TLDR Review: JET JWDS-1632 Drum Sander
Pros
- •Significantly improves sanding quality and consistency compared to orbital or belt sanders, especially for detailed woodworking like inlays.
- •Helps keep workpieces perfectly level, avoiding dips and cups that other sanders can cause.
- •Extremely durable and reliable, remaining a key tool in workshops after years of regular use.
- •Higuality and sturdy build with a heavy-duty drum motor and reliable feed motor for efficient sanding.
- •Easy to set up and use, with smooth and simple adjustment processes.
- •Responsive customer service offering quick replacement parts when needed.
- •Sanding end grain works perfectly, outperforming a planer in precision and thickness removal.
- •Stand design is useriendly and allows easy upgrades such as adding lockable wheels.
- •Can be enhanced with optional infeed and outfeed tables for better support.
- •Saves significant time during woodworking projects and is excellent for making cutting and serving boards.
Cons
- •Requires a learning curve; best results come from multiple light passes with careful sanding depth and conveyor speed adjustments.
- •Changing abrasive bands is tricky and benefits from a homemade clamp block to hold the drum steady; changing sandpaper is manageable but not fast.
- •Produces a significant amount of dust, so using a dust collection system is highly recommended.
- •The dust hood and table parallelism adjuster are somewhat vulnerable if the package is not handled carefully.
- •The sander is heavy, which may affect portability despite a mobile stand.
- •Initial height adjustment of the drum sanding requires a method and some practice to master.
- •Packaging could use clearer handling instructions to prevent damage during shipping.
Bottom Line
The JET JWDS-1632 Drum Sander is a durable, high-performance machine that woodworkers will appreciate for its precision and ability to create perfectly flat, smooth surfaces especially on detailed or end grain work. While it demands some patience to master sanding depth and abrasive changes, its build quality and customer support make it a long-term workshop investment. Dust collection is a must to maintain a clean workspace. If you're seeking a quality drum sander that stands the test of time and boosts sanding consistency dramatically, this is a solid choice. For those wanting easier abrasive changes, you might explore other models, but for sheer sanding performance, the JWDS-1632 shines.
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