Need some advise on a drum sander

[Chief]

Dan & Ken,

I've spent the last hour or two looking at all of the options. Shopsmith's Sand Flee looks great but I can't see spend $450 for an aluminum box and a drum but that's typical for Shopsmith which is why the only auxiliary tool I have is the bandsaw and belt sander. I do think I gained enough from looking at the pages that it shouldn't be too hard. And I have a friend who has a complete metalworking shop.

Thanks for the info, guys. It's just what I was looking for.

Chief

[chkorte]

I bought a drum sander kit like the Sand Flee at Stockroom Supply.
http://www.stockroomsupply.com/
I didn’t like it and found a Performax 10X20 drum sander used for $300.
Another thing I bought from Stockroom Supply was a sanding mop. That I wouldn’t be without, I have 2 of them 120 grit and 240 grit.

[Chief]

Dan,

I like the one that Shopsmith has and it would work for me. However, having said that, I think the price is a rip off. On the other hand, I don't have much space for anything in my shop. All of my tools and cabinets are on wheels and it sometimes becomes a dance just to get the tool I need out where there's a few feet to work.

My older son asked me to make a shelving unit for him to store all the different kinds of paper he keeps in his computer room. I was on one side of the worktable and he was on the other side and neither of us could move more than a foot in any direction. I either have to buy a new house with a 2-3 car garage or put an addition onto my basement.

Chief

[luckettg]

I bought a drum sander kit like the Sand Flee at Stockroom Supply.
http://www.stockroomsupply.com/
I didn’t like it and found a Performax 10X20 drum sander used for $300.
Another thing I bought from Stockroom Supply was a sanding mop. That I wouldn’t be without, I have 2 of them 120 grit and 240 grit.

I like this one and am thinking of the largest one for my shop. Thanks for the lead!
Greg

[mostlycold]

Dan,

I like the one that Shopsmith has and it would work for me. However, having said that, I think the price is a rip off. On the other hand, I don't have much space for anything in my shop. All of my tools and cabinets are on wheels and it sometimes becomes a dance just to get the tool I need out where there's a few feet to work.

My older son asked me to make a shelving unit for him to store all the different kinds of paper he keeps in his computer room. I was on one side of the worktable and he was on the other side and neither of us could move more than a foot in any direction. I either have to buy a new house with a 2-3 car garage or put an addition onto my basement.

Chief

Chief,

I don't disagree with you on the Shopsmith premium pricing policy, but if you don't have the space, they do make a workshop in an 18sf area possible. Personally, I'd go for the new house and if you want to share parking and a shop, do what I did - go with an attached 1150sf, 5 car! Best money I ever spent and it had nothing to do with ROI :>)

[Chief]

Dan,

I recently had a chance to pick up a beautiful house for $162k. It was perfect as far as physical condition and exactly what I needed. It also had a 2-car garage and a separate 1-car garage. However, my wife has COPD and she thinks she'll need a lung transplant so, until I can get that idea out of her head, I'm doomed to stay where I'm at.

I live in Pittsburgh and the lots in my neighborhood are 30x100 so I don't have the space to build any garages/workshops. If I did, I would add onto the house something like you did. My 2 sons and I could put that up in a week. Setting up the shop???? That might take months.

Chief

[PCW]

I want to thank everyone that took the time to reply to this post. It was great to see all the differant opinions.

It was a hard choice to make between the power feed sander and the Sand-Flee. I decided on a Performax SuperMax 25"x2 double drum sander. It was lightly used and has a 5 hp 220 motor. It was delivered yesterday and I checked it out and lubed it and ran some boards today and it is totally awesome sander.

I will still keep my eye out for a used Sand-Flee or make one when I have some time.

[lawrence]

Man, that is gorgeous... and a DUAL DRUM sander to boot....


Lawrence

[bowfingers]

Wow looks like you got a great machine!
Hope it works as good as it looks!