Porter-Cable 362VS 4-Inch x 24-Inch Variable Speed Sander

by Porter-Cable

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

We didn't want to put this one down, and that's not our usual reaction to a belt sander. But we would have happily refinished a hardwood floor with Porter-Cable's 4-inch belt sander. It feels great in your hands thanks to the attention Porter-Cable paid to ergonomics. The front grip is perfect and the handle is comfortable, with the speed control perfectly positioned for on-the-fly changes. It's heavy, but the weight of the 12 amp motor is centered right over the platen, so the balance is perfect and you can let this hummer do the work for you. The variable speed will let you cover from 1,000 to 1,500 surface feet per minute. We loved the quick-release belt-change lever and wonder why no one thought of it sooner. Belt tracking is controlled with a fingertip knob, and it worked like a dream in our tests. All that would be enough to win our vote, but get this: it has a large-capacity dust-collection bag that swivels 360 degrees and will never get in your way. Two thumbs up on this one. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste

From the Manufacturer

Porter-Cable 362VS 4-Inch x 24-Inch Variable Speed Sander

See all Product Description

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 17.8 x 9.8 x 10 inches ; 15.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 18.1 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000222XD
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 362VS
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,808 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Porter Cable versus Bosch, May 5, 2000

By 

Bob Hogan (Washington state) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porter-Cable 362VS 4-Inch x 24-Inch Variable Speed Sander (Tools & Home Improvement)

Tough choice this - the Porter Cable 362VS or the Bosch 1276DVS. Both are powerful machines that demand some practice and your undivided attention as they sand so quickly. Deciding factor for me was that the variable speed adjusting wheel on the PC had detents (click stops) while the Bosch just felt like the adjustment could move on it's own accord. Minor differnce for sure as either tool is up to any sanding job.

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy the Graphite Impregnated Sanding Shoe, May 26, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Porter-Cable 362VS 4-Inch x 24-Inch Variable Speed Sander (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bought this sander to refinish my hardwood floors. After many hours using it, both on the floors and on another project, this tool has become somewhat of an old friend. It has plenty of endearing attributes, but...

First the good points:

1. It is nicely balanced. It is easy to control as you move it over your work.

2. The dust collection bag is astonishingly effective. (However, the narrow channels through the sander body clog quickly at very coarse grits and can be somewhat hard to unclog.)

3. The belt tracking screw is both easy to use and effective.

4. Changing belts is trivial.

Unfortunately, I ran into one major problem, and that was with the sanding shoe. The sanding shoe is a thin sheet that keeps the belt in contact with the work surface. Continuous sanding of hardwood floors gets the sanding shoe very hot. Under these conditions, the original equipment steel sanding shoe warped remarkably quickly. After about two hours it was visibly warped. After twenty hours, it was horribly cupped. It would seem that the tension of the belt would help keep the sanding shoe flat in operation, but that is not the case. The result is that the belt is pushed against the work surface in an uneven manner that produces deep, cupped gouges. A replacement steel shoe went bad just as quickly.

So, I bought the graphite impregnated sanding shoe. This shoe lies completely flat. (Provided that you don't let sawdust get behind it or the cork pad. This is more of a problem with the original shoe, but could be a problem with this shoe as well.) The graphite impregnated sanding shoe completely solves a very real problem. If you don't care about the finished surface of your work (if, say you are shaping counter tops to fit walls), then you do not need the new shoe. If you do care about the finished surface of your work and you will be using the sander extensively, do yourself a favor: get the graphite impregnated sanding shoe and install it immediately.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent HD Sander, September 25, 2000

By 

Robert Crouse (LaGrange, Kentucky United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Porter-Cable 362VS 4-Inch x 24-Inch Variable Speed Sander (Tools & Home Improvement)

Some may find this sander too heavy. It takes strong hands and arms to hold on to this sander when it is running at full speed. This powerhouse sander will do the heavy sanding you need to accomplish and in short order. I have used it to shape wood. I have used it to do flooring and decks. It is an excellent sander and will not waste sand paper. The belt tracks very well, all the time. It is of high quality and is American Made.