REVIEW
Jim Byrnes Model Machine
Table Top Thickness Sander
By Jay Steele
Lafayette, IN

I ordered the Jim Byrnes Table Top Thickness Sander on April 12, 2006 and would have received it on April 28, 2006 had I been home - Actual arrival date was May 1st.  As I use and become familiar with the thickness sander, I will add comments to my reviews on this page.

The first thing I noticed was how well the Thickness Sander was packaged - Every edge, side and part was protected with thick Styrofoam, and tightly packed in a substantial box.  It came through the shipping process without a scratch.  It is a heavy machine almost 30 pounds constructed of 3/8" and 1/2" Black anodized plate aluminum.

Its overall dimensions are 10" wide x 9" deep x 13" high with a 1/3 HP 120vAC 60hz 2 amps Motor that runs very quietly at 1750 rpm, and provides more than enough power to do the job needed to sand even the hardest wood.  Its cutting capacity is 1 5/16" thick by 6" wide, although I haven't tested it at that thickness yet.  The sanding table is 6" wide, 8" long, constructed from 3/8" plate aluminum.  To raise and lower the sanding table you use a calibrated wheel mounted on a screw at the back of the table.  Adjusting the calibrated wheel allows extremely small increments in the amount of wood removed by the thickness sander.  The table itself is held in place by two springs located on either side of the table.  This tensioning of the table top eliminates bounce that can and does effect sanding on some machines.

The sanding drum is housed under a cover plate held in place by 4 thumb screws - This cover plate is precision fitted to the frame and has a 1 1/2 ID connection for your shop vac. The sanding drum is 2 1/2" in diameter and is designed to accept two 3" wide by 8" long cloth backed abrasive sheets, or a single 6" wide by 8" long abrasive sheet.  The unit comes standard with both an 80 grit and 180 grit sheet already in place on the sanding drum.  If you would prefer a single grit paper, just use a 6" wide by 8" long sheet.  The sanding drum is hard mounted using a steel shaft and bearings mounted to the unit's frame. This eliminating any need to "readjust" the level of the sanding face after changing the abrasive.  The abrasive is added by removing two or four screws which hold aluminum wedges designed to draw the abrasive cloth tightly around the sanding cylinder when tightened.  Simply position the abrasive and reinsert the wedges, tighten, replace the drum cover and your ready to start sanding again.

Having two different abrasive grits makes sanding a breeze with this machine - no matter how I feed the wood, the motor just purrs like a kitten.  I love it when a piece of equipment lives up to its name, and so far Jim Byrnes Thickness Sander is doing just that.

MORE TO COME!