JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

I recently purchased the 16-32 drum sander and have used it to prepare stock and smooth segments for a segmented vessel I am turning. It's a great time saver. I thought I should comment on my experience setting up and tuning the sander. I almost didn't buy it based on other reviews regarding difficulty in getting the belt to track, the drum adjusted, and changing the paper. The only problem that I experienced was mounting the sander to the legs. I had to elongate one of the holes, but that was an easy fix and hardly worth mentioning. The alignment and tuning process was easier than I expected, but the complete set-up still took me about 4 hours. I don't understand all the negative comments about changing the paper. I was able to change grits in just a few minutes on my first try, and didn't need to use the tool that Jet provides for the inboard attachment. Maybe Jet has made some improvements since the negative reviews were written because I don't see how it could be much easier. Personally, I prefer the 120 grit. The 80 grit that is installed from the factory is a bit rough for the work that I am doing. The product might deserve the full 5 stars. I haven't had it long enough to give it a "perfect" rating yet. But, I have had it long enough to know that I have added a great tool to my shop. Buying it was a difficult decision for me but I'm glad I bought it.

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

Works Great very easy to use!!!

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

I use this primarily for Ukulele making. Works very well for getting the pieces to the right thickness. I usually use 120 grit and the surface is very smooth and even, though I had sand anywhere from 320 to 1500 for the finish. Like the guitar maker who reviewed this, rather than use the built in gauge, as I get close, I check the piece itself for the proper thickness. Not sure what happened to the person who gave it one star, but mine is well aligned, is easy and accurate to adjust, and the paper isn't a problem. I should mention that mine was partly a gift from family members, with me paying the balance, but it's worth the price.

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

I just bought this machine and started to mill 1000 feet of cherry for panelling in a theater. All I needed was the 120 grit to remove the machine glaze and it did a perfect job. It takes patience to get it set up but then does a perfect job.

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

Since I bought this products, I have been using it occasionaly but I love this product. It works great for my needs.

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

Unit arrived DOA from a bad circuit board, Jet replaced sent new board-no problem. Can't keep drum in alignment. Sanding belts are breaking and can not find a reason for it. When the belt breaks it rolls on top of itself and gouges the wood so bad it I have to start over with a new piece. When it does work it is slow and underpowered. Waste of money, wood, and time. I wish I had spent the extra money for real drum sander.

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

I am a guitar maker and having an accurate thickness sander is an important part of my work. This machine is a dream come true for the small shop in need of a production sander for small to medium parts. My guitar tops and backs are cut from plates that measure 18-20" wide, requiring me to rotate them 180 degrees and sand each half. The 16-32 performs this operation perfectly. It took me about a half day to tune the machine and get it working to my specs. I found that using actual stock to set the drum-to-table adjustment worked better than using a guage as the manual suggests. I have mine set so that the outfeed side sands about .010 higher than the infeed, allowing wider stock to be rotated with no overlap marks at all. I get .010 consistency across the drum width, as good as any industrial full size wide belt sander I have used. Changing paper is the real "make it or break it" issue with sanders. If the sanding belts are a pain to change, the machine will be frustrating to use. In the case of the Jet 16-32, this operation is a breeze. I changed my first belt in about 2 minutes. I don't understand comments to the contrary; my feeling is that anyone who has the hand skills to work with wood should be able to easily change belts quickly. Pay attention to the factory installed belt when you remove it and you will have no trouble learning to change grits. Some reviews comment on the difficulty of conveyor belt tracking adjustments. I did replace my conveyor with the poly upgrade (on line auction, $70) and so my comments relate to that, but it took me about 20-30 minutes to get the belt to track perfectly. Like most people, my tendency to over-correct was the biggest part of that learning curve. All in all, this is an amazing machine for a great price and I would not be able to do the work I do as quickly and accurately without it. A must-have for luthiers!

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

I have only used it a few times but it seems to be a Great machine

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

I bought this machine last fall and have used it quite a bit. I build furniture and saw my own veneers which it has come in handy for both. I primarily use it to remove snipe and tearout from the planer. It is not a finish ready surface, but it gets me to using a #4 plane a lot faster. It is very accuarte and the adjustable feed rate with the overload light is helpful. I did have problems getting my coveyor belt aligned when i got it so jet sent me a new belt that worked. The new one was much thinner and conformed to the bed better than the original. Several people say that it is hard to change the sandpaper but i completely disagree. I can change it in less than 2 minutes and i would assume most people could do the same after a couple tries. Overall, it is a little on the pricey side for a non necessity but i do like having it in my shop.

Comments about JET Drum Sander, Model 16-32 Plus Package :

Fantastic product with few drawbacks. I started doing various projects for craft shows as well as building my own kitchen cabinets, so I decided a drum sander was in order. Even with a small 12" cutting board, the sanding takes half the time compared to my 6 x 48 belt sander because the whole thing is being sanded at once. You also don't have to worry about uneven surfaces or gouges like you do with a belt sander. It is very easy and convenient. It does a great job and you end up with a nice even board. I'm even using it on some thinner, smaller stock instead of the jointer. It's easier, no chipout, and I don't expose anything to a spinning blade. There are drawbacks you need to be aware of. Dust collection is mandatory. You will suffocate from the sawdust without a collector hooked up. Changing the belt is a horrible pain. I wish they could just use hook and loop. The first time you try to change the belt you will want to jump off a bridge. It's that bad. Also, continous heavy sanding will build up heat, clog the sanding strip and cause scorch marks on your project. Keep the paper clean and don't let your project get too hot. At [$] retail, these aren't for an occasional project, you need to have a steady stream or at least a decent quantity of sanding projects every year, but if you do and you hate sanding as much as I do it's worth every penny. Ten minutes follow up with the oscillating sander and you're good to go.