Customer Reviews
Old Friend dies hard! 
2006-06-07
I purchased one of these 14 years ago and have used it commercially in a sign shop for the same length of time. I believe the motor might be finally giving out but I will replace it with the same one. I wet sand my signs with it. That means I spray water all over the sign and use wet/dry sandpaper to sand it. This little sander has withstood years of abuse, water, and paint. I highly recommend one of these. I have a bunch of DeWalt tools most of which have failed on me.
Best 1/4 sheet sander I've found 2006-05-27
I bought my first one of these sanders about 9 years ago. I use it all the time. It does an excellent job, is solidly built, and above all it doesn't make my hand and arm tired. I have a small wood working business on the side and I'm in the garage working usually every other weekend. I eventually wore my first sander out; I think it was the bearings that started to go. I contemplated changing them out but for $89.00 it's almost disposable at that point. I did however hang on to it just in case I wanted to have it rebuilt as a back up. My second one is still going strong. The reason I went with the Porter cable in the first place is because I'm still using the 1/2 pad sander my father purchased in 1952. For the most part you can't beat a Porter Cable.
Hands down the best 1/4 sheet sander out there. 2006-03-19
I own and operate a full time custom cabinet shop and purchased a PC330 back about 1989. I quickly discovered I had a real gem of a finish sander. It is still going strong today and have replaced the bearings and brushed once. I have since purchased 3 more for the shop. The PC330 is an excellent reliable extremely smooth running sander. well worth the asking price.
Excellent... note on country of manufacture 2006-01-17
When I was working as a cabinet maker in college, we used to use noisy Makita sanders that required a rest from the sander after you've been sufficiently shaken from your shoes from the vibration.
This Porter Cable 330 finish sander is outstanding. For one, it's extremely quiet, and from the two projects I've used it for so far, I come away from using it in complete amazement that my arm isn't numb. It's extremely comfortable to use, as well as being a bit weighty, which is a good thing. The weight of the sander is perfect for finish sanding. You don't need to add much pressure if at all.
It's solidly built...I'm just plain impressed. At first, I was a bit disappointed that this unit is made in Mexico, not USA as the Amazon Technical Info states. Seems I try so hard to purchase as much made in US products as I can these days, but they're diminishing. From the unit I received, I'm certain they build their tools to tight specs and have good quality control.
At any rate, this is an excellent quality tool. You'll love it's smoothness, quietness and usability. The Stikit pad is awesome.
Best 1/4 sheet sander 2005-07-08
This is a great little tool, much better than my PC 340k. Just alot more comfortable during long sanding sessions. Built like a tank, vibration free, and no swirl marks. It's definetly worth the few extra dollars it costs over the competition. Other 1/4 sheet sanders just don't compare. Pair this sander with the PC 505 1/2 sheet sander and your finish sanding needs are covered.
Simply the best in Palm sanders 2007-04-15
Have been using the 330 for 15 years Yes the same one all this time. I borrowed a new Dewalt random orbit sander to repair the handrails and posts on an old deck. It took less than 15 minutes to return to my old 330 to finish the job. For shier cutting, power and sanding ability nothing I have used in over 30 years of carpentry can match the Porter Cable 330 palm sander when a palm sander is the tool of choice. On the downside the Sticky pad for this sander does not hold up well. The glue on paper tends to tear the pad when removing. I purchased a new pad when I started this rail and post job and a week later I trashed it. For this reason I buy the pads in multiples from Amazon. Hook and loop paper might be a better choice but the H&L paper in 4x4 sheets is not readily available.
I have read many reviews of palm sanders in which the user complains that they have trouble with them when sanding drywall. Palm sanders are defiantly not made for sanding drywall. You would not use a hacksaw for cutting lumber, would you? If you insist on using this type of tool for sanding drywall then expect it to clog and possibly burn up. Use the proper tool for the proper job.
Quiet and Smooth Operation. 
2007-02-24
My Milwaukee palm sander finally died after years of faithful service, and I replaced it with this Porter-Cable model after reading the reviews. It is quieter than the Milwaukee and a lot easier on the hand because there's not as much vibration transfered to the housing that you grip when you hold it. The placement of the ON/OFF switch is really nice since it's located right where your fingers are as you hold the unit. You don't have to fumble around or look for the switch at all. The only beef I have is the same mentioned by a couple of others. Some have stated this is kinda lame, but I don't think so. Unless you want to spend $6 for 15 sanding sheets, you're going to use a regular old sheet of sandpaper that you rip into four pieces, i.e., you're not going to use adhesive-backed paper. In this case, you have to slip the paper under the clamping mechanism that holds the paper in place. I can't imagine why Porter Cable didn't incorporate the clamp tool mechanism into the sander itself rather than supplying a separate tool. Yeah, you can use a screwdriver, but hey for $100 can't they design a metal arm or finger that can be pushed or pulled to open the jaws of the clamps (like my old Milwaukee)? That's kinda lame.
Good Sander! 2007-01-20
The sander is very heavy, feels like an old time tool... when they built tools with metal! The outer housing is isolated from the metal frame with rubber mounts and trasmits very littel vibration to the hand. It takes some time to get used to the paper clamps but sands flush to a wall on all 4 sides. This is the best palm/finish sander I have ever seen, used, or owned; and I have owned a lot. Also, recieved quickly and as advritized froom tool-king
very good sander 2007-01-06
i live in venezuela, and this sander don't sale here, it's realy a very good machine, if you want low noise and excelent perfor buy this sander
Best You Can Buy 2006-06-16
I own quite a few sanders, and in my opinion this is one of the best, although not _the best_.
Other reviewers have done an excellent job on focusing on all the positives, so I won't waste time restating what they wrote.
For the price there are a few things that could be improved on:
1.) The old 330 has a metal housing, where as this one is plastic. Granted, on a cold day the plastic is probably more friendly, but I like the feel of the metal housing better.
2.) The new 330 isn't made in the U.S.A., where as the old one is. For the price, it should be made here.
3.) The new 330 is rated at 14,000 RPM, where as the old one is 15,000. This probably makes the brushes and bearings last longer, although the brushes don't seem to be the same quality as on the older unit. Either way, the extra 1,000 RPM helped a lot when trying to avoid swirl marks with a course grit. The 340 is also 14,000 RPM, but 1/2 the price.
4.) The new 330 isn't counter-balanced as well as the old, perhaps because of the lighter plastic case.
5.) The 330 doesn't have a dust collection system, unlike the 340. Granted, if you buy a 330 you probably have a downdraft table and don't want the drag of the vacuum hose to interfere with the feedback of the sander, but it would still be nice.
6.) You pretty much need the tool to install the sandpaper. Everyone I know (including me) who has a 330 uses PSA paper because of this. Bosch has an ideal setup on their 1297DK, which is also a nice sander, but 12,000 RPM.
With that said, this is still the best unit available for purchase that I've found. The hand grip is very comfortable, it's fairly quiet, and the vibration is low enough to not cause numbness after extended periods of sanding. Because of the price I'm giving the new 330 4 stars, although I'd have given it 5 if they kept everything the same from the old 330.
