Thread: Drum Sander sanding grits

I have a Carbatec WDS 630 C .The larger twin drum machine. I don't use the machine for sanding, for a finish that is . I use it more as a thicknesser. So the coarse belts are good for that . I don't think these drum sanders are that good at finish sanding with finer grits and Id prefer a random orbital for that . Just my opinion there I could be wrong .There are probably guys using them to finish with. Ive never even tried fine sanding with it . Even with 120 its a lot of fine passes and easy burning.
My machine is set up with both drums running 60 grit atm and I can take fine work down from where my thicknesser ends at 5mm . To try for anything thinner than that in the thicknesser and it eats it . I would happily use 32 grit for this use , Ive just never had any to use . Ive used the machine for thicknessing down fine work when making cross bandings and string inlay between 1 and 3mm thick . The machine is amazing at what it allows for this sort of thing . When using it this way I'm not shoving lots of boards through like parts for furniture . Being the decorative parts its all smaller.

Rob

180 grit max but like auscab says you Polly don’t want to. I use 180 on veneered panels and tend to run the material through multiple times for a given thickness. It is a slow way to reach a finished result. A ROS is a much better option to get close to finished.

cheers
B

Hi Rob
Thanks for the reply.

My experience is limited but I find that with 80grit I am going backwards. Veneers off my bandsaw are much better finished that I get passing through 80 grit. The scratches 80 grit leaves are deep and coarse. I have some 120 grit belts which I will try next but I think I really only need to start with 180 -240. Then a ROS would only be needed for a lick and polish. I won't be using the Drum Sander as a thicknesser.

I am intrigued by why you would use two 60 grit drums on a dual drum. Why not use 60/120 or 120/180 to give a better finish?
Cheers
Ron

Tom

I don't think I need the Drum Sander as a thicknesser. The panel I will be putting through are essentially flat and semi smooth off the bandsaw etc. I bought it to produce finish sanded panels of even thickness. Have I bought the wrong machine to produce almost finished flat sanded flat panels?

Ron

Ron,

I think many people use a drum sander to get consistent thicknesses, especially on thinner boards, veneers, inlay bandings and cranky grain. Personally I wouldn’t use it to get my final finish, I’d scrape for preference or hand sand or, if the pieces were larger I’d use a ROS.

Brian

Originally Posted by ronboult

Hi Rob
Thanks for the reply.

My experience is limited but I find that with 80grit I am going backwoods. Veneers off my bandsaw are much better finish that I get passing through 80 grit. The scratches 80 grit leaves are deep and coarse. I have some 120 grit belts which I will try next but I think I really only need to start with 180 -240. Then a ROS would only be needed for a lick and polish. I won't be using the Drum Sander as a thicknesser.

I am intrigued by why you would use two 60 grit drums on a dual drum. Why not use 60/120 or 120/180 to give a better finish?
Cheers
Ron

Hi Ron . If I'm chasing a good finish I don't use these machines for it . They are not that good at it . Specially on larger furniture sized boards. maybe if your into making small boxes they could be good ?
Buy a Festool random orbital with a matching vacuum cleaner for finishing if you want fast smooth perfection . You can go through paper grades very fast with them . They are amazing .

Used as a thicknesser , two drums with the same paper is like one pass = two . Its being hit twice each pass and these machines work by using light passes , not trying to take off too much at once and having the conveyor belt set just right works. 80 grit is pretty good surface for glueing to . The work can be glued down to the job then the upper surface can be worked towards the finish. Planed or just cabinet scraped then sanded.
When I need a paper change ill be trying 40 or 32 grit If I get around to getting some . At that time I may find a 32 and then 80 on the second works well . I'm just needing to finish flat and at a glueing surface though .

The acoustic guitar builders use these machines for sizing back and sides to thickness. What amazes me about them is how small pieces stay on the conveyor , get sanded and come out the other side and its all so accurate . I can saw cranky decorative grain off anything and machine it down and crossband the top of a desk with a boarder of veneer in old style sawn thickness and save many hours because of this machine . they are great for that.

Rob

Rob

Hi again Rob
I have had a Festool 150mm ROS and Festool vacuum for many years which has had a lot of use. Unfortunately I have developed a chronic right shoulder problem that makes using the ROS somewhat of a problem. Hence my purchase of the DS.

Why doesn't a drum sander produce a fine sanded panel?

Consider the following.

The drum rotation is parallel to the grain when the board (grain) is fed in perpendicular to the drum. One would think that this should be similar to hand sanding with the grain.

The depth adjustment is very fine which allows for very little wood removal.

And the belt speed is adjustable so as to not burn the wood.

My thinking was that this should produce a fine sanded panel, probably not completely finished, but still ready to be finally hand sanded at the upper grit sizes that I like (360 or 480).

Any ideas why it doesn't work?
Ron

Originally Posted by ronboult

Any ideas why it doesn't work?
Ron

I'm not saying it doesn't work Ron . To some degree it will work , and then when you find yourself swearing at it you will have found its limits
Depends on what wood your using and what your building as well . You may find it works for what you do . I know there is no way it would work for what I do. Things like furniture sized components . Side board or Dining Table parts. I have much faster better ways. I rarely even use the festo that much. When ever I can I use ROS Air powered and wet the piece down with water. when I'm back to dry sanding I use Festo and very fine paper.

The problem with them is the drum diameter only allows a small amount of paper around its diameter. So it heats up very fast. The way to sand by machine is with those big machines where the belt goes around a drum and a few other rollers allowing some meters of belt length. they probably oscillate as well . And have something like three grades of paper ?

Hey Ron I have a Jet 22/44 oscillating sander and in the process of trialing Mirka sanding mesh so far so good. Does take a while to stretch to full tension and you want really good dust extraction to stop clogging. If using rubber sticks to clean be super carefully as the abranet grabs a lot
Peter

Hi Peter
What grit Abranet are you using?
Ron

Ron I am trying out 80 grit as that’s my main grit I use for guitar making only ever use 120 for finishing then scrapers.