Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I purchased this sander because I needed an ROS badly to finish my woodworking projects. I had a crappy B&D OS (not orbital) which worked but didn't have any dust collection. The PC 343VSK sander that I have is made in Mexico.
This PC ROS works very well, giving me very smooth sanded surfaces. It is heavier than the 333 model and has a slightly larger cap. Although it is heavier, it is well balanced and it adds some weight to the sanding. The slightly larger cap may make it harder for smaller hands to hold or grip it well. The motor is powerful and provides even sanding even when I apply a lot of pressure on the unit to sand hard.
I only had 2 small qualms about the sander. If you don't use the shopvac, and use the collection canister, the canister is not very efficient in containing the sawdust. Small particles of sawdust start coming out through the lip when the canister fills to about 1/4 full. This is because the canister is installed upside down on the sander when sanding on horizontally flat surfaces. The canister is easily removed to be emptied but it is just more troublesome to remember to check how full the canister is. Although the dust collection was reasonable without hooking up the sander to a shopvac, hooking it up to the vacuum makes sanding almost dustless.
The second qualm is that the first unit I received had a hard case that did not latch properly. No matter what I tried, the latch would not latch tightly and properly and the case would not stay locked, leaving the case prone to opening when you lifter the carrying handle. I exchanged the sander for a new one and although the new latch worked better and was closing, the design specs could be improved to give it a positive locking on the latch.
Overall the sander is an excellent unit. Would recommend it.
Update Jan 4 2008:
The dust canister kept getting loose and keeps vibrating off. Can't keep in in pace except with duct tape. Just be forewarned of this design issue.
I would drop the rating to 3 stars if I could.
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Product Description:
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.
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