Hey, if you have ever owned a drum sander or a wide belt sander and want to share your experience, I would love for you to share it.

I am so glad I watched this video. Today I decided that I needed to up my game on sanding and started browsing for a drum sander. After watching this video i saw that I would just be wasting my money. This video confirmed several of my drum sander suspicions that has kept me from purchasing one for years now. I'll fork out the money for a wide belt sander.

I know that this is an older video, but it is perfectly relevant to the question before me now. Thank you for your work. The Powermatic 16/32 had seemed like a giant overkill until your great talk opened the book a little wider for a complete view. There are a few 16/32-3's available yet with 7 1/2 HP 3 phase motors in them that are discounted enough to cover the cost of a 15HP rotary converter without going over the price of a current model 5 HP single phase. Thanks to your help, I'm going to cry once and enjoy 'till the end of my days. Thank You, Jim

Greetings Todd, your video is honest and offers more insight into these sander differences. I was about to purchase the Supermax 16/32 and your review has me thinking twice, especially with your comments about a better orbital sander. Thank you for the video time and its wealth of consumer education!

Thank you for the video. I found it VERY helpful. You were to the point, clear, articulate and answered my questions. You also didn't play loud obnoxious music competing with your presentation.

Honest, straight forward, no nonsense comparison! You've made me rethink what I want to what I need and WHY! AWESOME! Thank you!!

Thank you so much for this video. It convinced me to skip the drum sander and go for a wide belt sander, saving me hundreds of hours of hand sanding.

So glad I watched your video. I’ve owned a 25” drum sander for 15 years and it’s been a great tool, but i’m ready to upgrade to a 37”. As most of us know, a 37” wide belt is very expensive, so i was considering another drum sander; but after you pointed out the quality of the finish it’s a no brainer for me. I can’t even imagine how much time I was wasting using my orbital to get the scratches out. I would usually start with my rotex and use 100. Thanks again, my rotex and my 100 grit will see a lot less use after I get a wide belt.

Hey Todd, good video and comparison. I agree with most of your comments, though I would have stressed even further some of the advantages. I have had a Performax for about 30 years or so, maybe longer. I've run 1000's of feet of wood thru it. A great machine for sure for the serious hobbyist. I think you become a "pro" when you can get the paper changed with your eyes closed. And REALLY good when you don't burn up the paper too often. It IS a frustrating machine for sure, it is easy to become impatient and try to hog off more than it can, which gums up the paper quickly. I haven't had as much trouble with the lines that you point out. I find that if I do take at least two passes with 150, most of the lines become slight, then go to 180, and it gets even better. I think I often went to 220, which was dangerous, as it was very sensitive to burning then. You are spot on that one hates to change the paper, which is a real problem. About 18 years ago, I got a Sunhill machine, (basically identical to the Grizzly, made in China of course) Same open ended design. Does it work as well as a closed end? No, but pretty darn well. With care, you CAN do wider than the 16" I've done 30 inches often, and yes, you have some work afterwards with the RO sander, but it is a hell of a lot easier than sanding from scratch. There is NO real comparison in my mind between the two. Sure, you can get the same results, but the time difference is immense. Probably 5 times as much time! And one never does quite as careful a job when you are doing that much time. I find the real benefit is that I can cut my stock to approximate size, then sand ALL of the solid wood to dimension. If it is 3/4", 1 1/4, 1/2" etc, I get it all to the desired dimensions. Then all the dados etc fit the same. Then after I cut carefully and assemble, there is little hand sanding to do. (well, MUCH less anyway). So, building something in the shop is much less frustrating and tedious. I can concentrate on design, and workmanship. I've got a lot of great machines, (16" Oliver TS, 30" Tanny BS, etc) but if there was ONE machine I can't do without, it would be my wide belt. I can't understand why more people don't get one. yes, expensive, but what a huge timesaver, (what a great name for a wide belt?). I have the original single phase 5 hp. I have to admit that it is also easy to overload that machine. IF you do, a tip. Keep a close eye on that ammeter. If it gets "close" to max, quickly let up on the thickness! IF you stall out the machine for more than a 2 seconds, you are harming the necklace of the start windings. It can take a few such stalls, but then the plate will burn such that it won't start. Then you have to tear the cap off and replace that necklace and probably the capacitor. Or if you can't do it, the motor repair company will charge you a couple hundred to do it. AND taking the motor out of one of those machines takes a couple hours to get in and out at the least. I'm tempted to get a 3 phase one, as that won't be a problem, (plus there is a bit more power). And of course, now days, ANYONE can run 3 phase, with a VFD! My wide belt does NOT have a platen, which means it is not quite as smooth sanding as those that do. I'm curious if anyone has such and how they find it? again, great video

