I just got my hands on a Jet 16/32 drum sander (non-oscillating), and I'm eager to dive into some woodworking projects! Despite having been on my wishlist for ages, I ran into a few issues using it for the first time on a walnut board that measures 14 inches wide and 36 inches long. Here are my major questions:
1) I replaced the sandpaper with Jet's brand, but installing it was a huge challenge. After a lot of struggle, I managed to get it on, but it loosened and overlapped, causing some burns on the wood. I had to reattach it several times, which felt way more complicated than it should be. Any tips on how to make this installation smoother?
2) I noticed some snipe on the infeed end of the wood. I think it might be because the rollers exert uneven pressure until the board gets past them. I don't have extension tables—would they make a difference or is this just something I need to accept?
3) I was using 80 grit sandpaper and taking very light passes, adjusting the handle slightly for each pass. It felt like it took forever to get both sides of the board smoothed out. Since the piece is wider than my planer, I had more material to remove than I expected. Any recommendations for optimal speed and depth settings? What else should I keep in mind about managing speed?
Overall, I'm happy with the sander's performance, but I'm looking for any advice to use it more effectively!
3 Answers
Changing the sandpaper can be a total hit or miss! I feel your pain—sometimes it goes smoothly, other times it’s just frustrating. For the snipe, my advice is to keep the passes super light and apply a bit of downward pressure as it enters the feeder rollers; that helps prevent lifting. With longer boards, I support the back to keep everything steady. Like a planer, less is definitely more here!
Congrats on the new sander! I totally relate to the sandpaper struggle; it can be a pain to install, especially when new. Just keep at it, and you'll find your rhythm soon enough. As for the snipe, it sounds like your infeed table might not be level. I always use two 4-inch levels at each end to make sure mine's just right. And for sanding depth, I usually take lighter passes; about 1/8 turn is my max adjustment to avoid issues. Also, don't forget to flip your piece end for end after each pass to even out the wear on the drum. Oh, and a cleaning block is a game changer for keeping your sandpaper in good shape! Good luck!
Here’s the scoop: when installing the sandpaper, try securing the inboard connection first; it makes getting the outboard side done way easier. For the snipe, it usually means you're taking too deep of a cut—try lowering the arm until the paper just barely touches the wood without too much scrape noise. Lastly, sticking to less than 1/64 in a pass is a smart move, so adjust accordingly to prevent tearing up your work. Hope this helps!
I'll give that a shot! I thought I understood the depth, but I'll revisit my settings.
Thanks for the tips! I'll definitely check the leveling and consider getting a cleaning block.