Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I do a lot of work with wild grained woods...such as walnut, burl maple, mesquite, etc. My planer often would tear these boards up pretty bad. Plus the planer is not the tool for fixing the cupping and small twists that are epidemic with this type of wood. The 10x20 does solve most of these problems. It's not a planer, so using it to dimension lumber is a long slow chore, but with a good resaw blade on the bandsaw, I can get close to the dimension I want then finish with the sander. I really like being able to take the cup and crown off boards before I resaw them. This ability alone makes the purchase price worthwhile. I made a 1/4" plywood template of the factory strip and buy rolls of sandpaper, clamp the template over a strip on my bench, then cut new strips with a sharp utility knife. Saves a lot of money over buying the factory made ones. Changing the strips at first is a little frustrating, but by the time you have changed them out 6 or 8 times it gets to be routine. The "TOUGH TOOL" that was included with my sander does really help, especially with the inboard side. I had some tracking problems with the feed belt also. A friend who is a machinest, was watching me run some coca bola strips thru the machine, noted that the machine was "racked" in relation to the base. It was such a small amount that I would have never noticed it. With the machine still mounted to the base, he had me loosen all the bolts holding the base together, and the bolts holding the machine to the base. He then "wiggled" the machine and had me retighten the bolts holding the machine to the base, then tighten the bolts on the base starting at the top and working down. Haven't had a tracking problem since.
The four inch dust chute is great, does a good job of catching most of the dust.
I haven't had the limiter kick the motor off yet, or experienced a piece flying across the room as some reviewers have noted. I do tend to use a slower feed rate then is probably neccesary, but this is a hobby so I'm not in any hurry anyway.
The finish, especially on exotic hardwoods is very good, even when I only go to 180 grit.
I can now do in 15 minutes the same amount of work that use to take me a couple of hours. I have only used the double pass method twice now, once on an 18" wide piece of black mesquite and once on a 20" wide piece of spanish cedar. Adjusting the bar was not the nightmare I had invisioned, both pieces came thru as flat as I could ever hope for. This little machine is a very welcome addition to my shop. It is ruggedly built and very solid. I expect to get a lot of years of use out of it and would reccommend it to anyone who is "space challenged", but still wants a good drum sander.
Update...I've found that if you are sanding boards much more than 9" wide, you need to treat them as if you were doing a much wider board...that is to say double pass them. If you try to run a 10" board thru, using the full width of the drum, you will develope a ridge on the inboard side. Not really a big deal,easy to cure.
Still love this little machine, recommend highly.
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Product Description:
Compact, efficient, and well-made, the JET 628900 Mini 10-Inch 1 HP Benchtop Drum Sander, 115-Volt 1-Phase will sand boards measuring up to three inches thick and 20 inches wide, while the aluminum, self-cooling drum protects the sanding surface from heat damage. Whether you're a hobbyist or a craftsperson with a smaller-sized home shop, this workhorse is ready to tackle all your woodworking projects.
The JET 628900 Mini 10-Inch
Benchtop Drum Sander offers:
A continuous duty, 1 HP motor designed for heavier use over longer periods of time
Infinitely variable speed control
Patented conveyor belt "trackers" that reduce the need for manual belt adjustments
A precision-flattened reinforced steel conveyor bed
Patented conveyor belt "trackers" dramatically reduce the need for manual belt adjustments. View larger.
Easy-to-handle controls help you acheive precision results.Variable Speed Control and Sealed Ball Bearings for Longer Life
The 628900 features infinitely variable speed control to produce the ultimate finish at a rate from zero to 12 feet per minute. This design also prevents machine overload and combines with sealed and permanently lubricated drum ball bearings for longer life.
Patented "Trackers" and Steel Conveyor Belt for Consistency
Patented conveyor belt "trackers" dramatically reduce the need for manual belt adjustments. Additionally, the precision-flattened reinforced steel conveyor bed and no-give power feed belt provide a constant smooth sanding action for better, more consistent results.
Cast-Iron Handwheel and Adjustable Drum Height for Precision
To ensure precision, the cast-iron handwheel adjusts height at 1/16 inch per turn for sanding thickness control and precise stock removal, and the drum height and downward pressure are both adjustable to virtually eliminate snipe.
Continuous Duty Motor for Optimum Control
The 628900 comes equipped with a continuous duty, 1 HP motor specially designed for heavier use for longer periods of time. This one-motor/one-feed model also allows for superior sanding control.
Operator-Friendly Design Improves Productivity
Made to be operator-friendly, the 628900 boasts patented abrasive take-up fasteners for quick and easy changes. Its on/off switch with overload protection is front-mounted for effortless accessibility and to help prevent accidental start-ups. This drum sander also includes a four-inch dust port to help keep your workspace clean.
The 628900 requires minimal assembly, measures 20 x 20 x 27 inches (WxHxD), weighs 104 pounds, and is backed by a five-year warranty.
About JET: A History of Sharing New, Feature-Rich Products
Opened in 1958 after the founder of the company, Leslie P. Sussman, took the first Boeing Jet Airplane trip from Seattle, Washington to Japan, JET began as a small dealer that sold air hoists and trolleys out of a single hardware store in Seattle. Over the years, JET has carried everything from snowmobiles, transmitter radios, and forklifts to nylon stockings, but by the early 1970s, metalworking had become the base of their business line. And by the 1980s, JET had expanded into the realm of woodworking. Today, you'll find that JET offers a wide range of popular woodworking tools that are backed with best-in-class features and excellent service.
What's in the Box
One sander assembly, one handwheel with handle, one TUF tool, one abrasive strip (wrapped on the drum), one conveyor belt (attached to the base), owner's manual, warranty card, one hardware bag (to attach the sander to the optional open stand) containing four 3/8-inch to 16 x 5/8-inch hex cap screws and four 3/8-inch flat washers.
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