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Amazon.com Review
This sander also has a variable-speed dial that lets you match the speed of the belt with the application, so you can speed up for aggressive removal or dial down for more precision. We really like the 360-degree adjustable top dust nozzle--a feature you won't find on many belt sanders--because it lets you pivot the dust bag (or hose if you're hooked up to a dust vac), a huge convenience when sanding in corners or along edges. And, lastly, this is a quiet sander, thanks both to Porter-Cable's newly designed gear system, which meshes more accurately, and to the sander's serpentine drive belt, which makes considerably less noise than a more common cog system. For a belt sander, this tool is surprisingly easy on the ears, and that's a very good thing. --Jon Groebner
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Customer Reviews
This sander is powerful. I sanded three layers of old paint off a door in about 1/2 hr. The body is constructed of metal, giving it a nice solid feel. When sanding, you can simply glide the sander back and forth, without having to push down at all. Porter-Cable came up with a design that gives you a lot of power, but at the same time control over that power. This is what a belt sander SHOULD be like.
The position of the front handle makes sense -- it is up higher than the front of the machine, so you get a good position relative to the sanding surface. The handle is also designed to give you a lot to grab onto.
The dust bag is designed well. You can swivel it in any direction to get it out of the way while you're sanding, and it holds the dust without spilling until you're ready to empty it out. Also, it does a fair job collecting the dust, but you should never expect any dust-bag system to be perfect.
The meachinism for loading and unloading sander belts is very good. It is easy to place the belt in the sander and then tighten it up securely.
The tracking system really holds the sander belt in place. I placed the belt on the sander, held it upside-down, running the sander until the belt no longer shifted left or right. Then I began sanding, and for the whole time I worked, the belt did not move from center at all. Because the housing is made of metal, even if the belt DID move, it would not damage the sander, as it would on machines with plastic bodies.
All told, this sander is a great combination of power and ease of use.
PS: The 3X21 sander belts that Porter-Cable makes (the purple ones) are excellent.
Positives:
- the sander is well-balanced and well-weighted. I did not have to apply too much pressure unless I wanted to get down deep.
- changing belts was easy, and using the adjustment control was equally easy.
- the handles are well-positioned and ergonomically designed.
- overall performance was consistent and even.
Negatives:
- the dust bag was often in the way, regardless of the its ability to be swivelled. Additionally, it captured only a small portion of the overall dust.
- it is quite noisy.
- while its metal casing adds durability and structural strength, it became extremely hot during use. I burned my wrist on it more than once.
- it was difficult to handle and maneuver in small, cramped spaces.
- the design of the top of the sander prevents it from being turned over and used as a stationary, counter-top unit.
Overall, I think its price here on amazon.com makes it a good buy.
I have a monster PC362 4" for really heavy sanding but this one is light and easy enough to handle I pull it for my finer finishing work. The variable speed has to make it even more versatile.
It has plenty of power, doesn't run hot, and I've never known anyone personally that has ground up any body parts in one. Dust bags are annoying - period. But after using models that the bag is fixed permanently to the right side I much prefer the PC's one on the top, at least you can turn it away from whatever angle you are to the sander. I've found it very stable and sands extremely well.
There are some good models out there (Bosch has a good tool too) but for the money and the size this one is nealy impossible to beat: not too expensive, not too large, and not too small.
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