I used the 352VS to sand a very large deck (45' X 18'), and it performed well. Here are my observations:pPositives:p - the sander is well-balanced and well-weighted. I did not have to apply too much pressure unless I wanted to get down deep.p - changing belts was easy, and using the adjustment control was equally easy.p - the handles are well-positioned and ergonomically designed.p - overall performance was consistent and even.pNegatives:p - the dust bag was often in the way, regardless of the its ability to be swivelled. Additionally, it captured only a small portion of the overall dust.p - it is quite noisy.p - while its metal casing adds durability and structural strength, it became extremely hot during use. I burned my wrist on it more than once.p - it was difficult to handle and maneuver in small, cramped spaces.p - the design of the top of the sander prevents it from being turned over and used as a stationary, counter-top unit.pOverall, I think its price here on amazon.com makes it a good buy.

After purchasing -- and returning -- the Makita 3X18 belt sander, I bought the Porter-Cable 352VS (eee my review of the Makita). What a difference!This sander is powerful. I sanded three layers of old paint off a door in about 1/2 hr. The body is constructed of metal, giving it a nice solid feel. When sanding, you can simply glide the sander back and forth, without having to push down at all. Porter-Cable came up with a design that gives you a lot of power, but at the same time control over that power. This is what a belt sander SHOULD be like.The position of the front handle makes sense -- it is up higher than the front of the machine, so you get a good position relative to the sanding surface. The handle is also designed to give you a lot to grab onto.The dust bag is designed well. You can swivel it in any direction to get it out of the way while you're sanding, and it holds the dust without spilling until you're ready to empty it out. Also, it does a fair job collecting the dust, but you should never expect any dust-bag system to be perfect.The meachinism for loading and unloading sander belts is very good. It is easy to place the belt in the sander and then tighten it up securely.The tracking system really holds the sander belt in place. I placed the belt on the sander, held it upside-down, running the sander until the belt no longer shifted left or right. Then I began sanding, and for the whole time I worked, the belt did not move from center at all. Because the housing is made of metal, even if the belt DID move, it would not damage the sander, as it would on machines with plastic bodies.All told, this sander is a great combination of power and ease of use. PS: The 3X21 sander belts that Porter-Cable makes (the purple ones) are excellent.

I bought my first 352 (it's a single speed - before they had the variable speed and with the "Rockwell" name on it - before they switched back to Porter-Cable)and put so many hours on it I had to put new brushes, replace the shoeplate, and get it relubed. It has been flawless in it's performance. I've owned several sanders and used many, many more (I started in construction 30 years ago) and have become a staunch PC sander fan. pI have a monster PC362 4" for really heavy sanding but this one is light and easy enough to handle I pull it for my finer finishing work. The variable speed has to make it even more versatile.pIt has plenty of power, doesn't run hot, and I've never known anyone personally that has ground up any body parts in one. Dust bags are annoying - period. But after using models that the bag is fixed permanently to the right side I much prefer the PC's one on the top, at least you can turn it away from whatever angle you are to the sander. I've found it very stable and sands extremely well.pThere are some good models out there (Bosch has a good tool too) but for the money and the size this one is nealy impossible to beat: not too expensive, not too large, and not too small.

I have a lot of Porter-Cable tools, my dad has them too. Therefore I thought this would be a good inexpensive sander.brIt's heavy which is good, it tracks well which is good, I like variable speed... BUT!brIt's not balanced well. Left unto it's own weight it will favor one side over the other and sand unevenly unless you get a feel for which side needs a little more pressure. Use finer paper and take it easy. I started to develope a feel for it but never really enjoyed using it. brI now use a very old Porter-Cable 504 given to me by my dad. It's been a joy to use! $500+ new gulp! Mine's old, has been serviced and will live on.brIf I were looking for a belt sander and didn't want the 504 due to preference, price, or going the used route, and I were trying to get something good within reason, I'd try a higher end PC or check another brand. I think DeWalt, or Bosch have settled those balance issues. You can feel it in your hands and hold it gently on a flat surface get an idea as to what may stay flat when the power is on.

