At the woodworking show in Indy this weekend, I saw a Sand-Flee drum
sander, and a similar kit from a Canadian company called Stockroom
supply (https://www.stockroomsupply.com/VSander.asp).

I was impressed by the simplicity of these machines and the fact they
don't kick up a lot of dust. For the dust they do generate, you can
easily attach a shop-vac to gather it.

As I watched the demonstrations, I was thinking maybe this could be used
in place of a jointer to get one face and one edge flat to reference on
the planer and table saw rip fence. Seems like with a good flat table
(such as 3/4 MDF with a laminate) and a fence, it should do the same job
as a jointer. Also seems like it'd be safer since spinning sandpaper
would give you a little scuff but not lop off fingers.

I talked to Kelly Mehler about it after one of his demos. He said I
still needed a jointer, although he admitted he didn't have any
experience with the Sand-Flee/V-drum sanders. I respect Kelly and enjoy
his tablesaw book and DVD, but really wanted to know more about why I
need a jointer over a setup like this.

Other than speed, are there other things a jointer would give me that
would make it a better choice? I'm mainly thinking in terms of
dimensioning rough lumber.

I built one of these before anyone even offered the whole machine.
About 6 or 7 years ago a fellow out of Canada was selling just the
roller and you had to put one together yourself. I built a "floor
model" out of MDF, some pillow blocks, a vbelt and a 1/4 hp motor. It
worked fine and, you are right, it does a good job containing its dust
even without a dust collector (although I hooked one up to it).

Probably the question more appropriate would be "do I need a drum
sander if I have one of these?" It really would be a poor man's drum
sander. It would take a long time to do what a drum sander does with a
sand flee, but it is a good way to touch up small parts and could work
as a drum sander. When I built my arts and crafts bed:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...s/DSCF2075.jpg

I used the sand flee to do the balustrades you see on the headboard
and footboard. It worked very well.

I don't use it very much any more. Probably should give it a try
again, but I have a drum sander now and it just seems easier to use
that.

I guess I would like to hear what some other people do with their's.
Does anyone else have one that also has a drum sander? What do you
find yourself using it for?

Gee.

I just looked at your URL to the Stockroom Supply site. I guess I just
repeated what they said! I think this is the guy that I bought mine
from. Again, I can't see using it for a jointer. You have to be
careful and push it through the sander in an even, smooth stroke
otherwise you could end up with a ripple surface.

Thanks for the response. I was thinking about that, too. You'd have to
be careful to keep the work moving. I bought one of the kits, just need
to pick up a motor and then assemble everything. I'll try it and post
back to the group with my experience.

wrote:
Gee.

I just looked at your URL to the Stockroom Supply site. I guess I just
repeated what they said! I think this is the guy that I bought mine
from. Again, I can't see using it for a jointer. You have to be
careful and push it through the sander in an even, smooth stroke
otherwise you could end up with a ripple surface.

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:37:04 GMT, Dave Miller wrote:

BTW, how much did you pay for everything including motor etc?

Thanks for the response. I was thinking about that, too. You'd have to
be careful to keep the work moving. I bought one of the kits, just need
to pick up a motor and then assemble everything. I'll try it and post
back to the group with my experience.

wrote:
Gee.

I just looked at your URL to the Stockroom Supply site. I guess I just
repeated what they said! I think this is the guy that I bought mine
from. Again, I can't see using it for a jointer. You have to be
careful and push it through the sander in an even, smooth stroke
otherwise you could end up with a ripple surface.

I paid $135 for the kit, which didn't include a motor. It had the drum,
bearings, link belt, pulleys, two rolls of sandpaper, and some plans to
make a cabinet for it. I've looked a little on Ebay for a motor, they
don't seem too expensive. They say to use 1/4 HP up to 1/2 HP, 1725 RPM
motor. They said at the show TEFC is not necessary, but a sander's job
is to make dust, and dust always seems to go where you don't want it, so
I'll probably hold out for TEFC.

Another booth sold one called the Sand Flee, all put together including
a Baldor 1/3 HP motor. Also had stainless steel table and extruded
aluminum fence, but they wanted $499 as the show special price, plus $50
shipping (they didn't have them at the show, would ship to you
afterwards). For that price, figured I'd tinker with the kit.

WD wrote:
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:37:04 GMT, Dave Miller wrote:

BTW, how much did you pay for everything including motor etc?


Thanks for the response. I was thinking about that, too. You'd have to
be careful to keep the work moving. I bought one of the kits, just need
to pick up a motor and then assemble everything. I'll try it and post
back to the group with my experience.

wrote:

Gee.

I just looked at your URL to the Stockroom Supply site. I guess I just
repeated what they said! I think this is the guy that I bought mine
from. Again, I can't see using it for a jointer. You have to be
careful and push it through the sander in an even, smooth stroke
otherwise you could end up with a ripple surface.

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 03:29:22 GMT, Dave Miller wrote:

Thanks for the information. I have spent hours looking at the possibility making
a drum sander, Including Stockroom Supply V-Drum Sander. I juggled with various
possibility and found it would cost above $400.

Just before Christmas I bought a brand new drum sander at Ebay. it's look like a
Performax 16/32, I believe it is a discontinued 1 hp Ryobi 16/32. You might want
to take a look at the seller website. His name is Tom, a honest and friendly
Ebay seller for woodworking machine.

http://www.woodwrighttools.com/store...products_id=38

Disclaimer, I have no relation with the seller, I'm just a satisfier buyer.


