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Porter Cable 5 inch Random Orbital Sander, # 7335

I own a PC SpeedBloc 330 sander and really like it.



While it works well, I want to try a different type. I've always wanted a Dynorbital, but have no air compressor in the shop only in my garage. So that would require purchasing a dedicated air compressor too.

Just curious what you guys think about hook and loop and peel and stick papers. While you are at it, suggest your favorite paper as well, thanks in advance, Bruce

Oh yeah, one other consideration, you can buy with and without dust collection. Which way? thanks

I use hook & loop on my RA sander. I've been having some trouble with it lately though and may have to take it back or send it in or something. I slows down to barely a crawl then for no reason just takes off and works fine. It's a PC so I think they will stand behind it (at least hope). I use the gold paper from Grizzly and it works pretty good, the two grits I have are 120 and 320.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Thanks John... most of the Amazon.com reviews said to ditch the hook and loop anyway. Sounds like you are having drive troubles of some sort. It has some sort of 30 day performance guarantee in addition to a one year warranty.

That may be a warranty matching deal with DeWalt, they have that thirty day return policy, no questions asked. I actually used it on my first DeWalt tool a rechargeable drill. The drive chuck died after two days.

Thanks John.

I think my problem is related to dust in the motor maybe. I'll try blowing it out again.
I like the hook & Loop though, I don't know what's not to like about it.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

John I thinks some have concers about levelness of the sanding surface. I use it as well have had no issues

I use the PC 5" RO sander with the Grizzly 5 hole gold hook & loop disks. I find that it works just fine for me.

I thought the problem with the hook & loop papers was related to drum sanders and not being able to level the surface accurately enough.

I was wrong once though.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I have the Porter Cable Model 333 variablr speed random orbital, peel and stick. Works like a dream

Bruce,

I don't have an opinion on either sander, but I did see an interesting report on the DIY network yesterday about these, well, dust collection anyways. They recommended building your own downdraft table and using that instead of the dust collection port. Basically, they built a 2x3' box out of 2x4's, put a bottom on it, and attached a pegboard top. Then, all they did was cut a 4" hole it it to hook up to your dust collection system. It cost all of about $3 bucks and looked like it worked as good as anything else.

Cheers!

John

I have the 7336, using sticky discs. Works great, and has been a trouble free workhorse. I even level sanded a 1200 sq.ft. hardwood floor in between coats(that was 2-1/2 hours of sanding, non stop, times 3 coats....) with it a couple years ago, it then lived through a house fire(same place I was doing the floor<sigh>), and it still works flawlessly today, though it is bunrt, discolored, and dirty.

Highly recommeneded. Not inexpensive, but it'll outlast you.

One downside: it is heavy, and tiring to use one-handed. I do it, but it wears be down. On the plus side, that weight means it doesn't vibrate in your hands near as much as other sanders do. Large orbits, too, for smooth, agressive sanding.

I have a DeWalt 5" RO with hook and loop. Also have the shop vac attachment which is used daily. The dust bags / canisters pale in comparrison to a shop vac attachment. I like the one hand feature of the DeWalt and although I am a fan of PC tools I would look for a one hand sander as it's nice to have the other hand free to rotate a body or neck while sanding.

I also have the Speedblock finishing sander but if you examine the sanded surface under a magnifying glass you will see tiny swirls. [Not a good thing.]

I also use Grizzly's gold 80 and then jump to 180 before filler. I also use 220 and 320 sterated paper (not with waterborne though) between coats. 220 for filler leveling and sanding sealer then 320 for lacquer. I also like Mirka Abranet 600, 800, Gold 1000 and Abralon 2000 for wet sanding prior to buffing.

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tim...
http://www.mcknightguitars.com

Hmmmm. Six inch. I found one at Lowes on sale for $97, it was a kit set with foam polisher attachment thrown in. Looked fairly heavy and as you say Mario, indestructible.

Now a stupid question. Are the sandpapers with holes okay on a stick on pad? Evidently the holes are for sucking dust into the collector.

From reading the comments on Amazon, the hook and loop had a benefit over peel and stick adhesive in being able to switch back and forth on grit size. After perusing the racks, hook and loop is more expensive for the papers.Dickey38432.8429282407

pc makes their sander models for either h&l or psa. pick one or the other. i like the h&l for the reason mentioned above.

you want a random orbit for finish work.

if you are thinking about an air powered unit, check out the air flow requirements before you buy because they need a lot of air, ergo, a big compressor.

michael mcclain

I bought a Ingersol pneumatic RO sander thinking I had enough air to drive it. It was to laugh. Thing barely spins up before the compressor runs out of air.

I just did a batch of sanding drywall with my dewalt RO sander and a shop-vac. Anyone who has done it knows that this is the ultimate test of dust collection systems, and it passed with flying colors.

If you have the money, Dynabrade is the way to go.

Bruce,

I have a Bosch I bought when it was on sale, and I could not be happier with it.

Jeff
Sander

Thanks everyone, lots of options, tough choices.

John How, one guy on Amazon, mentioned his sander slowing down after five years and said it was the variable speed switch slowing it down...? Like you said dust in the contacts maybe...

Something to consider...

In my part of the world, the good papers are found at auto body places, and the standard discs there are 6". If I had bought a 5" sander, I'd have to special order all my discs.

That may not be a problem, depending on where you live, but look into it. It's a big plus if you can just head to the store to buy your papers.

I would go with the H&L over the sticky. I think the small extra cost is well worth it. I have a porter cable 5". I love it. For my wood sanding papers I use the porter cable stuff you get at lowes. For sanding finishes I use the gold discs and abralon. I order all my finishing supplies and sanding papers/discs from Homestead finishing    He has great prices!

I highly reccomend Klingspor abrasives for sandpaper,great quality and prices.
I am using Festool sanders,routers and jigs-German engineering at it's best.These guys don't just make tools they make systems! Everyone of there tools (including routers) has the most efficient dust collection system there is .Check out there website: www.festool.com

Thanks for all the great suggestions and recommendations. The 7336 so I got it for 99 and tax. It even came with a foam polisher head for detailing the car....

It's a hoss, the 120 grit pad that came with it really cleaned up the binding quickly on an SJ I'm doing. rosewood sides and back and maple binding. My first wood binding.