My 50″ Woodmaster Drum Sander SAVES ME 2 DAYS OF HAND-SANDING
After a long career in law enforcement, Earl Kent now enjoys his life-long passion in his new career as a professional woodworker and high-end cabinet maker.
“Woodworking has always been my passion. I worked in law enforcement for 32 years and when I retired, I went into woodworking full-time. I wanted a Woodmaster Drum Sander for a long time.
Here’s one of Earl’s high-end kitchens – a real showcase of his talent, and one of many he’s created
I learned from the masters
I learned woodworking from master woodworkers. At first, I did small projects – some woodcarving and cabinetry. Then I went to work with a home building crew. I realized the guys there were master level in their individual trades and I learned from all seven of them.
Early lesson: get rid of homeowner-quality tools
I was eager to learn and asked one of the guys how I could get a degree in woodworking. Now, I’m not bragging on myself but he told me, ‘You don’t need a degree. You’ve learned from us and you’re a natural woodworker.’ He told me to get rid of my homeowner-quality tools and get professional-quality tools.
At a big, big 50″ wide, Earl’s Woodmaster Drum Sander has the size and power to handle big workpieces — even two or three at a time
$100 an hour
He said, ‘When you get going, you won’t have to advertise. Your work will sell itself.’ Turns out he was right. I left construction, developed my skills further, and started selling what I made. These days, all my work comes by word of mouth. I don’t advertise and I get all the work I can handle. My hourly rate is $100. A half-hour is $80.
Earl ended kitchen drawer clutter! Check out his double drawer design. Closed, it looks like one drawer. Pull it open and it’s TWO drawers-in-one. No more clutter — all your kitchen gadgets are neatly organized and tucked away
I wanted a Woodmaster Drum Sander for years
I’d thought about getting a Woodmaster Drum Sander for years. Setting up a shop, I converted an old barn into a 28 x 48 workshop. I ran electric, insulated it, and put in a furnace. At the time, I didn’t have a Woodmaster, but I wanted one so I ran wiring for one. Today my shop is filled with pro equipment.
“Lazy Susans” make good storage space in otherwise unusable kitchen corners. But not everyone wants one. Earl created elegant, high-efficiency storage for dozens of kitchen essentials with his multi-drawer, built-in corner drawer system
Before I got my Woodmaster, I was hand-sanding all my work. One of my early jobs was building teller desks for a local bank. They called me in and said they’d give me a loan to get my Woodmaster Drum Sander. ‘We have faith in you,’ they said. They even mounted a brass plaque with my name and contact info on the desk – like a business card. I was really touched by that.
Case Study: Woodmaster saved me 2 days of hand sanding
On a recent job, I built 26 raised panel cabinet doors and 15 or 16 drawer fronts for a big, high-end kitchen. I put 100 grit sandpaper on my Woodmaster and ran all the workpieces in 40 minutes. Then I switched to 150 grit and ran them all in 35 minutes. They came out smooth as a baby’s bottom. My Woodmaster saved me two, 8-hour days of hand sanding!
I had a total shoulder replacement recently but soon I’ll be busy and maxed to the hilt with building and repair projects. I’m used to working on two or three projects at the same time. I’ll glue up one, sand another, and so on.
Quality matters
Quality equipment really matters. I’d always wanted a drum sander. I was sure it would make my work faster and better. I’d watch videos of high-end woodworkers using drum sanders and I’d say to myself, ‘If I had a drum sander, it would make my work faster and better.’
Why’d I choose Woodmaster? Well, they’re the only one that makes a 50” drum sander. I ruled out a wide belt sander because they take up too much room and they’re not mobile. Everything in my shop is on casters so I can make the most of my space. And wide belt sanders need 3-phase electric and you have to add an air compressor.
And I chose the 50” Woodmaster based on others’ experience. One guy told me he got a 26” Woodmaster, then traded up to a 38” one, then a 50” Woodmaster. I figured I’d just get the biggest one first.
Woodmaster’s double-bag dust collector serves many machines
Earl has Woodmaster’s “Big Max” double drum dust collector system. It makes perfect sense in a shop like Earl’s that’s PACKED with pro woodworking equipment. He set it up so the collector serves many of his machines, including his Woodmaster Drum Sander
I also have Woodmaster’s 5HP, double bag dust collector. I use it on my Woodmaster, my table saw, thickness planer, and router table. No complaints —- I got my money’s worth!
Here’s the teller desk Earl built for his bank. This proved he’s a top-notch woodworker who makes and delivers the goods. He earned the bank’s respect and convinced ’em to give him a loan to buy his Woodmaster Drum Sander
I see customers’ projects in my mind, then make them
My vision is to make my customers’ dreams a reality. I talk with customers and learn what they want. We talk about design, size, wood, and more. I can actually envision what they want in my mind. And then I make it.
Woodmaster’s customer service is excellent. Really outstanding. I was impressed with their service from day one. I like their Woodmaster Molder/Planers but I don’t have a need for one.
Cheese board anyone? When he’s not building outstanding kitchens, you may find Earl turning out handsome cheese boards, serving trays, and other bread-and-butter items
If you’re thinking of getting a Woodmaster Drum Sander….
Anybody thinking of getting a drum sander should look at how often they’d use it, what they’d build, and how big their shop is. If they’re working in a garage, get a 26” or 38” Woodmaster. If they have a bigger shop, go straight to the 50” Woodmaster. And if anybody wants to see my 50” Woodmaster, they can come see me.
(Editor’s note: Want to see Earl’s Woodmaster in action? Call Woodmaster: 1-855-686-9235 and we’ll give you his contact info.)
Homeowners will always want to remodel
My dream for my business is to have a bigger shop someday and to stay busy. I’m an active guy and I like to be busy! There’s a lot of building going on out here. What I’ve seen is people will be in a home for five or six years then they’ll want to remodel. All that remodeling is good for my business!”
— Earl Kent, Woodmaster 50” Woodmaster owner, Palmer Kent Furniture, Bennett CO
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