Power Tools

The 5 Best Rated Drum Sanders Are Reviewed-No Arguments Here

Nov 24, 2022

Sanding is one of the most important steps in the woodworking process. You can make some pretty serious changes to the way your projects look by sanding them.


There are so many choices, but not all of them can be best-rated. This guide will give you the information you need to make the best choice.


We understand that finding quality drum sanders can be a time consuming and frustrating experience. So we scoured the web for you, and found the BEST drum sanders for woodworkers.


Each one of these drum sanders has a rating from 4-5 out of 5 stars.


The best drum sander machines can improve your productivity. For woodworking, that means you'll be able to sand faster, drill quicker, stain and finish faster, and generally have a more efficient woodworking production process.


The best rated drum sander isn't necessarily the best one for everyone. This means that even if you're a professional woodworker, you may not need the same tool as a hobbyist.


So why not invest in a drum sander that you know works, and can use to improve your woodworking projects?


You want to know which are the top rated drum sanders best for you so you can speed up your production process?

 

How To Choose Which Model Is Best For You

Match the features, capabilities to your budget. Once you have narrowed down, click on the green "Check Price On Amazon" button to get further confidence you have made the right choice by reading some past customers reviews.

 

Why Would We Want The Best For You

You’re an experienced woodworker, but you’ve noticed that some professional woodworkers use drum sanders more than others.


You’re looking to buy a drum sander but don’t know which one is the best. Well you don't have to worry about spending your whole day just sanding things. We offer a selection of Drum Sanders and the best Drum Sander for every type of project.


That’s what the Best Rated Drum Sander does for your woodworking. It offers amazing value at an affordable price. There are no nasty surprises when you receive the product. These tools are ready to use out of the box right away.

 

 

 

JET JWDS-1020 Benchtop Drum Sander, 10-Inch

Amazon #9 in Power Drum Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Quality heavy-duty die-cast aluminum and steel
  • Variable speed control allows the operator to select the preferred feed rate
  • Tool-less abrasive take-up fasteners allows for quick changes
  • Aluminum drum designed to dissipate heat to protect the wood
  • Reinforced steel conveyor bed provide support to the boards
  • Sand up to 20" in two passes on the open ended design
  • Sand boards up to 3" thick and 20" wide
  • Dust hood channelled dust to the 4" dust port to connect to a dust collector
  • Collects 97% of all dust when paired with the JET Cyclone Dust Collector
  • Popular with Pros, considered as small drum sanders

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 73 lbs
  • Motor : 1 HP, 15 Amps
  • Speed : 1725 RPM
  • Included : Handle, Foam pads

 

 

Shop Fox W1854 Open-End Drum Sander, 18-Inch

Amazon #20 in Power Drum Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Spring loaded sanding belt tensioner
  • Variable speed conveyor motor
  • 4" aluminum sanding drum
  • Easy to change sandpaper
  • Uses 3" wide sandpaper
  • Table moves up and down instead of the head
  • Conveyor feed rate is variable from 0-12 FPM
  • Sands wood stock 36" wide x 4-1/2" thick
  • Minimum board length is 6"

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 128 lbs
  • Motor : 1.5 HP, 15 Amps
  • Speed : 2600-3400 FPM

 

 

Grizzly Industrial G0458Z Open-End Drum Sander, 18-Inch

Amazon #38 in Power Drum Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Sand stock up to 36" wide and 4-1/2" thick
  • Table moves up and down instead of the head, (rigid drum support to produce consistent fine results)
  • Precision control electronic variable-speed conveyor 
  • Dual speed sanding drum
  • Safety switch

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 235 lbs (shipping)
  • Motor : 1.5 HP, 11 Amps
  • Speed : 2600-3400 FPM

 

 

Powermatic PM2244 Drum Sander, 22-Inch

Amazon #53 in Power Drum Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • Wide capacity of the infeed & outfeed tables provide support up to 37-1/2 inches boards
  • Integrated LED Control Panel
  • Auto adjustments on the feed logic system to regulate the speed of the conveyor motor
  • Feed Logic also produces exceptional finish and prevents machine overload
  • Closed stand with storage to keep extra abrasives organized
  • Cast iron drum carriage provides greater strength for consistent performance
  • Steel hood with a 4" dust port allows for maximum dust collection
  • Belt tracking reduces the need for manual adjustment
  • Casters provide mobility to around the shop
  • Immediate shutoff in emergencies