I'm pretty sure everything that should be said has been said about this belt sander. I worked with the PC "locomotive" belt sander for years and that is a fantastic tool for heavy duty, continuous surface sanding. However, if you are looking for "medium range" belt sander (not too heavy, not too light) and versatile (can sand large surfaces, but is also capable of fine control for things like sanding the joints of frame and panel doors) this is the sander for you. I find this model versatile enough for all purposes even to use one handed for scribing panels, trim and moulding on site. The DeWalt variable speed 3 x 21 is too heavy for one-handed use, and the super light plastic belt sanders made by DeWalt, Makita and Black Decker are worth avoiding.pBelt changes are simple, belt tracking is spot on, dust collection is quite good and the noise level is worthy of hearing protection during extended use. The dust bag and cord placement is fine once you get used to it, and as with any power tool don't let your mind, power cord or fingers wander (my sympathies to the poor guy who got his fingers sucked up inside... that's gotta hurt!). The clogging of the dust intake (not common with finer grits of sanding belts, but I've had chunks of wood get sucked up in there too) can be cleaned with a blast of compressed air from the outlet (where the dust bag fits on) back down. Although it would be good to have a vacuum hook-up to use instead of the dust bag, I've always found that dragging the hose around while your sanding becomes more of a pain than it's worth.pPowerful, reliable and a joy to use. Highly recommended.

I always wanted a belt sander but never had an actual need until I started a shop workbench consisting of a 2x4 laminated top. Once everything was glued and dried, I pulled her out of the box, attached the dust bag and adjusted the belt tracking on medium course sanding belt and let it rip on high speed. I was pleased at what quick work the sander made of smoothing the laminated top. Only light pressure was required for the sander to do its work. The sander fit comfortably in my hands with very little vibration. The dust bag was able to capture some of the dust being generated but just as much went airborne. I guess this is to be expected with any belt sander though. The variable speed came into play when I need to smooth some uneven edges on the cabinet carcass. By dialing the unit down to a medium-low setting I was able to control the amount of material being removed safely. Keep your eye on the electrical cord as I found out the hard way it can be grabbed by the belt and yanked up into the sander.

I recently completed a kitchen remodeling project which involved placing new ceramic tile. With the addition of concrete backer board and the tile, I had an inch difference in elevation between new floor and adjoining rooms (5). Being unable to find thresh holds that would work, I glued up red oak and ripped the profile on my table saw. Not owning a jointer, I needed something to smooth out the saw marks and remove the saw burns. I planed on buying a Dewalt belt sander. Due to the Christmas holidays the only "quality" sander in stock was the P-C 352VS. That turned out to be my good luck. The sander tracked perfectly out of the box and made short order of smoothing out the red oak. I used it on other projects I had started and reached a point where I needed a belt sander. It has performed flawlessly. The location of the chord takes some getting used to, but over all I am glad the Dewalt was not in stock.

I have used this sander for a while, even bought a new switch because while it was under warranty it wouldn't shut off. It was easier to just buy a switch and put in myself. It sands great, I use it mostly for removing planing marks and sanding out joints.
br /The reason for the low rating is the way Porter Cable decided to solve the problem of dust getting in the motor. I was wondering why the bag never filled, I thought the chanel where the dust goes from the back of the sander was blocked with debris. When I took the side off I was right it was blocked, with a piece of metal put in at the factory and siliconed to seal it. I cut the piece out and now use a vacume to help with the dust collection. This is better, but the impellor only blocks the way, next time that will be removed to allow the vacume to do it's job. I don't care if it voids the warranty, I'm more worried about the warranty on my lungs, a concern Porter Cable should also share.

When I purchase my sander, I debated between the 3 x 21 and the 4 x 24. Looking back, I'm glad I purchased the smaller of the two. For a much lower price, I got a belt sander that handles all of my rough sanding needs. The 7 amp motor is extreemly strong and handles quick material removal with ease. I like the swiveling dust bag and the cord on the top of the handle. This keeps the bag away from your hands and the cord up off of the work surface and away from the sanding belt. Overall, I got even more for my money that I originally thought.

