Drum sander

[G.T. LaLonde]

I am interested in buying a good quality drum sander such as: Woodmaster.  I welcome all comments on this subect such as: quality of drum sander work.  I am
Not a beginner. Please respond

[Kerry Drake]

I've been doing some research and Grizzly makes a 10/20 drum sander for under $400.00

 

G0716 10" Drum Sander

 

[Ken Darga]

Drum sanders and wide belt sanders have become the industry standard for professional cabinet and furniture shops everywhere because, in one easy pass, the broad sanding surface on the belt or drum can flatten and smooth a far larger area, with greater uniformity, and in far less time than ordinary hand sanders. Drum sanders and wide belt sanders can also be used for thickness sanding in place of a planer, with no risk of ugly tearout.

Drum sanders are offered in a wide range of price points, from small, affordable bench top drum sanders like those from JET, to larger floor drum sanders from Supermax and Powermatic. Some are available in dual-drum versions with sanding width capacity of up to 50 inches! Dual drum sanders can sand from rougher to finer grits in a single pass, saving time and eliminating the need to change abrasives. The floor drum sanders are available in either open-base or closed-base versions. A drum sander is generally more space-efficient than a wide-belt sander because of the compactness of the drum.

In contrast, a wide belt sander offers the benefit of greater abrasive durability and a smoother finish due to the increased area of abrasive material. Rockler offers wide belt sanders from top manufacturers, including Powermatic and Timesavers, a longtime industry leader in wide belt sanding technology. If you’re ready to discover the ease and excellence of the most advanced sanding machines, Rockler is the place to go.

[Carson DeMille]

Has anyone actually tried removing the plate bracket on the open end of the drum and sanded a board larger than 10"?  I spoke with a Grizzly rep on the phone and they do not recommend doing it, but it looks like it would work.  I would like to know if it does a good job or not without the bracket.
 
Kerry Drake said:

I've been doing some research and Grizzly makes a 10/20 drum sander for under $400.00

 

G0716 10" Drum Sander