Replies

1. 
   JIM_Gunsolus | Dec 06, 2000 12:33am | #1

   *
   You know I can't even remember the brand of my detail sander, because I never use the darn thing. It's one of the few tools I thought I needed, bought it, but turned out to never use.

1. 
   Joe_Fusco_ | Dec 06, 2000 12:48am | #2

   *Mr. Ozolins,

   I have a Fein. It is simply a great tool.

   View Image © 1999-2000"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich W. Nietzsche

1. 
   Dave_Richeson | Dec 06, 2000 01:41am | #3

   *Joe, wish I had bought the Fein. Save $ on a Porter Cable but the #@!* sand paper won't stay on the profile shapey things, and as they wear they won't stay in the shoe. David, spend the extra $ on a Fein

1. 
   Joe_Fusco_ | Dec 06, 2000 03:21am | #4

   *Dave,

   I had bought the PC for about $129.00. Got it to the shop and turned it on and what a @#$%#$# noise it made! Shook like hell in my hand. Put that thing right back in the box and got my money back.About 3 months later saw a Ryobi for $39.00. Bought it. Took it back to the shop. . . What a piece of crap!! It just sits in it's box.Finally bought the Fein, came with a case and dust collector for $199.00. Took it back to the shop and turned it on. Ahhhhhhhh can hardly hear it and much less feel it! It's incredibly smooth for an oscillating machine. Will last 100 years, well worth it's cost.

   View Image © 1999-2000"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich W. Nietzsche

1. 
   Steve_Turner | Dec 06, 2000 03:22am | #5

   *I agree with Joe, and would add that the Fein is more than a detail sander... it's an outstanding multi-purpose tool. It doesn't get used every day, but when it comes out of the case, it's a real time-saver, and I consider it a good investment.Regards, Steve

2. 
   Joe_Fusco_ | Dec 06, 2000 03:24am | #6

   *Steve,

   Ditto! I forget about all the OTHER things it does so well!

   View Image © 1999-2000

3. 
   GACC_DAllas | Dec 06, 2000 05:36am | #7

   *David,Fein. Everything else is a knock-off of the Fein and doesn't work as well. In my opinion, I say pass on the dust collection. Ed. Williams

4. 
   Francis_Voignier | Dec 06, 2000 06:30am | #8

   *Someone gave me a PC detail sander with the idea of helping me with fine detailed sanding on a 1/2 dozen wood framed windows I had been commisioned to build. The 1/2 hour I wasted on trying the tool convinced me that detail sanders were a bad joke, and I felt sorry for the guy I gave it to... But the Fein..., ah sehr gut!!fv

5. 
   George_W._Carpenter | Dec 06, 2000 03:13pm | #9

   *David, as a long(er) time FEIN user, all I can add is they're like any German-built product.Overengineered, overbuilt, overpriced.You'll wince every time you have to go buy more sandpaper, another sawblade (full round/original style), velcro pads, etc....My FEIN is the older model, and has done very well over the past 5 years. It's in the truck each and every day... hide it from your help, or you'll never get to use it!

6. 
   bobl_ | Dec 06, 2000 03:41pm | #10

   *Anyone have a good mailorder source for the Fein sandpaper etc?Piece of trivia believe the Fein is what they use in hospitals to cut casts off.BobL

7. 
   Phill_Giles | Dec 06, 2000 06:24pm | #11

   *Mild segue - OEM profile blocksAt the Toronto Woodworking show a couple of years back there was a booth that was selling profile blocks for Fein, Dremel, and maybe PC detail sanders that used standard PSA sandpaper. They also had holders for using the same blocks for hand-sanding. Anyway, I promised to pick up a bunch of this stuff for a friend up north who couldn't make the show; but, it didn't show up last year (??) - has anyone seen this product around or know a source ?

8. 
   Bill_Conner | Dec 08, 2000 01:05am | #12

   *Yes - I think you're right bobl.I believe they just introduced a pnuematic version.Great tool. Love the scraper attachment for old house paint stripping, reglazing, etc.

9. 
   Bill_Pickard | Dec 08, 2000 02:38am | #13

   *b TVMDCJust used the heck out of my Fein on a group of 80 year old windows and jambs and it was a jewel:Carbide rasp (triangle) cut through 7 layers of paint quickly and easily on the narrow edges of the jamb, corners and inside edges of the window. When paint fused to the tips, I let it sit in paint remover for 15 minutes and put it back in service.Saw blade (round) quickly removed the old glazing much more quickly and accurately than the Prazzi window tool for the drill. The Prazzi was useless and now rests proudly in the useless tool archives.As for the sanding, I used 3M MicroFinishing sheets in both 1/4 sheet and 6" RO disks. This is the best sandpaper I have ever used: 1st, the backing is poly film not cloth so you can WASH IT. Second, the grit is so finely graded that you can skip a grade. 3rd, it outlasted PC "Industrial Grade" disks about 4 to 1.Regards,Bill Pickard

10. 
    Kevin_R | Dec 14, 2000 12:50am | #14

    *I have to agree with the majority. I bought the PC detail sander about a year ago and have been extremely disappointed. Vibrates like a jackhammer and the profile attachments keep popping out. A tool not worthy of the Porter-Cable name.

2. 
   david_ozolins | Dec 14, 2000 12:50am | #15

   *
   Greetings to All!
   I was wondering if anyone could/would recommend a detail sander?
   Maybe even tell which one not to buy via personal experience.
   I need to purchase a detail sander in the very near future and
   would like to know what you pro's out there think.
   The sander would see a lot of different types of uses, so
   I would prefer a lot of versatility and durability.
   Price is open. If I have to spend a lot for something that works
   and lasts then that's OK. Thanks in advance