Planer vs. Sander for Tapers

[Dick in Seattle]

I'm about to invest in some machinery (always love doing that!).   How many use a planer vs a bottom feed drum sander for making tapers?   I'd be interested in any comments or advice.  I was just taught on a sander, so I know that works and how, but a planer, which I've had and used in the past, is a smaller physical piece of equipment (important in my small shop space) and is less expensive.  What do you use (those who don't do it with a hand plane...)

[grizz]

I use a Performax drum sander, it will cut some very thin (090) tapers with no problem,1200. bucks though. I would think it difficult to do some this thin with a planer (power of course).

[Dick in Seattle]

thanks... I kind of anticipated that a planer was too aggressive for this work.  Guess I'm getting a drum sander.

Dick

[kennym]

Yep,sander. When you're dealin in thousandths,one little snafu in the grain and a planer would eat your lam!!

[TNstickn]

Sander, what Kenny said.

[Bert Frelink]

Performax, for sure.
Bert.

[Holm-Made]

Gotta have a dust collector for the sander too.  Makes a mess.  Chad

[Canadabowyer]

I use a 10-20 Preformax and it does a good job and isn't to big and less than $600. Bob

[grizz]

I went for the 16-32 thus the cost, sounds like the 10-20 will do the job just fine.

[Dick in Seattle]

A big thanks, guys.    

Universally, the recommendation was for the Performax 10 20.  Unfortunately, no one here in Seattle handles these, so i was content to head up north and get the Grizzly.  But, this morning, I go on Craig's list and check for tools/sanders and there's an add for a like new, low use Performax 10 20.   I sent an email in the early morning while Ann was off at PT, hoping that first it was still available and second that he'd get back to me before we left for Bellingham.    Honest to gosh... the phone rang while I was taking the seat out of the van getting ready to leave!   Yes, the machine was still available and, get this, it was located in North Everett, on the way up to Grizzly!  So, we made that stop and i picked up the machine... like new and at a terrific savings.

I also went on up to Grizzly and found them having a clearance sale!  I ended up re-equipping my shop almost to the level I had back when I made carousel horses and ventriloquist figures.

I'm really looking forward to unpacking and setting up all the new stuff and getting going.

[John Cooper]

I was just reading an old Popular Mechanics Do-it-yourself Encyclopedia and saw a brilliant solution.  If you have a drill press and a sanding drum, you can sand lamination between the drum and a clamp-on fence.  Let me know if that's an idea you'd like a picture of and I'll try to scan the page.  I love looking through those old books from the 50s!

~John

[Pennsyltuckey pete]

Here is a photo of a thickness sander that I just made for grinding lams.  Works like a charm.





pete

[Canadabowyer]

Dick, get some high quality sanding belts for the 10-20.The standard ones arent as accurate as good ones. Zirconia(blue)from  www.customsandingbelts.com  . Buy the 3"x 60" and cut them using the original for a pattern. Have fun!!!! Bob