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 328 lbs
  • Motor : 1.75 HP, 12 Amps
  • Speed : 1720 RPM

 

 

Grizzly G1066Z Drum Sander, 24-Inch

Amazon #146 in Power Drum Sanders


Why We Think This Is One Of The Best

(why this item is a must buy)

  • 2 4-Inch dust ports to connect to a dust collector
  • Powerful 5 HP drum motor drives 2 aluminum sanding drums
  • Handles stock up to 4-1/4-Inch thick x 23-1/2-Inch
  • Hook and loop sandpaper
  • Variable speed conveyor
  • ‎Spindle travel: 5" 
  • Table size: 9" x 42"
  • Table travel (longitudinal): 25-7/8"
  • Table travel (cross): 12-1/2"
  • Max. dist. spindle to table: 18"
  • Max. dist. spindle to column: 20"
  • Knee travel: 16"
  • Head tilt: 45 degrees both ways
  • Head swivel: 90 degrees both ways
  • T-slots: Three 5/8" slots, 2-1/2" on center
  • Range of speeds: 78, 98, 197, 278, 670, 850, 1700 and 2400 RPM

 

Things To Know About This Model

(what you should know)

  • Weight : 489 lbs
  • Motor : 5 HP, 5 Amps
  • Speed : 2300 FPM

 

 

Best rated drum sanders FAQ

People are always asking us questions about the best rated drum sanders, and there are too many models available that makes choosing the best one a headache.

 

It can be hard to find good information about getting the right tools, especially if you had not used them before or not sure where to look. Or worse, you might end up with bad information that should have been to make your home projects much easier.

 

We know you are a seasoned handyperson or a trade professional looking for a replacement but for the benefit of new users, the best rated drum sanders can make your DIY projects a whole lot easier.

 

We've done the research for you! Here are the most frequently asked questions about the best rated drum sanders and our top answers:

Is a drum sander worth it?

The Drum Sander is a surprisingly useful tool. Your work flow will improve.

Whether you are working on a big piece of home-sawn veneer, this tool will be indispensable.

I definitely recommend them. They are quite expensive but definitely worth it.

 

Is a drum sander better than a planer?

You should have several different tools on hand to create a variety of wood finishes. For a different depth of finish, the planer would be the tool to use. For a smoother finish, the drum sander would be the right tool.

 

How accurate are drum sanders?

You can get an accuracy to five thousandths of an inch with the drum sander.

Put the cabinet door stiles into the sander one piece at a time and all will come out the same dimensions.

The way the sander finish the pieces looks so much better done this way.

 

Do you push or pull a drum sander?

The sander uses a rotating cylinder with sandpaper wrapped around it.

Like a lawn mower, you push and pull it using the handle.

 

Why does my drum sander leave lines wood?

Steel-wheeled drum sanders cause lines in the wood when the wheels are worn.

The wheels on the sander sometimes wear out so much that there's no crown left and leave edge marks, especially on softer wood.

 

Can you sand backwards with drum sander?

A drum sander should be used to be moved in a straight line forward, or in a straight line backward.

It’s not wise to sand while turning or changing directions.

 

Will a drum sander flatten a board?

The drum sander's infeed and outfeed rollers are relatively small, and they don't exert much pressure to force the stock flat to the work table the way the planer does.

So, the drum sander does not flatten the board.

 

How much wood does a drum sander remove?

The drum sander can remove five to seven thousandths of an inch on each pass. Even a small 12" portable planer will remove 1/8".

 

What kind of sandpaper do you use on a drum sander?

Drum sanders are typically used when sanding wood. However, you can use them to sand aluminum or stainless steel.

Aluminum oxide closed-coat X-weight sandpaper is ideal for use on any hard, smooth surface.

 

Should you push down on a sander?

Pressing down on a sander is not necessary as the weight of the sander, plus your hand and arm is sufficient pressure.

Although pushing down will speed up the removal, the results will be uneven.

 

If you need to see more than what we featured here, check out the Top 100 items in Bestsellers in Power Drum Sanders.

 

 

We hope this article has helped make your decision easier and that you enjoy using your purchase!