If you are a professional or DIY (do it yourself) woodwork enthusiast who uses large planks of wood, one of the must-have smoothing tools is a drum sander. Drum sanders from one brand, Grizzly, stand out in the market for their strength, versatility, and features richness that makes sanding thick planks of wood easy.
However, buying a great Grizzly drum sander is still a challenge because they are many and also vary in design, style, and price. But we are here to make the process easy and fun. Read our top five Grizzly drum sander reviews to understand their designs, features, and performance. Then, pick the ideal tool for your sanding tasks.
Our Top Grizzly Drum Sanders Are:
| Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Grizzly G0449 |  Top Pick |
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| 2.Grizzly Industrial G1066R |  |
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| 3.Grizzly Industrial G1079R |  |
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| 4.Grizzly Industrial G0716 |  |
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| 5.Grizzly Industrial G8749 |  |
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1. Grizzly G0449 — Best Overall
The Grizzly G0449 is a serious drum sander designed to impress in every aspect, with easy to use controls and features that make sanding tasks easy and fun. It oozes quality in every sense!
Powered by a powerful 10 HP motor, this sander is strong enough to sand even the toughest planks you feed it. To make the process of sanding tasks easier, the sander uses a variable-speed control system. If you have a lot of sanding tasks, tune it to the maximum speed to complete it in no time.
An incredible selling point of this sander is its computer balanced six-inch drums that make sanding easy and smooth. We found this extraordinary because the drums operate very smoothly, requiring minimum or no adjustments.
Another notable feature of this sander is its high-efficiency dust collection system that allows you to operate in a mess-free workplace. The sander uses a 4-port dust scoop system that easily gets all particles, both small and big, from the sander. So you do not need to worry about the system getting clogged by dust cake or needing to stop to clear it.
Specs
- 57.8 x 62.5 x 44.2 inches
- Corded electric
- 36-1/2″
- 4″
Pros
- Steel and rubber drums make handling easy
- Designed with an easy to access control panel
- Can handle very large boards of wood
Cons
- Noisy
- Pricey
2. Grizzly Industrial G1066R — Runner-Up
Trailing our top pick is this Grizzly Industrial G1066R that runs on a powerful 5 HP motor. We found this sander outstanding, especially for professionals with a lot of sanding tasks.
The sander’s powerful 5 AMP motor runs two six-inch sanding drums at a maximum surface speed of 2300 FPM (feet per minute). We found this strong enough to clear even the tough marks such as knife marks from hardwood.
At 442 pounds, this drum sander is really heavy, right? Well, look at it from the positive side: the weight provides you with a firm working station. The sander also comes with a four leadscrew system that makes lifting and lowering the table easy – simply turn the handle.
Another selling point of this sander is that its drums are computer balanced. This implies that you do not have to worry that the sandpaper will flip out of position. And this is not all. The hook and loop paper system also makes it easy to change sandpapers without incurring significant downtime.
Specs
- 442 pounds
- Corded electric
- 23-1/2 inches
- 4-1/4 inches
- 6-inch
Pros
- Comes with a high-efficiency 2-4-inch dust evacuation system
- Designed with heavy-duty steel for extra durability
- Designed with easy access magnetic switch
Cons
- Expensive
- Not suitable for simple/ occasional sanding tasks
3. Grizzly Industrial G1079R
Do you target doing a lot of medium to heavy-duty sanding works on wood planks not exceeding 15 inches? This is one of the best tools to use. Grizzly noted that a lot of woodworkers have issues with space, so they downgraded some features of the G1066R (our runner-up in this review).
The main selling point of this sander is the compact design that makes it fit well, even in workshops with space limitations. But even with the compact size of 40.5 x 30 x 33.5 inches, the sander has a powerful 2 HP motor that delivers 2100 FPM. This is ample for most sanding tasks in many workshops.
Another selling point of this sander is its solid construction. It is constructed with heavy-duty steel that makes it durable and sturdy when sanding. Well, buy this sander, and you can rest assured of using it many years down the line.
The dust collection system of this sander is awesome. Using two four-inch dust ports at the top, the system clears most dust for a mess-free work environment.
