Official Luthiers Forum!

Here's the deal. I'm a notorious (to the people that know me) window shopper. I have a Jet/Performax 10-20 that has worked well for the short time that I've owned it. It's a cute lil guy.

Then the Tim "the toolman" Taylor bug bit me when I saw an ad posted on Craigslist for a beast of a drum sander at a fantastic price. So now I'm considering selling the little one and getting the big one. The big one is an RBI industries 26" drum sander...weighs like 600 pounds, closed-end drum sander.

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ ... px?id=5639

The only issue I can see at just reading the specs on it (I have yet to see it in person), is that the shortest piece one can sand is 4". Then again, I haven't put anything that short through the smaller sander.

With the bigger one, being closed would lend itself to having less possible deflection, I would assume. Also, time saving of not having to flip the wider pieces when sanding would be a nice bonus. Although the motor would be less likely to bog/shut down with a more aggressive pass, I do realize this is not a planer and that the paper will still heat/clog, etc.

So I guess I was wondering what all your thoughts were on this. If I do get it, I'll have a Jet 10-20 for sale, with extra paper for it.


Darrin

Darrin Are you a full time shop and making a bunch a year? Are you a hobby builder? Is instrument building what your going to do with it or are you planning on a bunch of other uses that require wider drums.

For me (and me only) that is a bunch of bucks for a hobby if that is what you are now, or not having bunch of orders. I am a cheap guy though. I would think if hobby or just thinking of going pro over time, might go bigger over time.

I know guys have done well on the small sanders that make and put out 30 or so guitars a year and just now going larger. There are larger sanders out there for less cost. But then again I am looking at it as guy who goes lower and then as grow, will increase my tools size and uses. If doing a bunch and want the better bargin, spend a few extra bucks and get an 18" widebelt. Boss had 16/32" for years and worked fine, now 24" double drum General. That is after almost 30 yrs of building and work and a lot of instruments. He also puts out a bunch of work a year and he thought long and hard before that decision.

I use the Griz 18" open end. After some consternation, I finally got it setup and does great. That said, you may have a lot of bucks or cost isn't an issue, so then go for it it that is the case. This has to be one of those things you know your budget and use and do what works for you. For me and my outut of 15 or so a year, kind of high considering can do with what I have.

Hi darren,
I really like the idea of a "5/8" thick ,blanchard ground table"-With that said I have had the Performax 22-44 for about 8 years(it was used when I got it!) and have sanded litterally thousands of tops and backs with it.
One of the problems I have had is the sandpaper conveyer wears out and thy cost around $60. bucks to replace.
The other problem I have is the table is made of sheet metal,which bends and contorts over time.
By the way the RBI looks a lot like the Woodmaster.
You never said how much this used machine costs.

I believe that the old Woodmaster was owned by RBI and then the new Woodmaster bought both names. Just my speculation. The big used drum sander is $500. Which is less than what I paid for my 10-20.

Darrin

I just can't make up my mind if I want to post in this thread or not........

You will know what to do Darrin my friend......

Darrin, you could always double-tape a smaller than 4'' piece to a carrier board and run it through...

I have a dual drum 25'' Craftex machine. (In Canada we have Craftex, but I hear this machine is identical to the Grizzly or General?) It is by far the best tool I ever bought for guitar building, but since you own one already, you know this...

When I was shopping around, I coudln't find a used machine locally. Then I noticed that Sears sold and open-ended sander under the Mastercraft brand. This machine was identical to the smaller Performax. The price was 1250$ for the Mastercraft. The price for the Craftex was about 1670$. Since I didn't own a drum-sander, I wanted the most bang for my buck. The Craftex was/is way more machine than the Mastercraft could ever hope to be. At 600 lbs. + it's a bigger, at 3HP it's stronger (vs. 1.5 HP) so I figured that for the extra coin, I was getting way more machine and like you, I knew the upgraditis bug would be eradicated for a long while. Also, they have an older model Craftex where I work and this machine gets regular use and has stood the test of time, as it were...

All that to say that my motto is that I'm too poor to buy cheap. If you can afford it (you can always sell the one you have now), go for it! You know you want to!!! Ha!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

didn't see the cost at 500 link had it at 2400 or so

Alain Quote: "It is by far the best tool I ever bought for guitar building, but since you own one already, you know this... "

Bruce Quote: "I second Alain's quote, When I got my General International and paid $1600 for it. At that point I began to feel like a real guitarmaker."

I use that hoss of a machine to abrasive plane neck layup materials, bone saddles and nuts from doggie treats, and yes they are hide glued to a carrier board, works great. I sand tops and backs and sides. And just last week me and an old grandpa type sanded out the black walnut for his granddaughter's Heirloom Toy Box. Those toys never had it so good.

Now, well shucks, I think I'll go sand some bubinga and claro walnut guitar sets, just to get me in the mood....

....for Fall.

...oh, and Alain, that's one helluva good looking box in your avatar, gotta love the double x bracing, nice...

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Stan:

The link was just to show the machine. The one I'm looking at is on craigslist for $500. According to that review the street price could be around $2400. I assume that was MSRP, though, so may have been less.

No I'm not a full-time builder or woodworker. No I'm not rich so money is always a factor. That's why I went with the 10-20 instead of a 22-44 in the first place.

I seriously enjoy getting your input on stuff like that, or reading it when someone else has a similar question/situation.

So does TAS always come with WAS?

Darrin

I've had a 16-32 Performax for 10 years!
It's a dream to own!
I follow the prescribed lube schedule & have it adjusted to .003
from side to side-paper thickness & table flex may make up the .003
BUT that does not matter!
Try planing wood by hand & get the close !

Spending twice as much and not getting twice as much a tool would be a waste of money!

Mike

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Mike Collins

I've had a 16-32 Performax for 10 years!
It's a dream to own!
I follow the prescribed lube schedule & have it adjusted to .003
from side to side-paper thickness & table flex may make up the .003
BUT that does not matter!
Try planing wood by hand & get the close !

Spending twice as much and not getting twice as much a tool would be a waste of money!

Mike

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Mike Collins