Customer Reviews
porter cable 502 
2007-06-27
excellent. I'm taking cabinet-making night courses at the local vo-tech and they use nothing but porter-cable. haven't heard of a failure yet.
after a year I still like it 2006-12-08
Purchased this sander to defray orbital paper costs. I have been very pleased, it moves alot of wood. Very cheap to run super durable. To obtain the dust collector contact [...], the collector works well on what it was designed for, a nice accessory. Use it often with 60 grit paper it is not just a finish sander. I strongly recomend this sander.
False advertising... 
2005-12-02
This sander, like most of Porter-Cable's tools, is no longer made in USA. Although the technical information indicates this tool is made here, it is actually made in Mexico!! Unfortunately, the management of Porter-Cable has decided to discard their image as one of the last tool companies producing high-end American made tools in favor of cheap imports.
One of the most elegant power tools I've ever used 2005-11-12
I have been building cabinets, rasied panels, bookcases, furniture, built-in shelves, wainscoting, and you name it for my home. I pride myself on accuracy and quality of workmanship like most people. It's hard to imagine a "power" tool as being elegant, like say a Lie-Nielsen brass hand plane. But, this is one of those rare jewels.
When I turned this sander on I was literally stunned at how smooth, quiet and effortless the sanding was. I just let it "float" along the wood using it's own weight to do the work along with a fine sandpaper. This unit is perfectly balanced and produces truly flawless finishes.
I have the Polished Aluminum Model called the 505H Heritage Model. I clean it up every time I'm done, and I bought a special padded case for it to keep it pristine but useful.
I can hardly believe I'm writing so much about a sander but lets face it, when you're all done building something, after the final sanding there is nothing like the tactile feel of silky smooth wood on a job well done. This tool will help you achieve that level.
Hope that helps.
Simply the Best Sander Out there! 2005-08-09
This is the best 1/2 sheet sander available! Smooth running, long lasting, quiet.
great results 2008-07-16
I ordered this sander on a sunday evening was using it the following fri best shipping on any thing I've ordered on the net. The sander is working so good I can't believe it has cut my sanding time in half. Can't go wrong with this one.
Still Crazy for this unit after all these years 2008-04-06
I used to work in a cabinet shop in the '70's. That is, the 1970's before Ipods and the internet. We used this exact same model then! It worked very well and lasted forever (at least until I left after 7 years).
Now, 30 years later, my cheap B&D sander long ago gave up the ghost. My small Porter Cable orbital sander is beginning to fail. I Googled "the best orbital sander" and was totaly amazed this Porter-Cable 505 unit is still being made and is still the best. It if very easy to use, as it uses a 1/2 sheet of sand paper. The clips to hold the paper work easily and well. I just started using the new sander this last week. Brings back fond memories and it really removes the wood. I just ordered another 1/4 sheet orbital sander (Porter-Cable) for finish work, but this big unit works great for large surface areas and does NOT leave swirls.
I must have gotten weaker and older over the years, because I did not remember how heavy this unit is. This unit is NOT for small, frail hands. It vibrates and it is heavy. But, when it is flat on a work surface, it does the job as intended. A great piece of equipment.
Can't get by without it 2008-03-22
Very, very good sander. My first one was stolen many years ago so I tried a few others...none compared. Used professionally on a daily basis for several years and never had a problem or complaint. Would highly recommend for the serious woodworker or carpenter.
The only sander you need. 2008-01-06
Superb sander! Normally I wear padded gloves to reduce numbness while using my other sanders. I just sanded for about an hour before I noticed that I had not put them on - NOT Needed. This sander is very efficient. It feels like it is not doing anything until you notice the large amount of dust pouring off your work. The heavier weight means less input from you. I wish I would have bought this sander a long time ago before the others I own. You could easily get by with just this sander and hand sand details as needed. I love buying the sandpaper on a roll and cutting to size (also found at local Lowe's). All in all, the best sander you can buy - no equal. Ignore the price - worth every penny!
Porte Cable Sander 2007-08-23
A little pricey but the best sander out there in my opinion. The sanding is what makes a good finish and this sander does the job.
