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I am wondering what brands and media others are using on their drumsanders. I have a Performax 16-32 and been primarily using the Klingspor blue Zirconia belts. Reality for me is that nothing seems shed the resins in some of the rosewoods, primarily Madagascar and Cocobolo, and that constant use of an eraser and tweaking the feeds and DOC just delay the inevitable. I'd like to hear what some of you guys are using and if anyone has found anything that works better.

Tim

I feel that drum diameter makes a difference there. The more sandpaper surface area the better.I think yours has a small 4" dia.drum.That's why i picked the Delta 18/36 it has a 5" drum which i think is better.

I've tried a few brands and I don't think it makes much difference. Courser grits do work better. When the paper does become clogged, cleaning it with oven cleaner works very well. I recommend doing it in a well vented space where you don't mind making a bit of a mess.

Sanding at an angle to the grain helps, too. 30 to 45 degrees when possible.

Make oak guitars, no clogging!
Seriously, I use the Klingspor blue and go through a quite a bit. Hard to avoid clogging with anything but oak, maple, mahogany, walnut and spruce. Light passes, scrape your glue joints, and last resort oven cleaner well vented.

I have found the 3", 80 grit Mirka works well for me. However, I have been unable to locate a Canadian supplier for it, and the shipping cost
from the U.S. makes it pretty pricey. Klingspor is my distant 2nd choice.
Allen

My take is, you own a drum sander, buy stock in a sandpaper supplier. Is what it is.

Mike

Thanks for the answers.
Think I'll stay with the blue Zirconia for now, and try some of the Mirka next time. The oven cleaner trick has worked for me in the past although some belts just get too gummed up to be saved. I've had more trouble with Silicon Carbide than other types of media.



I'm with you on that. Koa is another one that I haven't had trouble with.

Tim

I use that blue zirconia. I bought a roll more than a year ago and still going strong. It might seem expensive, but its a good value. The gum eraser really extends the life. This whole oven cleaner stuff seems like way too much trouble. Nasty too!

Mike