your Days not Days to your Life.
http://jbstein.com