Porter Cable 97366 6 Inch Variable Speed Sander Kit with Dust Collection Hood

Customer Reviews

great sander

2005-01-11
I have a 15 year old model that uses sticky discs instead of hook&loop and no vac attachment. I have many hours on this sander and it has fallen off the work bench to the concrete floor and the ground many times...nothing has ever broke; This sander takes a licking and keeps on ticking. I had to replace the pad once. It has been extremely reliable and does a great job of swirl free sanding. It really slings out the dust,so a vac-setup on it would be great,which the new models come with. I highly recommend this sander!

A powerful, versatile sander

2004-08-18
This ia a remarkably versatile sander, equally adept at finish sanding and rapid stock removal. As such, it replaces both a half-sheet finish sander and a belt sander for most people. It's aggressive, but more easily controlled than a belt sander, and with fine grits (150 and above) and at slower speeds its aggressiveness can be well moderated. Because it is a random orbital sander, it never leaves sanding marks, and sandpaper lasts considerably longer than with a finish or palm sander (at least for me).

As with all Porter-Cable tools, it is no-nonsense and well-made. On the down side, it's a bit fatiguing to grip with my medium-sized hands, the dust-collection hood is only moderately effective (although all remaining dust is directed downward), and extended use causes my hands to tingle for several hours afterwards. These criticisms are only minor, and do not diminish the sander's utility; moreover, they may apply in varying degrees to all random-orbit right-angle sanders. I do suggest the use of shock-absorbing gloves and breathing protection with it, however.

In summation, I recommend this sander highly. I have used it daily in the restoration of our 1888 Victorian, and have found it perfect for nearly every situation.

great

2004-04-12
i now seldom use my belt sander.

Very Satisfied !

2004-01-20
It's another of the collection of tools we use to make our renovation projects easier. Picked it because of our mostly good experience with Porter Cable. It does awesome work. And, the dust collection system, which is absolutely essential for our work, just about does away with dust completely. That's a great plus for indoor projects such as refinishing wall paneling, hardwood, etc., where you can't have dust going all over the house and you'd really rather not have to tape up plastic everywhere.

Unlike other writers, we've found the dust collection system to be great when hooked to our portable vacuums. We also like the hook and loop and have had zero problems with it, despite this sander's power. It's a big improvement over our five inch sanders for larger projects. That one inch difference is unbelievable. We're going to buy more of them.

Best tool for car detailing 2004-01-02
This is the exact same package as Griots Garage sells for $50 more. All you need is a couple of foam polishing pads from Meguiars or any auto detailing site and you are ready to polish your car to perfection. Just check out this link for complete directions on how to use one of these things and you will be polishing like a pro in a day! There is NO COMPARISON to the job this tool will do and hand work. Not even close.

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/detailing/forum.php?postid=1430487&page=1

A great machine - but, know what you are buying. 2007-05-07
The difference between the 5" and 6" Porter Cable random orbital is night and day. The 5" is very controllable, perfect for finishing, capable of slightly aggressive sanding if needed. The 6" is an "animal". Hold on tight! This is an extremely aggressive machine, with a coarse grit, it will send a shower of particles flying in all directions. Can be a little challenging to control, I found it needed a slightly different sanding technique. Very happy with the purchase, it is a perfect addition to my sanding arsenal when heavy wood removal is needed. The dust extraction does not seem very effective - have it hooked to the shop extraction system, maybe would be more effective with a shop vac which has higher suction. Overall a great machine, but you need to know what you are buying.
If this is your first sander and you are hoping for a `one tool fits all', it is probably not the right choice.

Porter-Cable sander 2006-11-11
The sander has performed well. The dust collection system, the primary reason I purchased it, works reasonably well. It does not collect everything, but vastly better than having nothing. Also, at half the price of a Festool sander, it's a good buy!

Forget this and Try Rigid ROS from Home Depot... 2006-10-16
PC 97366 has so much vibrations that I had to give it gift to my enemy.. Horrible... then within a week , I got a Xmas Gift of Home Depot Card and I used it to buy Rigit Sander from Home Depot for $139... ( I SAID , I CAN RETURN IT IF I DON'T LIKE IT )

WHAT A SURPIRISE THEN... THE RIGID IS SUPREME SANDER WITH ZERO PAIN IN HAND AND AWESOME GERMAN BUILT ... GREAT BUILD QUALITY AND 3 YEAR WARRANTY... YOU CAN'T MISS THAT...

I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW GOOD RIGID SANDERS ARE... BYE PORTER CABLE...

Aggressive - Fast Cutting 2005-07-19
Purchased sander to remove boat bottom paint. Worked well, but seemed to lose power in the afternoon. I think this may have been to low voltages in the boatyard. (It was hot and there could have been a power 'brownout' - I have not yet used this at home.)
Be aware you may have difficulty find 6" hook & loop sanding disks locally. My local Lowes does not stock this size.

Best Sander I Own. 2005-07-13
I am a builder I have been using the 6" random orbit sander for about 10 years. I own 3 units now and have worn out 3 units in the past. I use 60 grit paper for fast cutting of paints,epoxy or rough surfaces. I use 80 grit paper for surfaces to be painted. If I could only have one sander it would be a 6" random orbit with a vacuum attachment.