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After a disaster with drywall dust an a recent job I’ve been thinking of getting the Porter Cable 7800 sander so I can use a vacuum. Some reviews say it’s the best think since sliced bread, other saw it’s worthless and leaves swirls. Any suggestions or comments?
Steve
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We do installations in museums where dust is a major concern. We use that Porter Cable bad boy and I am glad we do. Before we had to put those caps on the smoke detectors and hope we did not set one off. Sinnce we started using the p.c. sander, the fire dept. loves us. Make sure you use a good vacume.
good luck, mj
*Steve, I have had my PC "bad boy" for 4 years and like m.j., I love it.Bad results with the PC are from cranking the rpm up to high and/or using to coares paper. You can't expect the tool to any better than the operator, and it won't make a bad finisher look good.Rent one and try it on a small job. Make up your own mind.If you do buy, invest in a gortex filter for your good shop vac.Dave
*Steve ...swirls are caused by the operator not the machine.If you are going to be doing alot of drywall work it is well worth the investment.
*steve, move fast and use fine sandpaper. not rocket science, the hand sander will also leave grooves if not used right or if too coarse a grit is used, it is all in the operator.
*I've found that running the vacuum hose into a water trap really helps keep the vacuum filter from clogging. An old mud bucket, half full of water, with two pieces of PVC through the lid does the trick. One piece of PVC is long enough to be a couple inches below the water level -- hose from sander attaches to that one. Other PVC extends only about an inch through the lid, well above the water level. Nearly all the dust stays in the water. Make sure you use a wet/dry vac.I've also a hand-sanding head that attaches to the vacuum hose. Great for small stuff.
*Hi Steve,Try a sponge and clean water to smooth in the surface. I use a big rectanguler tilers sponge. I don't sand spackle.Dan-O
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After a disaster with drywall dust an a recent job I've been thinking of getting the Porter Cable 7800 sander so I can use a vacuum. Some reviews say it's the best think since sliced bread, other saw it's worthless and leaves swirls. Any suggestions or comments?
Steve