Customer Reviews

Porter-Cable 362 12 Amp 4-Inch by 24-Inch Belt Sander with Cloth Dust Bag

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was facing the daunting task of sanding a 34 X 72 quarter-sawn white oak table top I had glued up, and knew using my Makita 3 X 21 would challenge my somewhat fragile emotional state. I looked at the Bosch and liked it, but am somewhat partial to PC, and also saw the extra weight as an advantage, not a negative. I started out with 80-grit, but just was taking too long, so I switched to 50-grit, then graduated to 80, then 120. What a beautiful job this tool does: smooth, powerful, and well balanced. The key to using a belt-sander is to use a light touch, letting the machine do the work, and to make your transitions in direction (fore & aft) as imperceptively as possible. Try not to concentrate on "problem areas" and sand the entire piece uniformly & methodically. Think of the machine as "floating" over the work. This is a big unit that prduces first rate results. Oh, by the way, don't bother with variable speed, it just is not neccessary...

This beast isn't for small jobs! If you want a unit with variable speed, you're kidding yourself buying a PC 4X24.This sander is made for full throttle. This is not a tool for being tender with delicate work, either. For that, buy a 3X21 with fine sandpaper and an orbital sander. But to remove a lot of stock rapidly without gouging, this is it. In my business, I've even stripped the occasional oak floor for refinishing with this tool. Unlike many 3X21 sanders that can gouge and tip, this sits on the surface like a couch. It's solid, smooth and stable. And as big as it is, it moves easily and is controllable. The dust bag is effective and pivots out of the way .Belt changing and tracking are a breeze. It's so powerful, I've never bogged it down. In fact, there is absolutely NO reason to apply downward pressure; just direct it. If you only want one belt sander for a variety of in-home tasks, this is too much tool. If you need a beast to do the heavy stuff the others can't do as well or as quickly, this is the only 4X24 I'd recommend

Recently, while in the middle of a hardwood flooring project, I purchased this model sander at a local supplier. After considerable use, here's my assessment.
Positive observations:
- It's build like a tank and will probably run forever.
- It's well-balanced and offers smooth sanding capabilities
Negative observations:
- The metal baseplate or "shoe" that came with the unit started warping after 1-2 hours of hard use, due to excessive heat. Fortunately, I had taken the advice of another reviewer and purchased the graphite impregnated shoe and was able to replace the original shoe without losing time on the job.
- At 12.0 amps, it's still significanly underpowered. It almost stalls with a 50 grit belt and heavy pressure.
- It's dust collection capabilities are mediocre, at best. Even when connected to a large shop vac, it clogs continuously during heavy sanding. Repeated clearing with an air hose is necessary.
- The machining on the housing is poor, especially in the area around the dust collection opening near the back of the belt. The mating surfaces don't align, which adds to the dust collection problems since the dust collects in the misaligned joint. I was able to improve this some with a small file but access is limited unless you remove the rear roller.
- The label on this machine says "Whisper Seriers". I don't know what Porter Cable's definition of "whisper" is, but it's obviously much different than mine. Ear plugs are absolutely essential for the operator and anyone else within "whisper" distance.
Overall, I would have to say that there are better choices than this sander. I own numerous Porter Cable tools and have been satisfied with most but this one leaves me disappointed.

This is a very large sander that works real well for large jobs. I used it last week to sand a large oak table top. Did a very nice (and quick) job. I prefer to use 80 grit paper for rough sanding, then 120 grit then finish sanding with my small finishing sander. I also connected the dust port to my shop vacuum. This really keeps the dust down and the workpiece clean!

This has to be be the best power tool I have bought in recent years. I had bought a power planer for quickly reducing thickness of rough cut wood. However the planer is not really suitable for final finishing as it tends to leave deep gouges in the material.. I had a conventional palm sander, but that took too long to achieve results. So taking up the 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and checking out other manufacturers, I opted for the PC 362.

It was absolute charm to setup and use. You change belts by flipping a lever. You adjust the "trim" of the belt with a small wheel while the machine is turned on. With 50 grit, it quickly removes 1/16 inch in a couple of passes. So start with 80 and don't apply any pressure - let the tool just glide. Its 15lb and far more sturdy than bosch or dewalt competitors. However the weight is actually a plus, because it means you don't have to force it down to remove material. The dust bag actually works very well at removing the sawdust.

The main consideration was the price. However, don't think you'll get good results if you go for a sub- [$] unit. This is a tool any professional will use again and again.

I have used these machines for close to 30 yrs. and have gone thru maybe five or six of these machines. It seems every new machine gets cheaper and cheaper [not price]. This one seems to have taken a giant step in that direction. I don't know what else they could do and still make a usable machine.

this sander does what it is supposed to do, rough in jobs and some finishing touches. the variable speed is a joke. you'll need full speed. the dust bag and 'l' tube connecting it to the top of the sander leaves much to be desired. it clogs easily, and eventually the bag does not fill b/c the shavings collect mysteriously izsomewhere in the sander itself. vacuuming it does help, but short of disassembling the unit, i do nopt know how one would unclog this. it would be especially nice if parts were available for this, like the dust bag and the 'l' connector as well. so far, i've found neither at home depot or lowe's. must one buy a new model to get a dust bag?