Performax 16-32 Sander

A New Tool!

I have almost all the tools I need or want in my shop, but one of the ones I've wished for a few times is a drum sander. I found a good deal on a used one this weekend and was allowed to purchase it.

I picked up a Perfomax 16-32 sander for a little less than half of what they cost new. This one is the older model which was Made in the USA and comes with a good Leeson motor. It came with a few pre-cut rolls of 80 grit paper and one roll 120 grit paper. It looks like these rolls cost about $8 each, so I may try and cut my own from longer rolls.

I only had time to plug it in and run one piece of wood through it. The tension rollers need to be adjusted, but the machine is in fine shape. I changed out the sandpaper roll to see how easy it was and it was a piece of cake.

Now I need to find another spot in the workshop for Joshua's workbench as it had to move for the sander.

Ryobi SC180VS Scrollsaw

I picked up this Ryobi SC180VS scrollsaw when it was on clearance at Rona back in January. Finally this week I opened up the box and took a few minutes to flip through the manual. Within 5 minutes I was cutting with it.

The first thing I cut out was a tracing of my hand in some 1/8" hardboard, next I started work on Joshua's hand tracings in some 1/4" oak.

My first impressions of this scroll saw is that it is a well made tool. It has a reasonably heavy duty base and arm. I haven't changed the blade yet as it came ready to cut, but the manual makes it look easy. Wood moves easily across the teflon table, and the hold down arm is easily adjusted with a single knob. The first downside that I see is the 1.25" dust collection port. A 2.5" port would have been more useful for me.

It is about as quiet as you can expect from a power tool, I am comfortable using it without hearing protection. So far it has been fun and easy to use.