I paid $135 for the kit, which didn't include a motor. It had the drum,
bearings, link belt, pulleys, two rolls of sandpaper, and some plans to
make a cabinet for it. I've looked a little on Ebay for a motor, they
don't seem too expensive. They say to use 1/4 HP up to 1/2 HP, 1725 RPM
motor. They said at the show TEFC is not necessary, but a sander's job
is to make dust, and dust always seems to go where you don't want it, so
I'll probably hold out for TEFC.

Another booth sold one called the Sand Flee, all put together including
a Baldor 1/3 HP motor. Also had stainless steel table and extruded
aluminum fence, but they wanted $499 as the show special price, plus $50
shipping (they didn't have them at the show, would ship to you
afterwards). For that price, figured I'd tinker with the kit.

WD wrote:
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:37:04 GMT, Dave Miller wrote:

BTW, how much did you pay for everything including motor etc?


Thanks for the response. I was thinking about that, too. You'd have to
be careful to keep the work moving. I bought one of the kits, just need
to pick up a motor and then assemble everything. I'll try it and post
back to the group with my experience.

wrote:

Gee.

I just looked at your URL to the Stockroom Supply site. I guess I just
repeated what they said! I think this is the guy that I bought mine
from. Again, I can't see using it for a jointer. You have to be
careful and push it through the sander in an even, smooth stroke
otherwise you could end up with a ripple surface.

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 22:04:53 -0600, WD wrote:


Oops, I forgot to add that, I will be writing a review of this Drum Sander
shortly.

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 03:29:22 GMT, Dave Miller wrote:

Thanks for the information. I have spent hours looking at the possibility making
a drum sander, Including Stockroom Supply V-Drum Sander. I juggled with various
possibility and found it would cost above $400.

Just before Christmas I bought a brand new drum sander at Ebay. it's look like a
Performax 16/32, I believe it is a discontinued 1 hp Ryobi 16/32. You might want
to take a look at the seller website. His name is Tom, a honest and friendly
Ebay seller for woodworking machine.

http://www.woodwrighttools.com/store...products_id=38

Disclaimer, I have no relation with the seller, I'm just a satisfier buyer.


I paid $135 for the kit, which didn't include a motor. It had the drum,
bearings, link belt, pulleys, two rolls of sandpaper, and some plans to
make a cabinet for it. I've looked a little on Ebay for a motor, they
don't seem too expensive. They say to use 1/4 HP up to 1/2 HP, 1725 RPM
motor. They said at the show TEFC is not necessary, but a sander's job
is to make dust, and dust always seems to go where you don't want it, so
I'll probably hold out for TEFC.

Another booth sold one called the Sand Flee, all put together including
a Baldor 1/3 HP motor. Also had stainless steel table and extruded
aluminum fence, but they wanted $499 as the show special price, plus $50
shipping (they didn't have them at the show, would ship to you
afterwards). For that price, figured I'd tinker with the kit.

WD wrote:
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:37:04 GMT, Dave Miller wrote:

BTW, how much did you pay for everything including motor etc?


Thanks for the response. I was thinking about that, too. You'd have to
be careful to keep the work moving. I bought one of the kits, just need
to pick up a motor and then assemble everything. I'll try it and post
back to the group with my experience.

wrote:

Gee.

I just looked at your URL to the Stockroom Supply site. I guess I just
repeated what they said! I think this is the guy that I bought mine
from. Again, I can't see using it for a jointer. You have to be
careful and push it through the sander in an even, smooth stroke
otherwise you could end up with a ripple surface.

I made a floor version of the V-drum sander a while back from parts that I
got second hand and parts that I bought from Stockroom supply and a used 1/2
hp motor that I had laying around.

I've thanked that little machine every time I've used it and I use it on
just about every project now.

Rob

--


http://www.robswoodworking.com

"WD" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 03:29:22 GMT, Dave Miller
wrote:

Thanks for the information. I have spent hours looking at the possibility
making
a drum sander, Including Stockroom Supply V-Drum Sander. I juggled with
various
possibility and found it would cost above $400.

Just before Christmas I bought a brand new drum sander at Ebay. it's look
like a
Performax 16/32, I believe it is a discontinued 1 hp Ryobi 16/32. You
might want
to take a look at the seller website. His name is Tom, a honest and
friendly
Ebay seller for woodworking machine.

http://www.woodwrighttools.com/store...products_id=38

Disclaimer, I have no relation with the seller, I'm just a satisfier
buyer.


I paid $135 for the kit, which didn't include a motor. It had the drum,
bearings, link belt, pulleys, two rolls of sandpaper, and some plans to
make a cabinet for it. I've looked a little on Ebay for a motor, they
don't seem too expensive. They say to use 1/4 HP up to 1/2 HP, 1725 RPM
motor. They said at the show TEFC is not necessary, but a sander's job
is to make dust, and dust always seems to go where you don't want it, so
I'll probably hold out for TEFC.

Another booth sold one called the Sand Flee, all put together including
a Baldor 1/3 HP motor. Also had stainless steel table and extruded
aluminum fence, but they wanted $499 as the show special price, plus $50
shipping (they didn't have them at the show, would ship to you
afterwards). For that price, figured I'd tinker with the kit.

WD wrote:
On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 21:37:04 GMT, Dave Miller
wrote:

BTW, how much did you pay for everything including motor etc?


Thanks for the response. I was thinking about that, too. You'd have
to
be careful to keep the work moving. I bought one of the kits, just
need
to pick up a motor and then assemble everything. I'll try it and post
back to the group with my experience.

wrote:

Gee.

I just looked at your URL to the Stockroom Supply site. I guess I
just
repeated what they said! I think this is the guy that I bought mine
from. Again, I can't see using it for a jointer. You have to be
careful and push it through the sander in an even, smooth stroke
otherwise you could end up with a ripple surface.