Porter-Cable 340K pad holders bent?
I’ve a question for you folks who have a Porter-Cable 340K finishing sander: Is the pad holder flat? Not the foam PSA pad, but the plastic pad holder to which the PSA pad attaches.
Here’s why I ask. I recently bought a 340K at the Lowe’s in San Diego to replace an old Rockwell 4480 SPEED-BLOC. Upon examing the 340K the next day, I noticed that the plastic pad holder was bent towards the motor housing at two corners and one edge had a ripple in it. It looked like the sander might have been dropped or smashed in some way. Both paper clamps were bent, each in a different place. So I took the sander back to Lowe’s and got a replacement.
The second sander had one bent corner, with a portion of the plastic pad holder touching the motor housing. One paper clamp was bent. Back to Lowe’s I went to return the second sander.
Examing a fresh-out-of-the-box 340K on the sales floor, I found that it was bent at one corner. A portion of the plastic pad holder was touching the motor housing and one paper clamp was bent. I gave up at that point and left without a sander.
Have I found a cache of defective 340K sanders or is this typical of this model?
Cheers,
Lowell
Replies
It was more than likely dropped. There is an aluminum plate on mine and you have to flatten it. I purchased new ones at lowes to replace my bent ones.
Craig,
You mentioned having replaced some bent 340Ks. Are they easily damaged during use?
Since the pad holder on each of the three sanders I examined were bent differently, I thought it likely to be accidental. I wonder, though, whether it was poor quality control that allowed them to be distributed or rough handling on the way to (or at) the retailer.
I'll stop by the new nearby Lowe's in Chula Vista and see if they have any 340K sanders that are in better shape.
Cheers,
Lowell
the plate tends to bend easily if you drop it.
Thanks for the info, Craig.
Cheers,
Lowell
Lowell -
I would suggest spending a little extra money and getting the 330 PC sander. I've had one for years. Dropped it on the concrete floor many many times. Use it every day. The darn thing is indestructible.
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PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
PlaneWood, Jim'sHome,
Thanks for the advice.
The 330 is certainly more robust than the 340K, but I had hoped to take advantage of the dust collection feature of the 340K. But if they're so easily damaged, or poorly manufactured, perhaps they aren't worth bothering with.
Cheers,
Lowell
I'll second Planewood.
Besides the 330 is the old speedblock with a couple of improvements and the P-C name on it. :)
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