Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 19

Thread: Jet VS Supermax

  1. #1

    Jet VS Supermax

    So I'm ready to pull the trigger on a drum sander. The Supermax 19-38 is on sale. A bit more then what I need in a drum sander in terms of size. The number of times I will be sanding something that wide will be zero. But the price point, it's worth it. Problem is, they're not shipping 'till mid to late November. I have a very strict rule of never ever ever ordering something that won't be made for a month or two and won't ship till a month after that. Every time I've ordered that way, I've been burned. So I could wait till Rona is over and all these manufacturing and shipping delays sort them selves out.....or I could get a Jet 16-32, which ships tomorrow according to Woodcraft. Seen a lot of bad reviews on the Jet, especially with the belt tracking, which the Supermax doesn't seem to have an issue with. But none of the supermaxes are in stock. How bad is the Jet, really?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Fort Worth, TX
    Posts
    13
    I only have the Supermax so I can’t comment on the Jet - but Oh I’m in love with that machine. I’ve got a digital readout on it and it is simply superb. Use it way more than I thought I might.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Tampa Bay area
    Posts
    1,090
    The Jet is nice, but the wait for the SuperMax is well worth it... In my opinion. Looks to me like the SuperMax 16-32 is also on sale and showing in stock at Woodcraft.com.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,688
    I believe there was a recent thread on the same or similar topic...you may want to try to find that.

    I had a Performax unit years ago and it was a good tool. My current drum sander is a SuperMax. (I also put the DRO on it because I use both metric and inches, depending on personal or client specifications) It's excellent. I suspect that the Jet is fine, but SuperMax "does sanders".
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Location
    Waterford, PA
    Posts
    1,225
    I have the SuperMax 16-32 and wouldn't trade it for anything. I use it far more than I thought I would (almost ever project) and it has stayed perfectly adjusted ever since my initial setup of the machine a little over two years ago. The one comment I'll make is be sure you have enough DC for any of the machines. It is very important that you can clear the dust as fast as the machines make it.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Piercefield, NY
    Posts
    1,660
    I'm very happy with my 19-38, it's the only drum sander I've ever used. I am sanding small parts mostly, for musical instruments, I might not be happy if I was making cutting boards or other large high volume jobs. My old 1 hp Reliant dust collector seems to do fine keeping up with the dust, a little goes on the belt and falls off at the back as the belt rolls along, but not enough to be a problem. I just vacuum it up now and then.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Hoschton, Georgia
    Posts
    116
    I have the Supermax 16-32 and use it mostly for segmented rings. It works great. I bought mine back in the Spring and have had no problems with it.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    22,494
    Blog Entries
    1
    I bought the Supermax years ago due to complaints about other makers. Maybe the success of the 19-38 has made the others fix their problems (?). Or . . . You could just get the Supermax
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    NW Indiana
    Posts
    3,078
    My 16/32 Supermax is absolutely great. The only question is why did I wait so long get it.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Mt Pleasant SC
    Posts
    721
    The Jet 18-36 was on sale and has a tracking control and feed speed adjustment.
    Should have mine in two weeks after waiting 6 weeks so far.
    Got the extension tables and sandpaper already.

  11. #11
    I bought my Jet bandsaw from Woodcraft despite the fact that they did not have one in stock and told me they wouldn't for weeks. Worked out fine. They called earlier than they said and were a pleasure to work with. The short wait was worth it to get a good tool at a good price.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    San Francisco Bay Area
    Posts
    271
    I have had a dual drum 37” Supermax for the last 12 years I bought off a cabinet shop that was upgrading to a wide belt sander. It had to be at least 10 years old when I bought it. All I have ever done is replaced the sand paper, the conveyor belt as it was worn damaged by the previous owner and v-belt on it. I did some fine tuning and the thing is accurate and leaves a great finish. Never used a jet branded up but ���� for supermax

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Columbus, OH
    Posts
    3,063
    Call Woodwerks to see if they have the Supermax in stock. They had it on their showroom floor when I was there recently.
    Brian

    "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger or more complicated...it takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." - E.F. Schumacher

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Hoschton, Georgia
    Posts
    116
    Don't get sucked into paying $80 for the Supermax casters. You can buy some that will work just fine from Amazon for about $20.

  15. #15
    So made the 1.5 hour drive to woodcraft today to order the supermax for in store delivery (no shipping charge). 30 minutes of furious computer typing and mouse clicking later here's what I got: "The computer says the 19-38 will ship Nov 11 and the 18-36 on Nov 20 but for past month or two our experience has been to add 2-4 months to those dates". Further discussion revealed that all suppliers are having all sorts of problems with supply chain due to Rona, which makes sense. Not disputing that Rona has completely disrupted the power tool market. I get it. Again, I've been burned bad on "ordering" a 1000$+ tool that hasn't even been built yet. Disappointed, but I'm not going to drop 1300$ on a tool that "might ship" in March of 2021. Or might ship never. Same issue with jet drum sanders, when I asked, "I need a drum sander what will arrive soonest". What the heck, are WW's making a run on drum sanders? They're now rarer than toilette paper was in march!

    "Don't get sucked into paying $80 for the Supermax casters. " I literally had the CC out and was about to pull the trigger on the order. This one WC employee got pretty aggressive about how I "must get the supermax casters and in/out feed tables, all other casters will result in the sander not working", which caused me to dial back and come to the decision not to order. I'm not hoisting up the white flag yet, convince me to order! He also was pretty aggressive about how I was refurbing used planers and damn near got into a fight with me when I wouldn't buy their 350$ LV #7. The other two employees were an absolute pleasure to talk to!

    There's a guy selling a "New in box" supermax 18-36 that is a 3 hour 1 way trip on CL, should I make the drive?



Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •