June | 2014 | Woodmaster Drum Sanders Blog

“I absolutely attribute my business growth to my Woodmaster equipment. So much growth, though, that I needed your BIGGEST double-drum sander!”

“This kiosk sits in the center of the Rotunda in our local historic Court House. I made it with Select and Better Red Oak. I made the top perimeter molding with my 718 Woodmaster Molder/Planer.”

Well, quite a few years later, we talked with Tim again and his business is bigger and better than ever. He’s added Woodmaster equipment, he’s got tons more work, higher-end work, and he’s making more money than ever. Here’s what Tim had to say about his business these days…and why he traded up to his brand new 50” Woodmaster Double Drum Sander…

“Today, I’m doing a lot more high-end work, and larger projects than before. I make a wide gamut of products, anything from jewelry boxes, to flag display cases, military display cases, medal cases, furniture, wine cabinets, stereo cabinets, kitchen cabinets. I even do custom picture framing. I just made a table with a full set of Windsor chairs. I ship all over the United States. Through all these years, everything I’ve ever built has gone through one of my Woodmasters.

25% growth this year alone

Business is really good. I’m very busy and have a full plate. These days, a lot of people come to us through referrals. We don’t do any real advertising. The work really sells itself. I have started selling online through a third-party website, and that’s been really good. I have my own website, too.

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My work volume has really picked up. I’m working full time and then some! My business income has grown probably 25% just in the last year. This growth has a lot to do with my confidence in my Woodmaster machinery – I can go after high-end work with confidence. If I run something through

my Woodmasters, I know it’ll come out the way I want. That really builds my confidence, and that helps my business.

Tim’s Shaker-style custom vanity has double doors. It’s created using Select and Better northern grown White Birch. The center panels and bottom are birch substrate. It has wooden knobs and concealed Euro hinges. Mortise and tenon joinery throughout.

50” Woodmaster Drum Sander — he traded up from 38” double drum

I had a 38” Woodmaster Double-Drum Sander, but because my business has grown and I’m getting projects that are wider than my 38” sander could handle — like linen closets, pantries, and table tops. I needed a wider drum sander so I figured why not go with Woodmaster’s 50” Double Drum Sander, the 5075-X2. I ordered it with the 10HP motor upgrade.

I love this new 50” drum sander. It’s durable and accurate, and has a digital readout. I send a piece through with the depth set so it’s just touching. I set the sanding depth just where I want it and the result is flat and beautiful.

Sold his 38” for 75% of its purchase price

Coincidentally, Woodmaster gave my name to someone who was thinking about buying a Woodmaster Drum Sander and wanted to see one in person. I showed him my 3875 and put a piece of wood through it. He was impressed and said, ‘You just sold me on Woodmaster Drum Sanders.’ I told him I’d sell him my 3875 and he bought it. I was very happy with the resale value. I got about 75% of my original purchase price, and I put that toward my new 50” drum sander.

Primary & secondary sanding in 1 pass: fast, efficient, professional quality

Most of the time, I do both primary and secondary sanding in one pass. I do my primary sanding with the first drum and the secondary sanding with the second drum. For example, 120-grit paper on the first drum and 180-grit on the second. There’s very little touchup needed.

Variable Feed Rate yields a perfect finish — Reversing Switch saves steps

Among the many items Tim makes are customized toy chests like this one. “These are solid wood toy chests, hardwood or softwood, I make to my customers’ specifications. Each has a hinged lids with secure supports.”

The Feed Belt runs at variable speed – I love it, wouldn’t be without it. You can put wood through fast or slow as needed. And the sander’s Reversing Switch is great. A lot of times, I send a workpiece through then hit the Reversing Switch — it brings the board back to you. It saves you steps and it works real nice.

Tim runs 2 Woodmaster Molder/Planers — 1 for molding, 1 for planing

One of my Woodmaster Molder/Planers is set up as molder. Periodically, I use it for ripping, too. I just used it to make a display kiosk for Mille Lacs County Courthouse. I used the 718 to duplicate old molding used in the late 1800’s.

My Woodmaster 725 Molder/Planer is set up for planing and it runs every day. I buy all my lumber in the rough and plane it to thickness. I installed Woodmaster’s Spiral Cutterhead for planing — I just love it! I’d never go back to using planer blades. The Spiral Cutterhead is awesome. It’s quiet and doesn’t chip wood. I plane thousands of board feet a year. The Spiral Cutterhead stays sharp and just keeps going. I’ve never even rotated the 4-faced cutterheads — I’m still planing with the original faces.

I also have Woodmaster’s biggest double bag dust collection system. It works out real well. I ran 6” pipe throughout shop, all with blast gates regulating the vacuuming to whichever machines are is in use.

“I absolutely attribute my business growth to Woodmaster.”

Tim sent in his Warranty Card when he purchased his new 50″ Woodmaster Drum Sander and it got our attention. He wrote, “There is nothing to compare (with a Woodmaster). I currently own several Woodmaster machines. This (50″ drum sander) purchase was an upgrade from my 3875. I also am the proud owner of your midsize planer, plus your 725 & your large double bag dust collector.”

I can absolutely attribute my business growth to my Woodmaster machines. I couldn’t go after the business I’m getting now without my Woodmasters. I can run figured woods. I can sand perfectly flat with professional quality because of Woodmaster. I’m also able to offer moldings nobody else can because I have access to Woodmaster’s 600 molding knife patterns; custom moldings, too.

Tim built his successful woodworking business from scratch. You can, too.

If you want to get into business and want full confidence that you can produce the products with the quality you want, I highly recommend Woodmaster machines. They’re low maintenance, easy to use, and very accurate. You’ll definitely get your money out of these machines. They will perform over and above what you expect.