Thank you so much for making this video. There's usually a reason why I can't bring myself to buy a tool and I see that this time I didn't buy a drum sander yet because I hadn't seen a video like this. It's always seemed that it's because there is something better for me to buy. I'm glad I just chose to get a band saw rather than a drum sander. Now to decide between an occolating drum sander and a wide belt sander. Just have to apply the guiding principle my wife is having me apply "What will work best for you for the next 30 years?"

You make very good points comparing one to the other. After your video I placed an order for an oscillating drum sander from Jet 22-44OSC as I’m not a pro shop and the price is way too high for my wallet to go to wide belt sander. After few months of using the new drum sander I got, I’ve been able to address the grove issues very easily as I slow the feed rate, take off less material per pass, and finally adjust the oscillation speed which eliminates all the groves. If I run a 220 grit it’s pretty much perfect, no need for hand sanding. Yes it’s slower but then I just build stuff in small volume. I still dream of switching grits as easily as you can do in a wide belt sander. But that’s not possible. However I have a bonus machine I’ve made from the drum sander. If you remove the top cover which connects to the dust extractor, increase the drum head height to 4 inches, create a box with an exhaust port and slide it under the drum head, lower the drum head to secure the box, make sure your conveyor belt is off, make a table with a slit in the middle to expose the drum, and put it on top of the drum head. Now you got a table sander that oscillates and you can put drawer boxes and tall objects like chairs and sand all joints and surfaces perfectly.

Very powerful wisdom you have taught me million reasons for relevant decision about sanding, cheers.

Years ago I worked at a cabinet shop that had a 36 inch wide belt sander. I knew then I had to have one but couldn't afford the price so I made one. It was a challenge and a lot of work but it works great and made me a lot of money over the years as a woodworker. I've got a 15 horse motor on it with a phase converter. I love it. If you can, go big.

On the drum sander, I would add that any oily woods (rosewoods, etc.) will kill belts almost instantly. Even being extremely careful, their usefulness will seldom last past one session of sanding.

Very wholesome video. I'm not thinking of doing anything related to what was discussed but I stood because I could see the true passion you hold for your craft. Love the videos!

I had a performax drum sander and replacing the roll was a major pain. sold it and bought a Jet drum sander - very happy with the difference

Best comparison on KZfaq with so much information packed into this video - and worth watching the entire video!! - R

Very good video. I have worked in pro shops where we had German wide belts. The issue with both is that it takes a lot of power. We had amp meters which we had to watch. It’s easy to push the amps to high. Spare parts for wide belts can be costly. The tracking system in wide belts can be a real pain when things don’t go right. Blue Oliver built an oscillating two drum sander which was nice. Right now I am considering one for my own shop. We sanded to 180 grit to ensure proper staining. Using 220 can burn belts and cause staining issues. We had 220 on the two stage belt sander and we sanded back to 180 by hand due to staining. Ultimately the wide belt often outperforms the drum. The issue with the planer is in panels. Panels have rails and stiles which give planers issues. Hand sanding can cause thickness variations on the panels esp if your rails and stiles are not spot on. I use lots of 5 piece panels so thickness sanders are a real time saver. Also if you make your own thick veneers, a surface sander really helps whether it’s a wide belt or drum. Good video and the differences.

