A drum sander can help you accomplish a lot of different applications. I use it for my woodworking projects and also polishing the floor tiles before installing them.
For a small shop as well, it can come in pretty handy as it can handle wood, plastic, and other heavy-duty materials. When I was looking for a drum Sander, I found it very difficult to find the best drum sander for small shops.
Over the years, I have made my concise list of the best drum Sanders available. If you’re looking for the best drum sander for a small shop, you can go through my list and pick the best option below. It will help you make your buying decision quickly.
Top 5 Best Drum Sanderd for Small Shop in 2021
1. SHOP FOX W1772 – 10 HP 37-Inch Drum Sander
The drum sander which I am going to highlight now has dual drums. It means that it can handle materials with large surface area and save time.
There is a proper control panel to operate the drum sander which allows you to customize the performance. The emergency stop button comes in handy when things do not go as per plan.
There is a hinged hood which helps you supervise the entire process and access the machinery in-case of any problem. The variable speed control box allows you to sand any material at your required speed.
The 37-inch balanced drums ensure that sanding speed remains constant for the entire sheet. So, when you’re looking for the best drum sander for small shops which can provide you with customization options, you can consider this sander.
Pros:
- Dual drum design
- Easy to understand control panel
- Offers variable speed settings
- Balance drum design
- Comes with Emergency stop button
Cons:
- Bulky
2. SUPERMAX TOOLS 25-50 – For Small Drum Sander
When looking for a compact drum sander, you can go with this option. It consists of a single drum. The operation of the sander is pretty quick which saves significant time.
The assembling instructions come along with it. You have to install tables properly, and you are good to go. You can use the digital height gauge along with it.
It helps you in sanding precisely as per your requirement. In terms of compact size and performance, it is undoubtedly an excellent choice.
Pros:
- Compact design
- Single drum
- Easy to assemble
- Excellent finish
- Height adjustable
Cons:
- Assembling can be a bit time consuming
3. Powermatic PM2244 – Mordarn Sander
The first feature which you will notice about this drum Sander is the LED control panel. The LED control panel makes it easy for you to monitor any setting.
It shows you metrics like power, DRO, belt speed. Once you select the sander settings, you can quickly confirm it through the LED control panel. Another unique feature of this drum sander is the feed logic.
With the help of this feature, you can get excellent finishing without any issue. There is machine overload protection feature for the feed logic. As a result, the entire operation will go smoothly.
The scale helps you monitor the height reading, and the cast iron construction makes the drum sander highly durable. It comes with a steel hood and dust port.
The dust port can help you in collecting dust, contaminants, and residue quite easily. When you’re looking for best drum sander for small shops, this one with all the essential features is not ignorable.
Pros:
- LED control panel
- Height reading
- Incorporates feed logic
- Cast Iron construction
- Comes along with dust port
Cons:
- The in-feed mechanism is not that efficient
4. Powermatic 1791290 – Drum Sander with Latest Technology
The drum sander which I am going to highlight now has a firestarter motor. It can accommodate 25-inches sheets quite easily. The 230 V drum sander is heavy-duty in operation which makes it useful to sand different materials.
The durometer rubber incorporated in the design improves the quality of the finish. When you look at the construction of the sander itself, the cabinet consists of heavy steel. The gearbox has an integrated feed motor.
There is a forward and reverse-gear box on offer to make it easier to control the feeding mechanism. The rear drum is adjustable to fine tune the drum sander. The design of the drum Sander cabinet facilitates proper storage under the sander.
The primary reasons why I have included this drum sander in my list is because of the storage space combined with the fine-tuning option.
Pros:
- 25-inch drum Sander
- Excellent finish
- Heavy duty steel construction
- Proper control over the feed
- Adjustable rear drum
Cons:
- Instructions in the manual are limited
5. Jet JWDS-1632 16-32 – Smart Drum Sanders
The first feature which you will notice about this drum sander is the compact size. Due to this very reason, it is an excellent drum sander for small shops. There is a proper control mechanism to monitor the load on the motor.
It means that there is an automatic speed regulation for consistent performance. The design of the drum Sander facilitates maximum feed rate without any probability of overload.
The dust hood helps you eliminate the residue using the dust collection port. The aluminum drum is dynamically balanced which dissipates the heat and improves the finish quality.
The sander features separate feed and drum motors which you can control independently. The drum is easily removable for maintenance. These features along with automatic adjustment of the flow rate make it a good option.
Pros:
- Overload protection
- Dust port on offer
- Aluminum drum
- Independently controlled feed and drum motors
Cons:
- After sales support is limited
Personally in my opinion, when looking for the best drum sander for small shops, you can choose between these five options. I have compiled the list with great care to include only the best available options. I will also highlight an easy-to-follow buying guide below which will help you pick the right drum sander.
Best Drum Sanders for Small Shop Buying Guide
Dimensions
Since I am speaking about the drum sander for small shops, the size matters a lot. You will have limited space in a small shop. That is why; you have to look at the dimensions of the drum sander before making a call.
The number of drums
While a single drum sander can work efficiently but dual drum sander can not only improve the quality of finishing but also save you time. That is why it is essential for you to decide the one which you prefer. In my list above, I have included both of them. If you only conduct occasional drum sanding, even a drum sander with a single cylinder is good enough.
Dust collection mechanism
Whenever using the dust sander, there will be a lot of residue after the operation. If there are a proper hood and a dust port, you will not have to collect the dust manually. It will automatically accumulate in the dust port. If you want to keep the shop entirely clean, you should always prefer a sander with a proper dust port.
Control panel
Lastly, you have to look at the control panel. It should be elaborate. It is the panel through which you can control every function of the sander. If there are no proper controls or if it is difficult to decipher, you should avoid that the sander and go with the option which is easy to operate.
I always consider these four factors when comparing different Sanders. These factors allow me to choose the right sander without spending days on research. I will make it even easier for you by answering some of the FAQ’s which consumers usually have while buying a dust sander.
Best Drum Sanders for Small Shop (FAQ)
Q: Why is a drum sander used?
A: A drum sander is suitable for polishing wood, plastic, tile sheets. It is also ideal for giving a dazzling finish to the flooring. It is perfect for woodworking sheets as well.
Q: What is the difference between a drum sander and an orbital sander?
A: The orbital sander does not follow the grain of the material during the sanding process. The pressure is on the lower side. When you compare it with the drum sander, it is almost ten times more than the orbital one. The drum sander is faster due to a high amount of pressure. That is why; professionals often use a drum sander.
Q: How long does floor sanding take?
A: The process of sanding an entire floor can take up to 2 days; however, if you are sanding the floor for the first time, it can even take longer.
GLOBO TOOLS OVERVIEW
So, if the varieties of different drum sanders confound you, it is better to use my list above as a guide. With the help of the buying guide and list above, it is easy to pick the best drum sander for small shops. Now, you don’t need to deal with confusing jargon and technical specifications while choosing the sander. I have made the task easier for you.
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