Initial impressions of the Performax 10-20 Plus Drum Sander

[Jediscroller]

As you know, I purchased one of these on Saturday. First thing I'll say is that this thing was a LOT heavier than I had anticipated. Putting it together was a breeze, basically all that you have to do is install the drum height adjustment handle. It comes equipped with a very coarse grit sandpaper (36 or 60 grit, I'm not quite sure which). Set-up took a little bit of time. I've read several reviews about "problems" with the tracking. It took me about 20 minutes to adjust the tracking but the conveyor now tracks perfectly. For test purposes, I ran about 10 bd. ft. of maple through it as it's a hard wood and I figured I'd give it a challenge right off the bat. I initially stalled the drum several times running the wood through it. Basically I was either feeding it too fast or taking too deep of a pass. Once I learned the proper feed rate and depth it performed flawlessly.
So, my initial impressions give it 4 stars.
Minuses: The tracking is somewhat tricky to get right which is about the only negative I have to say about it.
Pluses: I really like the fact that the feed conveyor has its own motor, the infinitely variable speed for feed will come in immensely handy and the machine is very solidly built. The drum is driven by a 1 HP motor which easily sanded maple with the coarse grit. I was able to tweak the thickness of my wood by 1/64" and it perfectly flattened the boards removing the snipe from my planer. I found zero snipe from the machine as set up by the factory. This will save me a lot of lumber in that in the past I just allowed for an extra 6" or wood as scrap due to planer snipe. I will no longer have to worry about that.
Summary- I can easily see this becoming a workhorse in the shop. I ordered some 120 and 180 grit sandpaper from Amazon as they had those on sale so I'll have more to add about the ease (or lack thereof) of changing sanding grits. At this point, I wouldn't hesitate recommending this sander to anyone in the market for a benchtop sized drum sander.

[Steviegwood]

Thanks for the initial review Kevin. I have often dreamed of the 18-36 sander and a bandsaw with re-saw capabilities but that is looking more like a dream than a reality at this point in time. Keep us up to date on the performance of that sander please. Is the paper H&L or adhesive backed? Steve

[Paul S WI]

Kevin - I have had the Performax 16-32 for quite some time now (about 4-5 years) and wouldn't give it up. Another piece of arsenal in the sanding war. Once setup I have not touched or tweeked the belt since. Works great. Sandpaper can be expensive when purchased in the 4 to a box set so I am considering my next purchase to be the roll of pre-marked but 'cut it yourself' from Klingspor. All my scrolling projects wood goes through the drum sander before it hits the scrollsaw.

Steve - It is neither. It just wraps around a drum and the ends just hook into a spring tension clasp or jaw at the end of the drum. It's slick, takes about 30 seconds to remove one belt and install another.

[Steviegwood]

Thanks for answering my question about the sandpaper for these sanders Paul. That gives me more reason to make this purchase as I have a supply of sandpaper that I can cut my own from. I get the used sanding belts from a cabinet company and there is a great deal of life left in them as they are washable but may have a burn mark out in the middle so they can not use them. That is something for some of you to check into if you have a cabinet shop near you also. Steve

[millwab]

Originally Posted by Jediscroller

At this point, I wouldn't hesitate recommending this sander to anyone in the market for a benchtop sized drum sander.

Kevin, that's great! Thanx for the review. All I need now is for someplace to put it on sale

[millwab]

Originally Posted by Jediscroller

I was able to tweak the thickness of my wood by 1/64" and it perfectly flattened the boards removing the snipe from my planer.

Knowing your penchant for efficiency, now what you need to do is set up the stands for your planer and Performax so that the beds are at the same height. That way you could piggy-back them — feed the rough boards into the planer and the outfeed of the planer directly into the drum sander. One smooth operation <pun intended> to finished/sanded lumber.

[Jediscroller]

Hehehe Bruce, I like that idea. The beds are made at the same height but the feed rate on the planer would be too fast for the feed rate on the sander. Guess I'll have to go shopping for a variable speed planer too, hehehehehehe.

Oh, and they're on sale at Woodcraft for 10% off this Saturday (they gave me the sale price when I bought it last week).

Paul, thanks for the heads up about changing the sandpaper, sounds easier than I thought it would be.

[lucky788scroller]

I cant say that I am surprised, on any accounts Kevin.My 16/32 was purchased gently used, so the tracking issue was dealt with by the previous owner. The issue of stalling the motor.. I have done that on mine as well, and yes, from taking to much off in one pass.You will be sanding along, everything going great, and you think "ah I'll try taking this much off this time" only to find out you oughtna done that! I run my conveyer at less than half speed most of the time. Buying the paper on the large cut your own length (its marked on the backside where to cut for what size sander you have)is your best bet, even though if you dont run a piece of pine through it, your paper will last a long time.Also, on ebay sometimes you can pick up a good deal on sandpaper for it.I have a little trouble changing paper on mine, I think because My fat fingers dont fit in there real well, and I never did figure out how to use that little tool for grabbing the paper clamp. Thanks for the review, I bet you are already seeing why those that have one cant imaging being without one ! Dale

[millwab]

Originally Posted by Jediscroller

Hehehe Bruce, I like that idea. The beds are made at the same height but the feed rate on the planer would be too fast for the feed rate on the sander.

Control, man . . . You've got to get control !!!

[knothead]

Hey Kevin, great review but how was the dust pickup.

Tom