Thank you so much for your honest opinions. I've been debating the purchase between the two and really didn't know which direction to go.

For me, the wide belt sander can thickness but also, is great for sanding. The drum sander is great for leveling down glue, epoxies and inlay materials. Most people buy one thinking it's going to save a lot of time sanding and many will say it but the lines that are left from a drum sander can cause more sanding. I've used many types and the wide belt will actually leave a sanded finish that you would be expecting and wanting. I'm happy to see someone finally give an honest review on a drum sander. So many reviews like to say how much it's helped them or how great they are but I feel it's become bias confirmation. I definitely have found a better surface easier to sand off the planer than off a drum sander.

I am glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching and for your comment!

Thanks for sharing. I was in the same boat 3 years ago and chose to buy a used Drum Sander. I build 2 sets of kitchen cabinets a year as a side job and am now trying to justify and number crunch how long it would take cover the purchase of the exact Belt Sander you have. My advice is the same as yours.... steer clear of Drum Sanders. Even at 180 grit, it takes forever with a RO Sander getting all the lines out of the wood.

I'm currently in the process of turning my hobby into a ww business and this is certainly one of my dilemmas. I have been building electric guitars for a few years now and was able to purchase a Jet 10-20 thickness sander about 5 years ago.....and I really hate using it. The wide-belts are $$$ but the time saved and results are incomparable. This video really helped me make a decision. Thank you! (Now, if I could only FIND a decent used one, but I can't right now.)

We have no issues with grooves on a wide format drum sander. But it was supported on both sides.. Maybe it was our sandpaper being better? We built live edge tables. So it had to be able to take up the 4 ft wide. A home built machine we did and it would take 8 to 10 minutes a pass.. because we ran it slow and let the machine, sandpaper/ drum work. But it would come out like glass and perfectly flat. Something you cannot do by hand. So they can work well for many things. Again, ours was shop built. The 8 foot table was stationary and the Gantry moved. These live edge table tops are a couple inches thick and very heavy. Different machine, but it was a drum sander. They can work well.

IMO, the main difference is the power requirements. One uses a 120V circuit with 20 amp breaker. The other uses 230V but may require up to a 50 amp breaker. If you are running a 230V dust collector you will quickly max out your panel

Hi there The information from these videos are eye openers I have learnt so much

Fantastic informative video Todd, I enjoy seeing comparisons & reviews on machinery & tools mate 👍👍👍

I have the Supermax and putting paper on it is a huge pain the tension clip on the inboard side kills my old hands.

Wolfe, thanks for making video.

totally agree, the drum sander I had for awhile (grizzly) created more work if anything... my planer but out a better product

At 9:01 it kind of felt exaggerated with how difficult it is, almost like an infomercial...

I am so happy that I watched this before buying a used drum sander. Working on a guitar and a deep scratch could ruin the board. Wondering if premium sandpaper might solve this though?

You said the best orbital sander is Bosch. In my opinion, there is no better than Mirka. I had the opportunity to work with each of them - nothing can compare to Mirka's quality. This is important because even with the best sanding papers and the best wide belt sander, there are often times when you need to make adjustments if you are striving for true perfection. I call it "the master's touch". Then the quality of the handheld sander becomes of prime importance and Mirka is the right choice IMHO. Felder + Mirka it is it!

great research.... Thanks a lot to save my money on drum sander.

You're welcome!

So tell your viewers about the ( stroke sanders ), and how they can be compared with the drum and the wide belt sanders. Have you ever used a stroke sander?

Thanks

Thanks for sharing!

I would love a wide belt for my shop, but I just don’t have room, or power. I am thinking about a drum that is supported on both ends instead of the open end design

Always a big help. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.

It's only worth the money if the company you buy the machine from still offers parts for said machine. I just found out that the drum sander I bought from Grizzly back in 2013 isn't supported anymore. I sure hope that doesn't happen to you people who spent all that money on a wide belt sander from the same company!!

Very helpful!

