Porter-Cable 97366

[Jon]

Does anyone have this sander? Or do you know anything about it? How aggressive can it be?

 

[Travis Porter]

I have the 5" model.

All in all it is a decent sander. A bit heavy, but it does sand aggressively and has variable speed. I find it makes my hands tired as the barrel is pretty large and I have large hands so if you do not I would say it would make your hands tired quicker. The dust collection hose on mine did not stay on very well so I put a tywrap on it to hold it tighter. It comes with a little velcro thingy as well to tie the power cord and vacuum hose together that I consider a must. Otherwise the vacuum hose ridges are always getting caught and hanging up on the side of your bench.

Thinking about it, I would probably pass on this one and look at the Bosch sander that looks similar to the Festool Rotex. Pricewise the Bosch is comparable to the Porter Cable, seems to have better integrated dust collection than the PC, and does both rotary and ROS sanding. Just my .02

 

[Alan in Little Washington]

I have one, but rarely use it since I have a good planer and dual drum sander.

 

[mcoston2]

I have one and I don't even think about using it. I use my planer and palm sanders.:eusa_thin

 

[Tarhead]

What Travis said.
I tried out the PC at a WW'ng show and ended up with the Bosch. Very happy and fairly dust-free sanding with the Bosch. Need to create a vent on your vac to reduce the suction or they will hop around some. Both of these sanders are Hosses. They will give your upper body a workout in aggressive mode, take you for a dance and round off a corner in a blink of an eye. I'm using a 1/2 sheet Bosch sander on cases and square things and the 6" Bosch on round things.

 

[walnutjerry]

Does anyone have this sander? Or do you know anything about it? How aggressive can it be?

I do not have a sander like that but it looks like it would be good for roughing out chair seats. Used like a side grinder-------with 60 grit paper.

Jerry

 

[Alan in Little Washington]

I do not have a sander like that but it looks like it would be good for roughing out chair seats. Used like a side grinder-------with 60 grit paper.

Jerry

It would likely be good for that. Norm used use one allot but not so much now.

 

[waltv]

Jon,

I have one. When I first got it, I used it on the top of a red oak bookcase that had a little imperfection in the glue up...it dished it out with 120 grit so fast I couldn't believe it! It's aggressive!

All in all, it is a good sander, but for coarse sanding mostly. Stay off the cornners and be easy on the flats!

How I wish I had a drum sander!

 

[Jon]

I think I will wait and get a drum sander