Review of Grizzly G0716 Drum Sander

In today’s market, there are many different kinds of drum sanders available. The fact is, in the present world of drum sanders, even $5000 is not considered a significant budget. So, anything that costs below $1000 is bound to be very basic.

There are many people who do not require the kind of power that is ensured by really expensive sanders. For them, drum sanders that cost between $500 and $1000 are great choices.

One relatively capable drum sander that falls within the range mentioned is the Grizzly G0716 Drum Sander.

In this review, we tell you all you need to know about the grizzly drum sander G0716, to help you decide whether it is the right fit for you, or not.

Who is Grizzly?

If you are not very closely associated with the world of industrial machines, you may not have heard the name Grizzly yet. However, Grizzly happens to be one of the foremost makers of types of machinery in the United States, founded back in 1983. The company makes power tools and products for both industrial use and personal use. What separates it from its competitors is the fact that it sells to users directly so that there is no dealer involved to raise the costs of its products. Also, the company is committed to shipping most items ordered within just a single day.

The company makes power tools and products for both industrial use and personal use. What separates it from its competitors is the fact that it sells to users directly so that there is no dealer involved to raise the costs of its products. Also, the company is committed to shipping most items ordered within just a single day.

Comprehensive Review of Grizzly Drum Sander – G0716

With a 1 – 1 /2 HP motor and single-phase, this 110V machine targets those who rely on a handheld device to perform primary surface sanding jobs. It has a weight of 220-pounds and dimensions of 25 by 31 by 25 inches. A compact power tool, the G0716 does not make any bold promises. However, it does assure an easier time sanding surfaces. Although quite small, the machine comes with a build quality that can be regarded as excellent for its price. As far as performance is concerned, it is

Although quite small, the Grizzly drum sander comes with a build quality that can be regarded as excellent for its price. As far as performance is concerned, it is not a planer by any means, but only a light sander.

What this sander provides

At most, this Grizzly can deal with lumbers of 9-1/2 inches of width. That seems good enough for ordinary surfacing jobs. Other than that, it provides variable speed using its conveyor belt, which is good news for any wood enthusiast considering a drum sander on a budget. You can quickly adjust the feed rate according to your needs and watch this little beast do its job as a gentleman. Another noteworthy thing about this machine is the fact that it even includes adjustable pressure rollers, loaded with spring.

Supporting a maximum workpiece thickness of 3-inches, the Grizzly drum sander certainly does not pose any threat to its big brothers. For instance, the JET 628900 Mini(read our review), with its 20-inches of width, can do far more than the Grizzly ever can hope to. The same can be said regarding the 19-38 Drum Sander from the maker SuperMax(our review here), which is capable of dealing with 38-inches in a double pass.

But, the simple fact of the matter is that it is not fair to compare the Grizzly with those machines, which is perhaps the best aspect about it because ideally, that is the way it should be.

Another thing is that this 10/20-inch open-end sander works using a drum speed of 2300FPM, which is not bad at all. Also, the minimum workpiece height is just 1/4-inch, which is a major pro when it comes to dealing with small pieces.

All in all, the machine does not give you any trouble while taking care of your day-to-day jobs. But, that is only as long as you use it with a good dust collector. Its 4-inch dust port fits into most kinds of collectors and is a real blessing to its overall design and workability.

>> See Latest Price of Grizzly G0716 Drum Sander on Amazon

Pros and cons

The Grizzly G0716 is both superior and inferior (in some ways), depending on how you look at it. As such, it gives you a number of advantages. However, its disadvantages are quite noticeable too.

PROS

As Grizzly is very serious about delivering its products in time, the chances are that you will get your machine before the actual delivery date
For budget-conscious customers, this deal can be said to be an ideal deal from many angles
Regarding construction, the machine has good build quality and is somewhat of a bargain for its price
As the tool is very sturdy, working never feels like a chore
During operation, the sander remains impressively quiet
It is easy to move this sander from here to there, owing to its small size and low weight

CONS

As fantastic as the G0716 is compared to its competitors, the fact remains that it is an underpowered machine, capable of taking care of only the most basic sanding tasks
If you rely on its instruction manual to change its belt, you may end up being very confused and do things the wrong way
This drum sander is not very popular, so if you are someone who judges products by how famous they are, you need to look somewhere else

Where to Purchase: Check Price on Amazon

Is this a good buy?

If you have already used a Performax or a JET, the chances are that you will not find this Grizzly too exciting. At the same time, so much time as you are not too harsh in judging it, it should not disappoint you, either. In other words, as far as you stick with its capability and do not attempt to push it too much, it will be able to do everything well, to the point of satisfying you every single time.

Is this a great machine in the grand scheme, able to achieve greatness with every pass? Probably not! Is it a beast in its little world, having the ability to impress and astound you with its modest power? Certainly! Should you go for it?

Sure, if you like it enough and do not want to spend thousands of dollars!