My respect for Woodmaster is really high. When it was time to buy another sander, I didn’t go anywhere else. Same thing with my planers – my first was a 718, then I got a 725. If you’re like me, when you own a Woodmaster and it’s time to upgrade, you’ll go with another Woodmaster.”

— Tim Ziegler, Ziegler WoodWork & Specialty, Foreston, MN — Woodmaster Drum Sander & Woodmaster Molder/Planer Owner

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Long-time cabinetmaker, Ronald Frey, is 82 years young and loves his two Woodmasters. When he sent us some great photos of his outstanding work, we asked him to tell us his whole woodworking story. Here’s what Ronald told us…

Woodworker, Ronald Frey, says he’ll never hand-scrape another tabletop by hand. That’s why he got his Woodmaster Drum/Sander: wide tabletops come out perfectly flat, smooth, and ready to finish.

“You’re obsessed!”

“I’m 82 years young and I don’t do as much as I used to but I’m in my shop every day and I use my Woodmaster Molder/Planer and my Woodmaster Drum Sander a few hours every day. My wife says, ‘You’re obsessed!’

Here’s a handsome walnut jewelry cabinet Ronald Frey made with help from his Woodmasters.

I do general cabinetry work. I design 90% of the furniture I make. I build anything people want. Let’s see: dry sinks, stereo cabinets, nightstands, footstools, chests of drawers, headboards, drawing desks, file cabinets, computer desks, cabinet doors, half-doors, drawers, printer stands, anything!

I used to do cabinetry as a business but it’s just a hobby now. I make a lot of things for my church, for friends, and for my kids. Right now, I’m doing a lot of experimental wood turning. I get cherry and walnut, put it on my lathe, and turn goblets. I give them to friends.

A lifelong cabinetmaker & carpenter

When I was in high school, I spent every study period in the shop. Then I went to a trade school and took three years of cabinetry and carpentry. That’s where I learned to do this work. I was an educator for 33 years and taught cabinetmaking at the high school and college levels. But even when I was teaching, I’d be swinging a hammer building houses in the summer.

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Drum Sanders! – sale prices, online specials

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“My Woodmasters don’t owe me a dime.”

I built my own home in 1993 and my shop’s in the basement, about 1,800 sq. ft. I have a lot of equipment including both the Woodmaster Molder/Planer and the Woodmaster Drum Sander. Those Woodmasters don’t owe me a dime.

I got the Woodmaster Molder/Planer first. I make a lot of tabletops and I can plane wide boards on that thing. At 82 years old, I refuse to hand-pane and scrape! I buy 95% of my lumber rough. I dress one side, square the edge, and glue up tabletops.

I got the Woodmaster Drum Sander to make tabletops. I’ve made bathroom vanities with my Woodmaster Drum Sander. Kitchen counters, some plastic laminate work, too. It’ll snow in Cuba before I’ll dress a 34” or 36” tabletop by hand!

Here’s a handsome bench Ronald made of cherry. He says his design was inspired by those of master craftsman, George Nakashima.

I make a lot of projects using both my Woodmaster machines. I made a prayer stand recently. It’s about 17” x 34”. I planed one side, glued it up, put it through my sander, and it’s good to go. Not long ago, I made a 35” wide Shaker table in two sections, each 17-1/2” wide. I ran each through the Woodmaster and glued them together. The joint was absolutely even.

Woodmaster’s simple design is unique

What’s nice about Woodmaster design is it’s simple. Both machines are engineered to be simple and I don’t mean that as a negative. To replace rollers or knives on the Molder/Planer is simple. I can do that in 40 minutes to an hour, max. I just wax the bed of the Woodmaster and it runs well. It’s a beautiful machine.

The Woodmaster Drum Sander’s the same way, that’s what makes it unique. The drum doesn’t go 90 miles an hour. You can slow it down and it doesn’t burn paper. I can take 10 passes if I need to. I can take off thousandths of an inch at a time. Woodmaster has both single and double-drum sanders. I prefer the 50″ double drum. I can put 80-grit paper on one drum and 100, 120, or 150-grit on the second.

Ronald Frey has a Woodmaster Molder/Planer, too. He’s owned and used it extensively — we switched from black paint to beige many years ago!

American machines, American motors

I love my Woodmasters. If the company made other machines, I’d absolutely buy them in a minute. If they made a Woodmaster table saw of the same quality, I’d buy it. Woodmaster’s been around a long time and they’re made in the USA. They use American motors. If you take care of your Woodmaster, it’ll last forever. You can’t eliminate wear on wearing parts, but if you do your maintenance, it’ll last you a long time. A lot of equipment is made in China and Taiwan — it’s junk. Woodmaster is USA-made and the people there really help you. They take their time with you and they know their stuff. If you have the space for a workshop, consider getting a Woodmaster. Woodmaster, keep up the good work!

Thinking about a Woodmaster? Call Ronald

If anyone’s thinking of getting a Woodmaster, call me. I’d be happy to talk with you about it. I have two Woodmasters and they work beautifully. If something’s wrong, I’ll tell you about it.”

— Ronald Frey, Woodmaster Drum Sander & Molder/Planer Owner, Syracuse NY

(Editor’s Note: Like many Woodmaster owners, Ronald is happy to talk to others about his Woodmasters and promises he’ll “tell it like it is.” If you’d like to talk with Ronald or another of our 100,000+ owners, please call us 1-800-821-6651or email us!)

SAVE BIG NOW on Woodmaster Drum Sanders! – sale prices, online specials

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QUESTIONS? COMMENTS?

3 WAYS we can help you!