Porter-Cable 343VSK 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander - Hook & Loop Pad

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Manufacturer: Porter Cable

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Brand: Porter-Cable
Manufacturer: Porter Cable
Model: 343VSK

Features
Produces fine, swirl-free results on a variety of surfaces Powerful 3 Amp motor; variable speed dial a range of 7,500-12,000 orbits per minute Efficient dust collection with POREX dust canister and dual dust ports Handheld design and soft vibration-reducing rubber grip Includes a kit box; uses 5-inch hook-and-loop paper (not included)

Accessories

Mirka 23-615-060 Bulldog Gold 5-Inch 8-Hole 60 Grit Grip Vacuum Discs, 50-pack
Porter-Cable 735800404 5-Inch 40 Grit Eight-Hole Hook & Loop Sanding Discs - 4 Pack
Porter-Cable 735800615 5-Inch 60 Grit Eight-Hole Hook & Loop Sanding Discs - 15 Pack
Porter-Cable 735800412 5-Inch 40 Grit Eight-Hole Hook & Loop Sanding Discs - 12 Pack
Porter-Cable 735801215 5-Inch 120 Grit Eight-Hole Hook & Loop Sanding Discs - 15 Pack

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Editorial Reviews:

Treat yourself to a sander that will do the job right without taking its toll on your body. This is a compact sander that produces fine, swirl-free results and can be used on a huge variety of surfaces, thanks to the variable speed dial with an impressive range of 7,500-12,000 orbits per minute. Though equipped with a powerful 3Amp motor, this sander lets you tackle even the most difficult angles without the discomfort of excessive vibrations, thanks to its soft rubber grip. Other features include an automatic brake that engages when you set it down, and the efficient dust collection of the exclusive POREX dust canister and dual dust port that can accommodate 1-inch and 1-1/2-inch vacuum hoses. Additionally, a removable cap resides at the top of the machine for effortless cleaning and service. This impressive sander uses readily available 5-inch hook-and-loop paper and includes a kit box.

User Comments about the Porter-Cable 343VSK 5-Inch Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander - Hook & Loop Pad

To paraphrase an old car commercial, "This is NOT your father's Porter Cable." It is obvious that PC is moving away from the professional quality that made them the company they were toward a much more consumer oriented line. NOTE: I attribute part of the sand success to the disks I purchased. Yes, it DOES collect dust, just not a great percentage of what is generated. And, if you shop carefully, is probably worth what you pay for it. The dust collection leaves a lot to be desired if you just use the included dust collecting canister.

However, I don't thing very many other sanders with canisters are going to do much better. I assume this is mostly the difference between a metal and a plastic sander, and maybe manufacturing tolerances. This little plastic sander isn't terrible. My older PC ROS didn't have this feature, and the stick on sanding disks are not as convenient as the H&L attachment. And no, I don't feel that B&D has improved in quality. We are changing all the interior doors in our home from hollow core luan doors to solid pine doors.

When I move up to the finer grades of sanding disks, slowing the speed reduces the hand and forearm fatigue simply because the vibration is reduced. I assume this is because of the merging with Dewalt, which the big corporation seems to want to push as their pro line. These are the Mirka 23-615-AP 5-Inch 8-Hole Assorted Grits Dustless Hook-and-Loop Sanding Disks, (Amazon item http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004U6A8/ref=ox_ya_os_product). This sander does a very nice job of sanding these doors prior to staining. The concept of spinning dust into a closed canister just doesn't seem to be the most efficient method to me. The plastic carrying case seems to be solid enough and has room to store a few extra sanding disks.If you need a decent ROS for homeowner type DIY projects, this sander will likely work well.

This issue is not nearly so prevalent with my older PC ROS. I have electric (corded), pneumatic and cordless tools from PC. PC has just fallen THAT much.Having said all that, let me end the rant and get back to the review. First let me say that I have been purchasing and using Porter Cable tools for 25+ years.

The hook & loop feature is very nice. The variable speed feature is also nice. NO sander is going to give decent results with poor quality abrasives. Vibration issues aside, this tool does a very nice job of sanding.

In my opinion PC is just a cut, and a very small one at that, above Black and Decker. That's the reason for the title of my review. After about 6-8 minutes of sanding you probably will want to stop and give your hands and forearms a break. There is enough dust escaping even with a shop vac attached that you will see dust hanging in the air.My main complaint is the vibration.

I purchased this Porter Cable sander to replace a Dewalt unit that I simply wore out. I've owned a number of Porter Cable tools and have always been pleased with their performance. It works well but the Dewalt seemed to have a lower center of gravity and was easier on the wrist. But the Porter Cable still does an excellent job.

The variable speed is also a useful option. I was glad mu huge supply of five-hole paper fits perfectly on this sander. I bought this to replace an older Porter Cable sander. Also, one of my biggest problems with my old sander was the dust collector kept coming off, so far I've not had that problem with this one. All in all I'm very happy with this product. There is a different design so hopefully their engineers solved this problem.

I think it could have been designed a little different on the top where you hold it. My old porter-cable type 4 single speed does a better job of the heavy sanding. This is a good finishing sander, and I love the variable speed feature. So I use it to do the tough sanding and this one to do the finishing. Not good for small hands. I have used Dewalt and it seems to be about the same.

This helped eliminate the dust associated with sanding. After reading the safety manual (yeah I know, a guy reading a safety manual)., I was delighted to find that I could attach my shop vac to the unit. Be careful. And the instructions weren't kidding when it said this tool can remove lots of material quickly. This tool comes ready to use right out of the box. Another joy was in how easy it was to attach the sand paper to the surface. I love this tool and it has made woodworking faster and more exacting for me The variable speed and easy to reach on/off switch are other parts of this tool that I found useful.