Porter-Cable 390K 5 Inch Low Profile Random Orbit Sander Kit with Hook & Loop Pad and Dust...

Porter-Cable 390K 5 Inch Low Profile Random Orbit Sander Kit with Hook & Loop Pad and Dust Collection | Rated 4 1/2 stars

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Porter-Cable 390K ...

	Porter-Cable 390K 5 Inch Low Profile Random Orbit Sander Kit with Hook & Loop Pad and Dust Collection Porter-Cable Porter-Cable, 2008 average customer review:based on 17 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

An Improved ROS

I'm confused about the difference on the prices here on Amazon. One is $130 and the other $210 yet they look the same to me. When I did my search the $130 one didn't come up so I bought it for the $130 price at another place.

This sander works quite well. The top is a little large for smaller hands but you can get used to it. It doesn't come even with a single sanding disk. I tried to convert a 5 hole disk since I have a ton of them but have just ordered the Mirca 8 hole assortment. The quick shutoff is really wonderful compared to the old ros sanders.

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Rated 4 1/2 stars

I just received my orbital sander (Porter-Cable 390K) a few weeks ago. I bought this sander based on a review in one of the recent wood magazines. Removed it from the box, put some sandpaper on it and away I went. I sanded Oak, Pine and Popular. I used 80, 120, 150 and 220 grit sandpaper and was pleasantly pleased with the results. My biggest concern having my shop in the basement was dust. I've got three other orbital sanders and had to do all my sanding outside. But that is not the case any more. I tried the sander with the dust collector on and then with my Shop-Vac. The dust collection in the on board collector was very good just a small amount of dust left on the bench. For very small, short jobs I would use this method. For larger, longer jobs my Shop-Vac will be used, from what I could tell there was no dust left behind (in both cases if I wiped my hand a crossed the board and there was wood dust. The dust I was talking about was on the bench and in the air, boards have to be whipped clean with a tack cloth. This is one of the few electric tools that I can use the Shop-Vac 1¼ "hose with no adapters and it works like a champ. The noise is very low and the vibration was low also. I wear a medium glove (my fingers are a bit short of the ends) and I found this very comfortable to use. I had complete control and the low center of gravity made it very maneuverable. On high speed this was very aggressive, thus the advantages of speed control and a light touch. I would recommend this sander to all. Overall the only problems I see is the little dust left behind with the on board collection system and price (time will tell if the price was worth it). By the way my other sanders are in storage until I need to do sanding outside.

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Definite improvement

This review comes about after 10 hrs of real world use of the new sander. The best new features are the quick spindown and the variable speed control. I'm a professional cabinetmaker, and I use the sander to sand between finish coats as well as typical usage. The low speed helps control burn through on flat surfaces and narrow edges using 320grit. The low profile and slight increase in power are the second best new features. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the width of the grip. I have an average hand size and it's a bit wide and not what I would call ergonomic. I would have also put the speed control in a easier to reach place, so that I could control the speed with the same hand that I'm sanding with. The ergonomics become more of an issue when a vacuum hose is hooked up to the sander. It's that little extra pull of weight that makes the job more tiring when your sanding for multiple hours. It's also worth noting that the sander vibrates less that the last version and is a couple of decibles quieter that the 333. I would have given five stars if the sander were more ergonomic.

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A good sander but . . .

Porter-Cable 390K 5-inch Low Profile Random Orbit Sander Kit with Hook & Loop Pad and Dust Collection
I purchased this sander as a complement to my Porter-Cable 97355 which is a bear to use one handed. When I first received the sander I thought it was defective as there was little rotation on the pad. The rotation loosened up after a few hours of use and the rotation is now about what I would expect. I don't have big hands, but I do find this sander to be relatively easy to use for extended periods. The low profile is worthwhile if you occasionally work in tight quarters. It is a very capable sander, but less agressive than my 97355. My complaints are 1) a cord that is too short to work with the Porter-Cable 10' vaccum hose, 2) a serviceable, but poorly designed connection for the vacuum hose, and 3) 8-hole sandpaper for 390K, while the 97355 uses 5-hole. Porter-Cable didn't get it quite right, but I do recommend this sander.

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Awkward Sander

I bought this product based on a glowing review in a national wood working magazine. In fairness, they did say the sander required a large hand. Perhaps they should have emphasized the caution of 'large hand'! I found the sander terribly fatiguing and believe me, I do not have small hands. There is simply no place to comfortably place your hand for several hours of sanding. Additionally, this sander is anything but maneuverable due to the size and weight combined with the dust bag holder - it's akin to doing a U-turn in your driveway with a semi truck.

Highly recommend you go to a store and try this sander before ordering.

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4

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