Specs
- 275 pounds
- Corded electric
- 40.5 x 30 x 33.5 inches
- 15-3/8″ wide
- 3-1/2″ thick
- Dual 6-Inches
Pros
- Changing the sandpaper is easy
- Designed to last
- A highly effective dust collection system
Cons
- Not good for handling boards larger than 15 inches
4. Grizzly Industrial G0716
Although Grizzly is mostly known for designing heavy-duty sanding machines, or do we call them monsters, they deviated in the case of Grizzly Industrial G0716-10″ 1 HP Drum Sander. It is a high-performance drum sander designed to make moving from one working site or around the home easy.
One of the most notable things of the sander is its uniquely positioned wheels. Notably, the wheels are cleverly positioned a short distance from the ground for two reasons. One, the wheels stand free when the sander is being used, and two, you can cart it away with ease. Further, it comes with folding handles for easy mobility.
The Grizzly Industrial G0716 runs on a 1 HP motor that generates 2300 FPM. This is ample to handle your DIY sanding tasks around home or light to medium-duty commercial sanding tasks. You can sand blocks with maximum width and thickness of nine inches and three inches, respectively.
The sander uses a four-inch dust port that carries away most of the dust from the machine. We liked the positioning of the dust port, at the top of the machine, because it does not stand on your way when sanding or controlling wood.
Specs
- 25 x 31 x 25 inches
- 218 pounds
- Corded electric
- 9-1/2 inches
- 3 inches
Pros
- Variable speed conveyor makes it ideal for various projects
- Comes with high-efficiency motor overload protection
- Easy to move from one site to another
Cons
- Not ideal for very powerful sanding tasks
5. Grizzly Industrial G8749
The Grizzly Industrial G8749 is one of the most innovative pieces designed to make sanding easier. It would be a great addition to wood workshops, especially those targeting to shape and finish contours.
The sander is powered by a strong 1 HP motor that generates a maximum of 1725 RPM, which is sufficient for most light-medium sanding tasks. To get better results, make sure the drum sander is fitted on a firm bench.
Grizzly Industrial G8749 rocks an interesting dual-sided sanding pattern. One side allows you to choose between the 3-1/4″ diameter and 4-3/4″ diameter inflatable sanding drums. On the other end, the sander has a 10-1/2″ diameter by 7-3/4″ long flap sander featuring 12 abrasive flaps. The flaps are backed by flexible bristles.
Unlike most drum sanders from Grizzly that are very heavy, the G8749 is super light. At only 67.8 pounds, the sander can easily be moved from one working site or workshop to another.
Specs
- 31.5 x 10 x 15 inches
- 67.8 pounds
- Corded electric
- Cast iron
Pros
- Designed with an easy to use toggle switch
- Light and easy to move around
- Designed with cast iron for extra durability
Cons
- Lacks a good dust collection system
- Does not come with a bench
Buying Guide
After reading the above Grizzly drum sander reviews, you can now go ahead and select the sander that will get your job done easily and professionally.
Further, it is important to take a closer look and answer the question: “How do you know Grizzly?”
Here are crucial details about the brand:
About Grizzly
Grizzly was started in 1983 by an industrialist known as S. Balolia. For Balolia, the goal of starting the company was to provide highly efficient tools that both professionals and DIY enthusiasts would use to get perfect results.
A closer look at Balolia on his Facebook profile reveals he is an astute learner who is always working on making things better. This is the drive that has kept Grizzly growing progressively for more than three decades.
Grizzly Products
Since its establishment, Grizzly has grown to become one of the leading brands in the US and globally too.
In addition to sanders, such as the drum sanders, the company also makes the following tools:
- Boring machines
- Wood bandsaws
- Drill presses
- Drill collectors
- Lathes
- Table saws
- Planes
- Pin routers
Company HQ
The company’s headquarters is in 1821 Valencia Street Bellingham, WA 98229 United States. However, it also maintains distribution centers in other states to make shipping easy and fast.
Unique Sales Model
One thing that has made Grizzly stand out from its peers is its unique sales model. Unlike other companies, Grizzly does not use dealerships.
Final Thoughts
The futuristic design and top features of our five Grizzly drum sander reviews demonstrate the manufacturer’s commitment to quality and innovation.
Again, Grizzly balances the design and price so that all woodworkers can get the perfect pieces. Therefore, no matter what your sanding tasks or budget are, rest assured of getting the ideal drum sander in our list above.
While we totally stand by each one of the pieces we reviewed above (they are remarkable), our overall top pick is the Grizzly G0449. Its sturdy construction and well-rounded features make it unrivaled in the market. You can never go wrong with this one!
