New unisaw, Miwaukee Slider and Jet Drum Sander, technology rocks!

nickao

nickao

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Joined
Feb 24, 2008
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There are some neat new tools out there. I was not familiar with a home shop version of an oscillating drum sander, man this new Jet is neat! Jet Model Number: 659006K, man I want this!

Oscillating Drum sander

The newest Milwaukee 12" Sliding Miter 6955-20  with a supposed accurate digital scale(unlike the Hitachi) and a 4" dust collection port that is said to work like a charm may be my next miter. I had no idea the dust collection was that good check it out. I heard guys saying the Milwaukee Sliding Miter was good I had no idea it was this good! The video says it all. Cost  739.20 USD

Milwaukee Slider

Delta finally upgraded their Unisaw and it sure looks sweet too. All in the latest Wood magazine.

New Unisaw I guess this comes out early 2009.

Does any one out there have any of these new tools! I would love to hear about them from an actual user.

Nick

 
I have the new Milwaukee Slider, and it is a great piece of gear.  I was torn between it and the Kapex, but the fact that I could buy it and a Sawhelper for the same price as the Kapex made up my mind.  The digital scale takes a little time to get used to, but is pinpoint accurate.  I use it and the Wixey digital protractor and they make a great pair.  Cuts are perfect the first time, everytime. 

There are two downsides to the saw -

First, it does not come with a hold-down clamp.  I don't anticipate this being an issue once the Sawhelper arrives, but is a problem with my existing MSUV setup. 

Second, the dust port is actually rectangular, so I had to make an adapter to be able to use my CT22.  With the use of the CT, I would estimate I get 85 to 90% collection. 

I am told that Milwaukee will offer hold-down clamps and an dust collection adapter as accessories soon.  The initial setup was a little cumbersome, as you have to move the scale to align the saw.  I am used to the adjustment on my Makita L1013, where you tap the fence.  The Milwaukee is just a little harder to get that last little adjustment.

The stock blade was disappointing, but I assumed that it would be.  I would have normally bought a Forrest Mitermaster, which I use on my Makita, but I wanted to try a Tenryu.  I bought the MP-305100CB2, and am impressed so far. 
 
Thanks that, it  cinches it for me, I am getting it and throwing my Forrest blade on it. I'll connect it to the shop cyclone system and it will never leave the shop, it sounds perfect for me!
 
O.K.  being new to most things woodworking, why would I (or really someone who needs one) want a drum sander like the Jet? 

Justin
 
well, for me it was because I'm starting to cut my own veneer and needed it to clean up the bandsaw marks and get them all to equal thicknesses.  Also once I had my veneered panels / doors made up, I used it for a final cleanup/thicknessing.

Of course, you finds all kind of things to use it for -- it's amazing how small and thin a piece you can send through the machine.

It could also be used for initial flatening and thicknessing for stock wider than one's jointer and/or planer, although I haven't done or tested this yet.

C.
 
I have a Performax drum sander, I want that ocs one as soon as I can get it. I wold love to skip the step of sanding with an orbital after using the drum sander against the grain(I have to a lot).  If  you can afford a drum sander get it. I have to have one for my work. They flatten lumber unlike a planer and save loads of time for me.
 
I got my drum sander free  ship on amazon special! I think I will wait until I get a deal on ship for the miter box they usually run one at Christmas.
 
mwhafner said:
I have the new Milwaukee Slider, and it is a great piece of gear.  I was torn between it and the Kapex, but the fact that I could buy it and a Sawhelper for the same price as the Kapex made up my mind. 
Click to expand...

Hi what did you pay at the time of purchase for the saw?
 
It really depends on what type of work you do, but I use mine on almost every project.  It will flatten boards, which a planer will not.  It provides incredible thickness control, works well on end-grain and cross-grain applications, and many other applications.

I have a Delta X5, and it is great for small items.  The Performax/Jet are superior machines, and wish that I had gone that route (and may still).  The head on the Performax sanders moves, where the bed on the Delta sander moves.  If you have a large piece, you can use roller stands and jigs to support the workpiece on the Performax, it is almost impossible to do that with the Delta.

I used to have access to a Perfomax 37" dual drum.  It was incredible. 
 
nickao said:
woodgeek said:
Nick,

FYI, I got the best deal from Southern Tool.  Shipping was the killer at most places, but they had a good deal....

c.
Click to expand...

Hi What did you pay at the time of purchase?

Nick
Click to expand...

I'm not at home so I don't remember exactly, but sander, shipping and an assortment of paper was around the $2500 mark.

c.
 
Justin,

I got my performax 22-44 locally with a cabinet stand and extension beds around 1350.00  When I bought it I went back and forth making the decision... now that I have it I have used it on every project.  Everyting goes through it except plywood.  And making veneers you can thickness down to 1/16 inch with no problem... would be difficult to do that with a wide belt sander... bottom line, I love it!  My only suggestion Justin is you need really good dust collection.  The better the dust collector the better it works and paper lasts much longer.  I have a 3.5 hp cyclone form penn state and it works great... When I had a jet 1.5 hp (650 CFM) hooked directly to the drum sander with about 5 ft of hose, I burned through a lot of paper...
 
Very good Wayne -- thanks (to everyone) for the primer.  Being somewhat of an acoustic guitar nut, I would like one day to maybe make one.  I know I've heard such sanders referenced in lutherie.  Pretty considerable investment it seems in both function and price.

Justin
 
I got my 22-44 this summer and love it.  I don't use it on every project but there are some things that it is indespensable for.  That Milwaukee saw looks nice.  I have the Kapex and love it but considering all of the issues with the miter scale why couldn't Festool have done something similar with the miter scale on the Kapex?  Considering that they included micro adjustablity on the bevel scale, why not the miter scale?  Don't tell me that Milwaukee spends more on R & D than Festool.
 
While it doesn't fit my needs exactly, the Delta sander was only $900 with the extension tables.  It would be perfect for guitar pieces.  I built my wife a Dulcimer with it, and it worked out great for that.  My problem is sanding larger glue-ups.
 
mwhafner said:
Nick,

I purchased my saw from HD, for $629+tax. 
Click to expand...
Are you talking about the Milwaukee slider?
If so,that saw is on sale at my local HD for $499.99!    not bad!      I,m thinking about it!
 
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