JET 16-Inch Drum Sander (JWDS-1632)

I'm a hobbyist woodworker with as passion for making end grain cutting boards with inlays using a CNC router.There is a ton of sanding to be done if you want the inlays to look seamless and professional looking, and after about my first 5 cutting boards and countless hours pushing an orbital sander around I knew I had to up my game and buy a drum sander.After tons of researching and shopping I settled for this machine, and I ordered it from Amazon in March of 2020.If you've never owned a drum sander before and are seriously considering one, let me tell you that there is a bit of a learning curve when you first start using it. I destroyed the first roll of sandpaper I installed on it in the first 15 minutes, and I did more harm than good on that first cutting board I ran through it.It's not something that you can run a piece of wood through in the first pass and it comes out the other side perfectly sanded.You have to be patient and run your work through several times, with very small sanding increments to get good results.If you set it to sand too deep, with the conveyor set too fast you'll destroy the sand paper and burn the surface of your work pretty quick. Don't get into a hurry.But once you figure out the sweet spots of depth versus conveyor speed depending on the wood, this thing will make you look like a pro.Changing the sandpaper isn't too bad but it's not a quick change process and I've found that 120 grit is the most versatile for my needs and leave that on most of the time.It's so much better than an orbital or belt sander because it's easy to create dips and cups.But with this thing, your work stays perfectly level and consistent.Very important when I'm sanding my inlays.It's now December of 2021 and my drum sander is still going strong. I'm finally to the point where I want to buy indeed/outfeed extensions.This has become one of the most important tools in my shop and if my shop ever caught fire, I might would even risk it to drag this machine out to safety. I'm half serious, half joking because as of me writing this review I see that the sander is almost $900 more than what I paid for mine almost 2 years ago, making this truly a financial investment!If tons of sanding is an important part of your woodworking process like it is mine, you'll soon wonder how you ever got along without this machine in your shop. It's truly been a life saver for me and worth every penny I spent on it.

I started looking into drum sanders when I began planning for the remodel of my kitchen. The plan includes all new walnut cabinetry of frame and panel construction. I decided on the Jet 16-32 based on a number of positive reviews. I received mine last week and found it easy to set up. It was well calibrated right out of the box. I tried a couple pieces of oak to get the feel of it and within a few minutes of sanding decided I was ready to try it on a walnut panel I had laminated up. In short, this machine works great. I already owned a decent dust collector and sanding multiple passes created zero visible dust in my basement shop. Changing sandpaper grits is simple. The ends of the pre-cut sanding strips are held in place by simple spring clamps that themselves are attached to the drum by flexible, spring-steel strips. It took a few minutes of playing with them to figure out how to flex the clamps towards the drum and grab onto the end of the sandpaper strip end so that when you release your hold the clamp springs away from the drum pulling tension on the sandpaper strip. Nevertheless, it works to keep the sandpaper tight on the drum.An issue that comes up when using a thickness planer (I own a Jet 12 inch model) is snipe (a slight cupping at the ends of your work). Without getting into the specific causes and techniques to avoid it because it would simply take too much time, I mention it because the forces that cause it exist in this type of machine as well. That said, I was pleased that snipe does not appear to be much of an issue with this machine. I noted a very slight amount of what really amounts to a shadow effect on the first and last couple of inches on my boards. However, they disappeared with a bit of finish sanding with my 5" random orbit sander; a process I would have completed regardless of the "shadow effect/snipe" prior to finishing my panels.In conclusion, I'm extremely pleased with this purchase. It will save me hours and hours of sanding with a belt sander and produce far flatter panels in the process. The open end will allow the planing of far wider panels, it's quieter than my planer, the variety of available sanding grits provides real flexibility. So far it's a real dream come true.

Like any new power tool, it takes some time to get the tool set and aligned so it works at its optimum level. I found that with a bit of adjustment, this sander is my go to tool in the shop. I like that I can sand very wide boards since it is an open arm unit so the board can be reversed to do one side and then the other.In the beginning I had some issues with the sanding rolls ripping on the motor side due them loosening during sanding. By sanding for a bit and then retightening, perhaps even twice, the problem was solved. I found that 80 grits sandpaper rolls with there heavy grit created the most issues. I have found that with this machine, the 120 grit works the best. Trying to take too great a depth sanding can also create problems. It's best to take more time sanding with more passes than trying to get the job done more quickly. I use the precut Jet sandpaper since it fits well and no guessing or precutting is needed. I recommend this sander.

I have had this Jet 16-32 drum sander for several weeks, putting it through its paces. It is/was worth it. I have managed to screw up on one of the new 180-grit rolls I put on. Part of the learning curve. I expected a few screw-ups on my part and was able to meet the low expectations of myself.Once the unit was set up, it was easy to learn and the adjustments were spot on. At this point, I know how to work it, I know how to change the rolls, I know how to lower the head slowly to make contact when initially trying to find the right height, I know to watch the red light to make sure I am not taxing the unit. I have found ways to use it that had not occurred to me. For me, this is my final major tool purchase and it was a good one.