Which to Use? Drum Sander vs. Planer for Wood (2024 Guide)

Dewalt 735X Thickness Planer

Top Rated, 2 Speed Planer

Check Price

DEWALT 735X PLANER

Buy

TOP TOOL PICKS:

› TOP DRUM SANDER: JET JWDS-162

› BEST PLANER: DEWALT 735X

› SPIRAL PLANER: SHOP FOX W1877

› ROLLER EXTENSION: ROCKWELL JAW STAND

› FLIP-TOP STAND: JET FLIP-TOP 728200

The debate over a drum sander vs. planer is one many woodworkers grapple with. Concerned the width of the planer limits you? Or, wondering if a drum sander can remove enough material for your jobs.

While budget is usually the consideration, factors like shop space, noise, and even the types of projects you’re using might solve the debate.

After using both for over two decades, I’d always opt for a 22-inch drum sander with a low 24-grit sandpaper if I had to choose between the two.

In this guide, we’ll help you understand the features of each machine and how to make an informed decision on picking a planer vs. a drum sander.

Page Contents

Simplified: Drum Sander vs. PLaner

Woodworkers like to get to the point, and in the debate over these machines, there are three options:

Choose a drum sander if your top priority is material over 13″, you sand wood panels to finish quality (e.g., breadboards), AND you won’t be using much rough lumber
Choose a planer if your primary use is rough dimensions of wood up to 13″ wide, AND polishing wood panels to a stain-finish quality isn’t a priority.
Choose both if you are trying to make money woodworking as a planer and drum sander combination is faster.

While I frequently use my Jet-2244 with an aggressive 24-grit sandpaper, it takes more time, and I’ll head to the planer if it’s an option.

Pros and cons of a planer

There is no dispute that a planer is a workhorse for grinding rough lumber to a finished thickness.

If you plan a steady routine of taking rough 4/4 or 6/4 lumber and dimensioning it, then the decision is simple: you need a quality planer.

However, with most lumber mills offering lumber in finished dimensions with a straight-line edge (S3S is a common term), it’s increasingly rare for woodworkers to need to surface plane their lumber.

Features of a Wood Planer

First, understanding the features of a planer :

Adjustable feed rate – this is by far the #1 feature overlooked and which causes the most issues with damaged wood later. You NEED to have adjustable feed rates in a planer. Period.
Helical head – along with an adjustable feed rate, a spiral head will dramatically improve the quality of the planer as it only removes a sliver of wood at a time.
Maximum width – easily the most frustrating feature of planers, the maximum width usually starts around 13″ and to move past 20″ will cost thousands of dollars.
Motor size – if you plan on hours of use, you’ll want a larger motor for durability.
Dust collection – this is all standard but worth noting the location and suction requirements. You can find more in our guide to dust collection on what size and CFM are best for your setup.

Pros and Cons of a Wood Planer vs. Drum Sander

While the pros and cons seem unbalanced, it’s mainly because a planer is a one-dimensional tool compared to a drum sander. A planer is primarily good at taking narrower rough or glued-up stock and quickly making it a finished dimension.

But does that mean you should skip a planer? Not. While I own a smaller version for occasional jobs, it’s a big timesaver if appropriately used.

Pros

Cons

Pros and cons of a Drum Sander

I started my woodworking career using a 37×80″ Timesaver wide belt sander.

And, using its massive 37″ width, we made everything from kitchens to full-size interior and exterior doors.

While this massive sander was parked next to a 20″ planer, which we used for rough stock and panel finishing, it was quickly the shop’s #1-time saver (hence its name).

So, when I started my home woodworking shop, the third primary tool I invested in (table saws and dust collection first) was a 16″ drum sander.

