Wide drum sanders

[Lyle]

Hello all.
I inherited an old abused Carbatec WDS400. It has performed fairly poorly due I suspect to the original abuse.
Looking at a new Carbatec WDS400.
Any opinions good bad indifferent?
Ease of adjustments for making drum parallel to the platten.
Ease of changing sanding grits.
Feed speeds.
Power.
Spares.
Etc.
Any others to consider.
Does JET still make them.
Hobby use.
Thanks in advance
Lyle

[riverbuilder]

The old man had the hare and Forbes 900 wide twin drum one and he thought it was fine, he spent a day or so tuning it up and it ran sweetly. Sadly I sold it when he died and of course now I need one so I am looking too. There’s a few threads on those carbatec ones the paper is difficult to attach apparently.
good luck.

[Lyle]

Thanks.
Yep on this old one getting the paper to tension is a pain. I have tried and failed multiple times.
But I think the newer ones are better. (apparently)
Getting the drum parallel to the platten is difficult too. I have used shims but still not satisfactory to me.
But I think it was the abuse it was subjected too. That was probably also why it now runs very hot, even with light use.

[riverbuilder]

If it was run without a dust extractor, the bearings will be shot, without a doubt.

[Chesand]

Do a search as there has been at least one thread covering these.
I have an older one and getting the paper in is a PITA but if you cut a little slice off the outside edge of the paper on the inner end it seems to help to get it tight.

[Lyle]

Thans Tom.
Yep looked at those threads.
Looking at either the Carbatec WDS400 or a supermax 16-32 .
Supermax 16-32 is 2x the price but more features. BUT only 76mm sanding depth. Carbatec is 125mm.
Still cogitating.....

[DomAU]

Thans Tom.
Yep looked at those threads.
Looking at either the Carbatec WDS400 or a supermax 16-32 .
Supermax 16-32 is 2x the price but more features. BUT only 76mm sanding depth. Carbatec is 125mm.
Still cogitating.....


You could always consider the Supermax 19-38 or the 25-50. You get 100mm with those I believe. For the relatively small price difference, if you're already at the 19-38 then the 25-50 seems like the better choice - unless you are pretty sure you won't want the extra width. But then of course you are probably well north of your initial budget....

I wish I could give some feedback on the 25-50 but mine is still sitting in a box (boxes) until I build a stand for it - hopefully in the next month or so. It's been over 7 months since I bought it! Where does the time go. When I was looking the Supermax machines seemed to be well liked with good feedback - which is why I went for one I guess.

Cheers,

Dom