I have owned two of these in the space of 2 days and both of them
br /have died within that time frame. In both cases, I was cleaning
br /metal with the belt. After sanding continuously for just over an
br /hour the case was very hot. The sanding belt is driven by a belt
br /inside the casing. The drive belt turns a PLASTIC pulley that is
br /used to turn the belt. In both sanders the plastic pulley
br /stripped and was completely useless. My guess is that the
br /plastic got hot and softened. I am very disappointed in this
br /sander and am going return it for a different brand tomorrow.
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br /I giving it two stars only because when it did work it worked
br /very well. If you were using it intermittently (like for 5
br /minutes max. at a time) then it would probably work well.

I've had my PC 352vs for about 5 years, and I'd agree with most of the reviews I've read here. Plenty of power, good balance, well-made, but the dust pick-up port constantly gets clogged, and the dust bag and power cord are not positioned as well as they could be.I've found that I can unclog the pick-up port using a blast of compressed air.After 5 years, I wore out the drive belt and the platen was also cracking slightly, which is the only repairs I've done. Within 2 weeks of replacing the drive belt, though, I trashed the new belt when I caught the power cord in the sander and jammed the belt to a stop. (Not the sander's fault - mine).Overall, a good, well-made (and made in USA) sander that should last a long time.

I bought this sander after having bad luck with the Dewalt 3x21 belt sander.---After many hours of using the PC352vs, I will have to say--THIS IS A KEEPER!.Very well made,powerful,sands smoothly with better balance than I expected. It is made and runs just as well as my 4x24 porter cable sander. I now have four Porter Cable sanders--two orbitals and two belt sanders--they all have been great performers. I highly recommend Porter Cable sanders!

As an owner of 14 other Porter-Cable power tools my purchase of their 3" x 21" belt sander was an easy decision. I have never been disappointed with any Porter-Cable tool that I have purchased, and each one has performed at or beyond my expectations.pThis belt sander is powerful, yet well balanced and easy to control. The dust collection system works great and the bag can be rotated 360 degrees. It is an absolute pleasure to use and I am thrilled with it. I highly recommend it.

I Purchased this sander about 5 years ago. It finally died after dropping it several times and sanding numerous projects. I can't believe it lasted as long as it did. I replaced it with a cheaper craftsman and it does the job but not nearly as superior as the porter cable. I have never been dissatisfied with any porter cable tool I have had especially not this one. 4 stars because of the high pitched noise it creates but that's the only reason.

I picked one of these up in exchange for a DeWalt that died after a half hour of use. So far it lasted the afternoon. I used it to sand a workbench top.
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br /The dust collection was very good. When I finished I had a couple of pounds of dust in the bag.

I have spent the last year working on my house, sanding the outside and building a deck in the backyard. This sander has worked great for me. The belt rides very smooth and is easy to change. pI have only had one problem with the sander, other than running over the belt which really has more to do with user error. When I have used the sander with very coarse paper, 60 grit, I find that the pathway to the dust bag becomes clogged very easily. It appears that it just gets overloaded with material. Cleaning this out is a fairly involved operation. Almost the entire housing assembly has to be taken apart to clean it out. pOn the positive side the weight of this sander is not so great that you can't sand vertical surfaces. It worked great on the redwood panels of my house. pI would highly recommend this sander for someone who needs a belt sander for home improvement projects. The construction is very sturdy and I expect to get years of service from it.

I bought this belt sander to replace the Porter-Cable 3 x 21 belt sander Mo. 337 I had bought used over ten years ago. They are the same except for the dust bag connection port, the way the belt is changed, and the variable speed feature. This new version does everything well for me and I really appreciate how easy it is to put on a new belt. On the Mo. 337 I sometimes knocked the floor plate loose because you had to push the sander down against the floor to release the pressure. The Mo. 352VS picks up about 80% of the dust it generates depending a little on what grit you use. It's pretty loud as one would expect but is very aggressive and operates flawlessly for hours continuously if you can take it. Except for when I need to level glued up slabs for shelving or cabinetry after biscuit joinery, this tool does it all. Since I'm an all out person I rarely use the variable feature. For my large slab sanding I prefer my Porter-Cable 12 amp 4 x 24 belt sander which also eats wood but with a greater appetite.