Features of a Drum Sander

Like the wood planer, understanding the critical features of a drum sander is a must. And, with a drum sander, there are a few standard features that subtly give this tool an edge in use:

Adjustable feed rate – this feature is standard and one of the most used adjustments on a drum sander. From a relatively fast pace for light sanding to a snail’s pace for heavy stock removal, you’ll appreciate this feature.
Load sensing – paired with the adjustable feed rate, a quality drum sander will automatically slow the input feed to avoid burning the wood (or motor).
Open vs. closed drum – it’s common to find lower-end drum sanders with a closed end. Therefore, it’s best to choose a drum sander with an open back, as you’ll DOUBLE the width of the material you can sand.
Conveyor adjustment – surprisingly, the conveyor of a drum sander is coarse sandpaper. And, during hours of use, it will come off track. In fact, with my 22-44, it happens a little too often, so I look for quick adjusting conveyor belts.

Pros and Cons of a Wood Planer vs. Drum Sander

Pros

Cons

While from just the pros and cons, a drum sander is better vs. a planer, the decision always comes down to your projects. Most woodworkers

Drum Sander vs Planer: Final Verdict

Every woodworker’s budget is different.

But I’m a firm believer in two things:

Don’t upgrade tools on a short timeline
And if you’re going to do a job, do it right.

So that leaves the debate between these tools down to two arguments:

Choose the drum sander over the planer if you plan on buying pre-planed and edged lumber. You’ll enjoy the benefits of a machine that can sand rough panels and more expansive surfaces and produce a professional quality sanded finish.
if you plan on using rough-cut lumber, buy the drum sander AND an inexpensive planer.

Why not choose just a planner? Because woodworking requires a smooth finished surface, very few woodworkers have the time, skill, and patience to use the alternative to a drum sander: the belt sander.

Best Drum Sander for Home Woodworking

Shown: Jet 22-44 22-inch Drum Sander

So do I need a drum sander? The short answer is any woodworker that does flat-paneled projects like breadboards, shaker cabinet doors, face frames, or any furniture needs a belt sander.

The real question is, what size drum sander is best? While a 16″ is good, a 22″ for a few dollars more is better because it can handle larger panels and tall face frames and not leave you wanting that extra 12″ of total capacity later.

Best Bench Top Planer for Home Workshops

Shown: Dewalt Two-Speed Planer

While even the top-of-the-line benchtop planer is good, they won’t compete with the thousand-pound floor models that handle wide panels.

But, for most woodworkers, they work fine, and the trick is to maximize the use of your planer and drum sander for the optimal project speed.

Here are a few features to make sure you look for when buying a benchtop planer:

Invest in a quality, moveable base
Choose a planer with two-speed rates. Most single-speed planers go too fast
If your budget allows, a helical head planer is best
Use outfeed tables to reduce snipe
Pair your planer with a quality dust collector

Lastly, while a budget planer is tempting, remember that this is a tool you should own for decades. Invest in a brand name with a warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a planer the same as a sander?

A planer is not the same as a sander. While a sander uses grit to remove the wood using an abrasive force, a planer uses steel knives that “rip” wood slices from the surface.

Do you have to sand after using a planer?

In almost all cases, it is required to sand after using a planer on wood. Due to a planer’s knives, slicing wood away will leave a smooth surface, but marks will be left behind that need to be sanded, not seen when the wood is finished. A clear wood finish will show imperfections and nicks left by a planer, making a drum sander necessary for quickly sanding wood to a finish-ready sheen.

Can a drum sander be used to produce a finished surfaced?

One of the advantages of a drum sander is you can create a surface that is finished and ready to be stained or finished.

Summary

While debating planer vs. drum sander, remember that eventually, you’ll need both tools.

Do you know which to buy first? Unless you use a lot of rough wood, most woodworkers opt for a drum sander because it can quickly cut material to thickness with low-grit sandpaper. And, with an open drum end, it can be used for wood starting at 20 inches wide on even the base models.

About the Author
Latest Posts

Eric Trion( Woodworker )

Eric has been a professional woodworker for over thirty years and has worked in small cabinet shops making everything from kitchen cabinets to hand-made furniture. Now working from a home woodworking shop Eric is sharing his passion for woodworking, tool advice and how-to knowledge from his Minnesota-based woodshop.