Drywall Sanders

Worm Drive

Anyone tried any of the porter cable knock offs (sand tech, big jack, ect.)? Found some pretty cheap on ebay and don't do enough rock to justify buying a new P.C. @ $900-$1000. Don't want to end up with a P.O.S., though. Any thoughts?

BUTCHERMAN

If you just by the head you can use the contractor shop vac. The shop vac is about 80 dollars at lowes. Just make sure you run two cords because you lose the outlet on the vac and the auto control (it isn't worth $200). Also make sure you use bags or the fliter will clog in seconds. All together it should cost between $500 & $600 dollars.

Tim0282

You can buy a Porter Cable for little over 700. If you're buying a knock off for 500-600, I think you're better off spending the extra on the real thing. Or wait a couple months and buy the one Festool has in the UK. It is hard to beat the real McCoy.
Just my not so humble opinion...

Tim

Worm Drive

The knock offs I looked at were around $200 for the sanding head w
/ hose. I have a couple shop vacs, if I can figure out how to mount a bag on the intake. $700 would still be more than I could justify spending, I haven't even bothered pricing the festool, I'm sure that's way out of my price range.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NIB-Portable-Var...QQcmdZViewItem

BUTCHERMAN

It's easy, open the shop vac. Take off the hose. On the inside where the hose comes in there should be a small black thing that slides up. Take this thing out and plug it into the bag (make sure the bags are shop vac bags for what ever gallon size your shop vac is). Then slide the piece with the bag on it back in place. Reconect the hose and you are set. Also i forgot to mention you may want to go to lowes and get a double end connector. You could go directly in, but i find the longer hose works better. The piece sort of looks like an ice cream scoop comming through a wall ( in case you need to buy one). If you have to buy one look at the store models to be sure you get the right one.

Worm Drive

cool, thanks.

BUTCHERMAN

No problem, good luck.

Tony M

Am picking up a Festool tomorrow to try. Will let you know my thoughts on it.

Tim0282

Tony, I'd like to know what you think. I have most of their wood working tools. Really well made stuff. We can't get the drywall sander, yet. They are working through the electrical part. Should be available this summer, they say.

Norrrrrrrrrrrrm

Do you know if H.D. carries these bags for the rigid vacs? I have a 16 gallon and would like to try this. Thanks.

__________________
Norman Sharp
http://www.sharpimprovements.com

BUTCHERMAN

I would think so. I don't use rigid but in the N.Y. area home depot does carry rigid. Shop vac bags may work also if the hose setup is the same. If you can get a bag rigid should work as well.

Norrrrrrrrrrrrm

So I have been doing a little research on the set-up for the P.C. and the P.C. system appears to be efficient for dust collection. Does the P.C. sander and a personal shop vac w/bag do a good job for dust? what would you rate it from 1-10? Have you used the P.C. compared to your set-up? I would like to save money if possible. I see the P.C. sander from tool king for $250, Is it better to stick with my personal vac and bag system? I am mostly concerned about dust and clean up. If the P.C. is woth it, I would factor the price of the unit into the job price. I figure the less you have to clean the more money I make in the long run. Thanks.

__________________
Norman Sharp
http://www.sharpimprovements.com

BUTCHERMAN

As far as results go, the same no difference. You lose the ability to plug the sander into the vac and turn the vac on and off from the sander. if it were not as good i would'nt use it. By the way, i maybe be wrong, i beleive shop vac makes the porter cable vac.

Hammerstein

Did you get the Festool Planex? What do you think of it? How complete is the dust extraction?

willworkforbeer

I bought one of these and it works great, dont use it a lot so cant vouch for its reliability, $180 now http://www.kingdrywall.com/Default.asp?Redirected=Y

jkfox624

Does the one from king have an articulating head? We rent the porter cable one from rental store enough times a year that we've probably bought 2 by now. Thing holding us back on buying one is it always seemed to be not working right, could just be the rental store abuse though.

willworkforbeer

Yep if you mean swivels both ways, I've never used a PC so I cant judge it against one but it works great for me. Comes in a plain cardboard box, no logo or namebrand on the sander, just says, drywall sander variable speed

WarnerConstInc.

looks just like the pc

Tim0282

I have both. The PC is better, but the King is good. We use both equally. I'd buy another King when it does wear out. I've had the Porter Cable for twelve years or so. Takes a little getting used to the head so you don't leave swirls while sanding. Once you do you will sand everything with it. Either one is worth the money.

danielsdrywall

I bought 2 pc sanders a couple years back, new, and paid about $450 apiece for them. no vac just sander