How about an oscillating drum sander?

great video, how do you handle sanding short pieces on a wide belt sander

Hello there. Greetings from Guatemala, can someone help me , I need to get a second hand 24 or 36 inches wide belt sander? From here , I have no idea about pages or places to have access. Thanks a lot.

I wonder how my 37in wide 7-1/2 Hp double drum sander compares to that belt sander ?

I have a timesavers 137, its a big machine its 20 HP. Its a great machine and does a great job, I wouldn't ever waste my money on a drum sander they are slow, eat up sandpaper and they don't do a good Job, Now I know that most people don't have the space and electrical supply for a widebelt and the one you have in the video which is an open ended machine are not good when you flip the piece around you get a groove from the edge of the paper. I am not a fan of Grizzly. That being said I feel the better option would be to find a shop that has a good wide belt and have them run it for you, you'll get better results and you won't have to lay out all the money and space for the machine.

How many board feet can get out of a role of paper? How much material would you be removing from a piece of lumber per pass for 80, 100, 120, 150 grit ?

Really valuable video. Thanks!

Very helpful video!!

The best orbital Sander are the RUPES! The RUPES are the best in the world.

Great video, thanks buddy.

Extremely helpful and detailed. All the other videos I've seen seem to be plugging a particular machine.

Great video, thank you. Have you used the extension bar and done any wider pieces on the wide belt?

I had the same drum sander, what i did, the last pass thru I flipped board around and 90% of the grooves were gone

Can you comment on snipe? My DeWalt 735 (with helical head) give a good surface with no snipe, but is underpowered for the new cutter. What I read about 'upgrading' to a 15" floor model suggests snipe will be a bigger factor. Is a belt sander a solution to save those board ends, or is it still an issue?

Thanks for the comparison. Would love to know your thoughts on that edge sander you have there. Considering a purchase of one.

Wow. This was enlightening and a little depressing at the same time. Do you feel that an oscillating drum sander would eliminate the gouge lines the standard drum sander left behind? I was considering buying a drum sander (either a JET oscillating drum sander or a Baileigh dual roller drum sander) but now I'm not so sure.

I have an old Grizzly 24" double drum sander (that i scored for dirt cheap) that hasn't had much use as of yet as i have been upgrading & fine tuning it as it was neglected in its prior life. And i'm still nowhere near a wide belt. But i have access to a 52" wide belt at work now so no real stress there. But someday i'll get one. I would have been considering a small upgrade tho. and was looking at the newer Jet 2244 single drum Oscilliating drum. Wonder how that would stack up to the wide belt in terms of surface finish (granted still has the draw backs of being a drum and slowness, but cheaper) @ about 3k its its still a chunk that could be saved towards a used wide belt tho. 8-)

HELLO DO YOU RECOMMEND THIS TOOL? OR BETTER ANOTHER BRAND MODEL?

Good God how deep are you going per pass that you tripped the overload on the drum sander? I have same performax 16/32 drum sander and have never had it over load before. The motor doesn't even get very warm at all.

Great video, very informative but couldn't some of the issues be because it's an old crappy drum sander? Wouldn't a new one work much better?

I have the same grizzly sander and have had trouble with the tracking....i think my switching valve is bad but I cant find one.any thoughts?

Super helpful thanks How the belt sander perform when you do wider boards than the sander ?

hello sir witch way should the drum on the drum sander be turning

Does this grizzly model require pneumatic air for the oscillation control?

I got a shop fox double drum sander it cut down my sanding time by 300%..should of gotten it years ago

I've got the same drum sander and I've got a bridge wood wide belt equivalent to your wide belt sander ...I never use the drum at all. I don't like the change over time but the drum sander has its place in the home shop or low power supply issues...the drum sander isn't as good at thicknessing as in taking off stock....but these little perormax drum sanders have come a long way. That said the drum sander will burn super easy...but the belt on say high sugar content hardwoods like fruit wood or cherry the belt can be made to burn but the drum is a project to keep it from burning

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