Adjusting a cantilevered drum sander

[Dave Bagwill]

Haven't tried it, but it makes sense and it won't hurt anything to try. You might want to provide a slight downward pressure on the OB side as you slip in the shims.

[John Parchem]

Okay so mine is cutting LESS on the outboard side so that would do the reverse of what I want to accomplish, but if I shim the two bottom bolts, that would cause the drum to tilt down, correct? I don't have it in front of me, but......

Wouldn't it tilt up, that is the free side will be higher than the supported side.

[Kevin in California]

I dunno know!!! :>)
If that is true, then shimming the top would bring the outboard side down???

[John Parchem]

I dunno know!!! :>)
If that is true, then shimming the top would bring the outboard side down???

If you are shimming the top the drum is pivoting from the bottom. Going toward the outboard side by shimming the top should push the outboard side of the drum down.

That is how I see it anyway.

[Dave Bagwill]

The way mine worked: the outboard side was low. By lifting it a bit, and shimming the top two screws on the inboard side, the screws are kept from moving forward, so the drum stays in place.

That will work, if you just look closely at it, and if it is like my performax.

[John Parchem]

I re-looked at Dave's pictures and I agree with him. It is bolted in a different configuration than I understood. The shim is pushing the drum away from the outboard side.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Dave Bagwill]

What's confusing is why they built it that way in the first place :-)
Though it is a time-saver, for the most part.