15 " Wide Belt Sander ?

[Perry Holbrook]

I'm in the market for one of those open end 15" Wide Belts to replace my Performax 16-32. I had hoped that the companies that offer them would have one in Atlanta later this month, but I contacted all (except Grizzly) and none are taking one this year. So, if anyone has hands on experience with the SunHill, Extrema, Bridgewood, Grizzly or Shop Fox I would appreciate your thoughts. In particular I am getting different opinions on contact drum vs platen.

Thanks, Perry

[Dennis Peacock]

I'm in the market for one of those open end 15" Wide Belts to replace my Performax 16-32. I had hoped that the companies that offer them would have one in Atlanta later this month, but I contacted all (except Grizzly) and none are taking one this year. So, if anyone has hands on experience with the SunHill, Extrema, Bridgewood, Grizzly or Shop Fox I would appreciate your thoughts. In particular I am getting different opinions on contact drum vs platen.

Thanks, Perry

Why not a WoodMaster drum sander? Every one of them I've ever seen or read about are excellent.!!!! I have the literature package and video from them and one of those will be the next item for serious purchase.

[Jim Becker]

Perry, there's been a thread in the Mini Max Forum on Yahoo about this and the comments seem favorable. Apparently, the wide-belt versions don't have the "crowning" issues that the drum sanders have when working with material wider than the machine and do a nice job.

Dennis, wide-belt is a 'whole other world' from drum sanders, both in duty cycle and in how long the abrasives last. You can also change grits very quickly...just a release of the tension, pull out the belt, slip in another and re-tension. (Often pneumatic on the better machines) Since Perry is a pro...time is money.

[Perry Holbrook]

If I was going to stay with a drum I would probably look at the larger Performax machines, but I need to upgrade to a belt to get the better performance that they bring to the shop.

[Rob Russell]

Perry,

The basic difference between a non-platen/drum-only and platen-equipped machine is what it's good at doing.

To put it succinctly, a drum-only machine is better for dimensioning where a platen-equipped machine is better for finish sanding.

There have been a number of articles over the past 6 months in some of the "free professional" trade rags I get about sanding and sanders. A wide-belt sander is next on my acquire list, so I've been trying to get a good understanding of the functional differences. I won't have the luxury a year after getting a sander of telling LOML "I think I got the wrong one and need to upgrade/change it for a different one".

Drum-only style machines present a hard surface that the wood moves past - the drum. That's why the drum style is good for dimensioning. You need parts that are accurately sanded to a specific thickness? The drum will do that because the drum presents a relatively unyielding base that the sanding belt rides on. Think of it as a sanding belt equipped planer.

Platen-equipped machines allow a little float in the belt as it passes over the wood. That means if you have a slight high spot, the belt can give a little bit because the platen isn't as unyielding as the drum is. Platen-equipped machine are supposedly better for veener sanding, where you don't want to burn through the veener.

My comments are based on reading, not practical hands-on experience. I will be looking at platen-equipped machines.

The reason you won't see many of the 15' open-end machines at IWF is that IWF is really aimed at the larger commercial user. Yeah - you're in business. Still, you'll see mostly 37" (and larger) machines at IWF. At the Hartford show, there wasn't a 15" there either and that show is aimed at the smaller average size shop in the New England area.

If you don't need the ability to do 30" doors, you might also consider a 25" non-open end unit.

Rob

[Todd Burch]

Perry, I have the Bridgewood 15" "b" model, which is the platen, vs the "a" model that is the single contact drum model. Whne I bought mine, I asked the salesguy which one I wanted, and he said that the better one is the "b" model. I'm not sure about the post above positioning the "b" model as a lesser machine for removing high spot or for dimensioning, as with my model, there are two drums, one at the front and another at the back, with the graphite-coated platen between them. In my opinion, a better setup.

I've had mine for about 16 months and I like it. Sure, I wish it were wider. Anything over 15" does not get overlapped. For instance, a 28" wide panel will get 13½" to 14" sanded on the first past, and 13½" to 14" on the second pass. Then, the middle will get hand-machine sanded. If you run 15" and 15", you will have a divot in the middle 2" of your board. That's the way mine works.

Todd

[Perry Holbrook]

Thanks for the replys so far. I was pretty much set on the platen machine until I spoke with the Sunhill guy who basically said their experience was the platen was overkill for that size machine and they had decided several years ago to drop it for the drum only.

I had also spoken with someone last week who had the Shop Fox and was very pleased, but I kind of got the impression that he was easily pleased with equipment that was a good bit less expensive than others.

I think I'm down to the Extrema or Bridgewood.

Perry

[Rob Russell]

I'm not sure about the post above positioning the "b" model as a lesser machine for removing high spot or for dimensioning, as with my model, there are two drums, one at the front and another at the back, with the graphite-coated platen between them. In my opinion, a better setup.

Todd,

I didn't say the non-platen machines weren't capable of dimensioning, just that the the platen machines won't give as exact a dimension. At least that's what I read and was told by the manufacturers I talked with. We may be splitting some serious hairs here, too.

I agree with your comment that the platen-equipped machines are the "Upper" of the drum-only/platen-equipped choice. The platen-equipped machines are more expensive than the drum-only.

I've had mine for about 16 months and I like it. Sure, I wish it were wider. Anything over 15" does not get overlapped. For instance, a 28" wide panel will get 13½" to 14" sanded on the first past, and 13½" to 14" on the second pass. Then, the middle will get hand-machine sanded. If you run 15" and 15", you will have a divot in the middle 2" of your board. That's the way mine works.

It almost sounds like something might be off with your machine. I think Rich McComas has one and I seem to remember his posting on the FOG that he never saw "witness lines" when running doors through the sander both ways.

Rob

[Todd Burch]

Humm.... note to self - look at my machine when I have nothing better to do....

Thanks Rob.

[Richard McComas]

I’ve had the Bridgewood 15” sander with platen for over 5 years (same as Todd’s). I have been extremely happy with this machine/setup. Came from Wilke all adjusted and ready to go with an American made motor.

I was told and have read the with the platen equipped machines you use the platen setup for sanding, if you have a lot of dimension to do you can remove the platen for a more aggressive cut. I have never removed my platen because in my view the planer is a better tool for dimensioning with the exception of thin or highly figured stock.

I have never had a problem with witness lines on wide double run panels so I suspect if you get them the machine needs fine-tuning. I know half a dozen the guys over on the Felder forum have these platen equipped sanders that say the same thing on the witness lines, they don’t get them either.

I no technical expert by long shot but in my view the non-platen machines are more like a drum sander and that you have a very small single point of contact where the sandpaper and the stock meet. If your drum is not perfectly round and stays that way could effect the quality of the sanding not mention the heat build up of the paper and drum.

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