Replies

1. 
   hmthomas | Oct 28, 2002 04:02am | #1

   I have Porter Cable's 4 x 24 variable speed. It was a great machine for a short while. It developed a bearing problem after very little use. It cost me $80 to have it repaired at an authorized PC repair center.  After very little use it failed again. The repair center guy said for $165 they would completely rebuild it.  I'm still trying to get a point of contact at PC customer service, hopefully this week I'll hear from them.

   I'll be watching to see what other recomend.

   Good Luck, Hugh

2. 
   LarryPile | Oct 28, 2002 05:33am | #2

   I have a very nice 3 X 21 Makita...good dust collection, great workhorse...I've had it (and used it constantly) for 2 years...no problems..except my neighbor REALLY likes it..and borrows it often!

   Good Luck!

   lp

3. 
   Marcello | Oct 28, 2002 06:56pm | #3

   I have a DeWalt something or other 3 x 21. Had it for about 3 years without any problems with the exeption of having the dust chute clog up.  The fan works fine, but something is cousing the dust to fly everywhere but in the dust bag.  I have used it quite a bit and is ready for a maintenance check. 

1. 
   fdampier5 | Oct 28, 2002 07:21pm | #4

   I bought the Mikita 4x24 and have used it to sand about 20,000 bd.ft. so far.   Yes that's the correct number of zeros,  I'm building a timberframe home.  According to tests it's one of the quieter ones, works well no  matter how hard I lean on it. and In that whole time I've had it to the shop just three times.  I buy sanding belts by the carton and It's got one of the slickest belt changing methods out there.  pull this lever slide off the belt, slide on a new one  put the lever  back.  I never have to readjust to center up the belt like you do on others.  It tracked staraight and true right out of the box and still does!

     First when I lent it out and he got his shirt caught in in so bad that we couldn't get it out  (the mikita repair shop fixed it inside 20 minutes at no charge)

     Next to get a cord for it when the same person managed to sand off the old one.

    and third when I dropped a timber on it and had to buy a new dust chute and bag.  ($17.00)

          So you see I'm so happy with it I can't say enough kind things.

     I've used others before and the Mikita seems the smoothest and best balanced and I know it's quiet!   

1. 
   Marcello | Oct 28, 2002 07:47pm | #5

   Maybe you shouldn't let this guy use your tools, and keep him away from sharp objects.

1. 
   fdampier5 | Oct 28, 2002 09:03pm | #6

   'Em,

         When you are building a timber frame from scratch you take any and all help you can find.  If they ruin a few cords or tools,.... well, that's what they cost you...  Smile and buy 'em a beer!

     I can't tell you how simple this all seemed in my mind when I concieved it.  Heck, I had whole walls up in less than a day. and the roof on by last October. 

     The trueth is I work between 30 and 40 hours a week on this and a similar number of hours on my regular job.  I haven't had a day off in well over a year and a half!   In my dreams I had timbers ready to go in 20 minutes.   In reality I takes between 8 to 10 hours per timber.  Some really complex timbers take as much as 20 hours each!

     When I started this I was going for furniture quality joints, you know the kind you can't get a piece of paper in...

     That's still my goal but far from reality. I've found that a joint that is perfect in trial fit will be hopeless once actually in place, and nobody told me what dangleing a truss 70 feet in the air would do to things that once were stone on perfect!

     Tomorrow they say the tempurature will be in the low teens!  I have a tarp between me and that tempurature!   the roof panels would have been at least partially installed this weekend if the guys I pay a very nice wage (after taxes etc. he takes home $20 an hour) to had bothered to show up.  As much as I'd like to do everything myself it just isn't possible. So I have arranged for some help.  Last week he gave me 3 hours and so far this week a no show!  I'd fire him and hire someone else except I trained him and it would take too long to train anyone else.

     This summer he decided that he earned enough to spend three weeks in Scotland, since then he hasn't been worth a dang!

1. 
   Marcello | Oct 28, 2002 10:50pm | #7

   Well, I suppose those are the perils of being a boss.  Here in Montana hunting season just opened, so a lot of the construction guys call in sick, productivity slows down.  Can't do anything about that.

4. 
   sharp | Oct 29, 2002 06:45am | #8

   i advise getting one of the models that are flat on top so it can be clamped upside down on a bench to act as a make shift stationary sander  as well as a good hand held belt sander.

   I know the makita is that way and the bosch too i think.

   j

5. 
   AllenS51 | Oct 29, 2002 02:50pm | #9

   I have a 3X24 porter cable belt sander and I have not had any trouble with it.  I bought this one because the 4X24 was too heavy and bulky for my taste.  I am sure it would work fine though.

1. 
   schriner | Oct 29, 2002 05:37pm | #10

   I like my Bosch 4x24.  I've not used it as much as Frenchy, but I have used it to sand 200 square feet of new oak floor.  I have the sanding frame for that.  It works well at preventing the sander from digging in.  It is flat on top, so you can turn it over and clamp it to a bench for sanding.  I also made a stand for it with modified plans from ... Workbench I think.  That works well also.  The variable speed is nice, the belt changing is simple. 

   Still wrapping my mind around 20,000 sq feet of sanding.

1. 
   Elcoholic | Oct 29, 2002 10:46pm | #11

   I have a Bosch 4x24 EVS with the sanding frame and I love it.  Besides preventing divits it also helps prevents dipping over the edges and gives a certain amount of depth of cut control.  I've haven't used it with the bag much, but when hooked up to my Fein vac, not much dust escapes and keeping them clean really extendes belt life.

   BTW Bosch also makes a bench stand for it, but I don't need it since I have a 6x48 bench sander.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

   Life is tough.  It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne

2. 
   fdampier5 | Oct 30, 2002 12:39am | #12

   Not quite 20,000 sq.ft., 20,000 bd.ft.

     the differance is that a 12"x12" timber has perhaps three faces to sand  for a total of 3 sq.ft. of sanding but 12 bd.ft. of timber.

     Foolishly I started sanding everything with a 60 grit followed by 100 grit, 150, and finished up with 220.

     baby butt smooth!   

    then I erected timbers and slowly they have turned grey and will need complete sanding again once everything is enclosed! So I'm looking at doing most of it all over again, only this time I'll be up to 28 feet in the air!  Maybe I won't need to go down to 60 grit this time......:-)

     I've got about 10,00o bd.ft. to do yet, once I'm enclosed plus all the timbers to redo.......;-(