Performax 22‑44 Plus Thickness Sander

Loveland CreatorSpace Woodshop

The Performax 22‑44 Plus is a drum‑style thickness sander used for fine surface finishing, controlled dimensioning, and smoothing panels after planing. This page explains its purpose, required training, safe operation, setup, cleanup, and troubleshooting so members can use the sander confidently and responsibly.

1. Overview

The Performax 22‑44 Plus is a 22” open‑ended drum sander capable of sanding panels up to 44” wide in two passes. It uses a single sanding drum with wrap‑around abrasive paper and a variable‑speed conveyor for controlled stock removal.

Machine details:

• Model: Performax 22‑44 Plus

• Type: Open‑ended drum thickness sander

• Max width (single pass): 22”

• Max width (two passes): 44”

• Max thickness: 4”

• Minimum thickness: ⅛”

• Conveyor: Variable speed

• Drum speed: Fixed

• Dust port: 4”

2. Required Training

Members must complete:

• Woodshop Orientation

• Thickness Sander training
  , covering:

  • Correct abrasive selection

  • Depth‑of‑cut limits

  • Avoiding burning and loading

  • Proper feed rate

  • How to wrap/replace abrasive paper

  • Material restrictions

Only trained members may operate the thickness sander.

3. Safety Rules

• Always wear safety glasses and hearing protection.

• Keep hands away from the drum and conveyor.

• Never adjust the drum height while the board is under the drum.

• Make sure your board does not have nails. 

• Do not sand boards shorter than 12”.

• Do not sand end grain.

• Do not sand resinous, painted, or glued surfaces.

• Never take more than ⅛ turn on the height wheel per pass.

• Stand to the side of the feed path.

• If the board stalls or burns, stop immediately.

4. Machine Components

• Sanding Drum
  — holds wrap‑around abrasive

• Conveyor Belt
  — feeds stock under the drum

• Height Adjustment Wheel
  — sets sanding thickness

• Conveyor Speed Control
  — adjusts feed rate

• Dust Hood
  — 4” port for dust collection

• Infeed/Outfeed Tables
  — support long boards

5. Setup Before Use

• Inspect the machine for loose parts or damage.

• Ensure dust collection is running (critical for drum sanders).

• Verify the abrasive wrap is tight and properly clipped.

• Clean the conveyor belt of dust and debris.

• Set the drum height so the board just touches the abrasive.

• Choose the correct grit:

  • 80 grit
    — heavy stock removal

  • 120 grit
    — general surfacing

  • 180–220 grit
    — fine finishing

6. Operating Steps

1. Place the board on the infeed table.

2. Set the drum height so the board barely contacts the abrasive.

3. Turn on the sander and dust collection.

4. Set conveyor speed (slower = cleaner cut, less burning).

5. Feed the board onto the conveyor.

6. Allow the conveyor to pull the board — do not push.

7. After the board exits, inspect for burning or ridges.

8. Lower the drum ⅛ turn or less for each additional pass.

9. Repeat until the desired surface quality is achieved.

7. Cleanup

• Turn off the machine and wait for the drum to stop.

• Vacuum the conveyor belt and surrounding area.

• Brush dust off the drum and abrasive wrap.

• Do not use compressed air (forces dust into bearings).

• Report worn abrasive or conveyor tracking issues.

8. Approved Materials

Allowed:

• Kiln‑dried hardwood

• Kiln‑dried softwood

• Panels glued with wood glue only

• Veneered panels (light passes only)

Not allowed:

• Painted boards

• Epoxy‑coated surfaces

• Pressure‑treated lumber

• Plywood with voids or loose veneer

• MDF (loads abrasive quickly; ask first)

• Resinous woods (pitch buildup triggers burning)

• Metal‑contaminated lumber

9. Common Mistakes

• Taking too deep a pass → burning, stalling, conveyor slipping

• Using too fine a grit for heavy removal → clogs and burns

• Sanding glue lines too aggressively → melts glue, ruins abrasive

• Not supporting long boards → uneven sanding

• Forgetting to clean the conveyor → tracking issues

10. Troubleshooting

• Burn marks
  Reduce depth of cut; lower conveyor speed; change abrasive.

• Ridges or lines
  Abrasive wrap loose or damaged; rewrap drum.

• Board stalls
  Drum too low; raise height slightly.

• Conveyor tracking sideways
  Adjust conveyor tracking knobs; notify Area Captain.

• Dust buildup
  Check dust collection; clogged abrasive.

11. Need Help?

Ask in #woodshop on Slack or contact the Woodshop Area Captain for training, troubleshooting, or maintenance issues.