Thickness/Drum Sander

[Ross Lowry]

I am thinking about buying a good cheap thickness/drum sander, any brands that wont cost me out the wazoo but are good qaulity?
Maybe give me some pros and cons of them too.
I was thinking of building my own, but to many other things to finish first, and this would help me to finish them faster.
Thanks

[Bob Hallowell]

Ross,
I don't think good and cheap go together when you are talking about a thickness drum sander

Bob

[NICK BARBOZA]

I agree with Ross.

I own the performax 16-32. when i bought it a few years ago it was around $1k. the most expensive machine i had bought up untill that point. but it was worth it. for what i do it preps all my stock prior to final assembly or somtimes before major machining.

one major con of this machine is that i dont get too much use out of the 32" feature. i am yet to get really good results from that. but with some serious tweaking i could probably get it just right.

[Jason Beam]

Good and Cheap ... easy to do - you just can't have it NEW or FAST ...

I got a performax 16-32 for $500 - it wasn't new, but it was new enough. It took 2 years of watching craigslist for that kind of deal to come along, but I was patient. All the while watching for sale prices on the 10-20 never dropping below about $450.

Good
Cheap
New
Fast

Pick 2

[Bill Wyko]

Ross,
I don't think good and cheap go together when you are talking about a thickness drum sander

Bob
That's eaxctly what I was going to say:o

[Robin Cruz]

I am thinking about buying a good cheap thickness/drum sander, any brands that wont cost me out the wazoo but are good qaulity?
Maybe give me some pros and cons of them too.
I was thinking of building my own, but to many other things to finish first, and this would help me to finish them faster.
Thanks
the least expensive 16/32 is the Laguna. Its a tweeked version of the Steel City. I comes with table extension and wheeled stand for $595. The next price up is the Jet 16/32 for $850 (Amazon). there is a Jet 10/20 for $495 (Amazon). JEt and performax are the same.

[Ross Lowry]

What are some of your thoughts on the Laguna brand?

[Barry Clodfelter]

I picked up the Jet 10-20 on sale for around $425 and so far it has done everything I have asked it to do. If you're not needing one that has an open end I would recommend the 10-20.

[Robin Cruz]

What are some of your thoughts on the Laguna brand?
Taunton Fine Woodworking did Ryobi a excellent rating review of that unit
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworki...t.aspx?id=5967 (http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=5967) http://www.sawmillcreek.org/images/buttons/quote.gif (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=852121). Ryobi is discontinued but it was obviously the same OEM mfr that makes Steel City and the Laguna.

The Laguna is at least $100 cheaper from what Ive seen then all of them and in addition comes with table extensions, open end slotted bracket and wheeled base which the others did not. So equivalently maybe its more like $250 cheaper at least.

Someone mentioned the Jet 10/20 not being open ended. It is an open ended unit or else it would be a 10.....and not a 10/20. Check the unit out on Amazon. Amazon has the Jet 10/20 for $500 free shipping. The Jet 16/32 is 850 also free shipping.

The Laguna 16/32 is $595 and not sure what they want for shipping but for me I can pick it up from their store front. You can go to the Laguna website http://www.lagunatools.com and order a free DVD video demo of the drum sander to help with the decision.

The Laguna machine was announced earlier this year so its a new product for them. They will have stock by the end of the month. 15 expected and 12 have a deposit for pre sold. Deposit it fully refundable if you change your mind. I made a deposit to buy one. In my case I can look at the unit before deciding or you could view the video. If in the next two weeks I dont find something used I will probably go with the Laguna.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

I am thinking about buying a good cheap thickness/drum sander,


For reasons that I can't guess at those machines are very pricey.

[Ross Lowry]

Thank you all and I will defenitly be checking out Laguna.

[Robin Cruz]

For reasons that I can't guess at those machines are very pricey.

Im with you. In comparison to a table saw for example it seems like they are relatively very expensive. I guess its a what the market will bare thing.