Somewhere I read that Porter-Cable made the first 3X21 belt sander creating the portable belt sander market. This sander is proof that things get better over time.brThe power of this sander is perfect. I especially like the variable speed feature. This feature makes it possible to reduce the speed on soft woods to minimize the problem with removing too much material, yet have plenty of power to work quickly on hard woods. The balance of the machine is such that you realize you don't have to hold this sander with a death grip, which reduces arm and shoulder fatigue. It glides over the work. The belt tracking is the best I've ever seen. Put a new belt on, make a minor tracking adjustment with the side knob and forget about belt tracking. This PC sander is of the quality to make this reviewer wonder why I waited so long to get this sander, and convince me to make my next tool a Porter-Cable. I honestly can't imagine a 3X21 belt sander that performs better than this one.

I don't often use a belt sander, generally preferring a planer for heavy material removal, but I picked this one up anyway thinking it might come in handy for some renovation project. These are my admittedly novice impressions of this tool:
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br /- A bit difficult to control
br /- Prone to unintentional "sanding" of objects (e.g., the power cord)
br /- Very, very loud (a high pitched scream)
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br /I don't really understand the last one, as my stationary sander is a relatively quiet tool.
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br /Needless to say, I have ended up not using this tool as much as I had hoped, but if you have the right application for it, it's probably worthwhile. I generally have the highest regard for PC tools, and this has done everything it claims, and is relatively easy to adjust and change belts.
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br /The most memorial moment I've had with this tool was plugging it in once with the switch turned on. GO TOOL GO, TILL YOU RUN OUT OF CORD!!

I was looking for a belt sander that was not too heavy but had some of the features of a larger model such as the variable speed. This was perfect in all respects. I don't think it is for endless hours of sanding, but it is a good choice for jobs that need more than a hand-held orbital sander.

Works great and has good power.I read some of the other reviews that had problems with the cord getting caught in the drive drum and gears and belts breaking.
br /This unit feels very sturdy and I can only guess that broken gears and belts are the result of misuse.Any experienced user knows that most power tools rely on RPM to do their work and not brut force.
br /Anyone who gets their power cord stuck in the drive drum is also someone who probably would cut through the power cord on a circular saw.

This sander was my firdt Porter Cable purchase. I really appreciated that it was made in USA. I finally gave up fighting the belt tracking on my SEARS Craftsman belt sander and decided to see if there was something better available. I really like the PC 352VS. The belt tracks true and stays where I've set it with the tracking adjustment knob. I frequently use the sander held upside down in my bench vise and sand the parts I manufacture directly on the belt. There are times when I need to run it with the belt hanging off the edge slightly to get into a groove on my part I'm sanding. The tracking on this sander works great. The sander is a bit noisy, but what can you expect for such a powerfull tool? I use it with ear protection so this isn't a problem. I've already worn out one steel sanding shoe and replaced it. I am anxious to try the graphite-impregnated sanding shoe which I just discovered is available. I also just found out the bearings in the front drive pulley are going bad and will need to be replaced along with the drive roller. These are simply wear items that need to be replaced. I am still very pleased with the sander and would buy one again.

My 352 belt sander needs new armature bearings after very light and infrequent use. The repair cost is almost the same as a new sander. My Black and Decker sander lasted for 25 years and I expected more service from the 352 P-C sander.

The belt would keep wandering way over to one side and I had to send it to a service center.After I received it back it did the same thing again.I sent it back and they sent me a sander that was not the one I sent.It was rather more used;mine was in new condition having been used a total of 45 minutes since purchase in Nov. 2004. They then send me back a reconditioned Type 4 352VS;mine was a type 5 which has the dustbag connected with a spring clip to the housing versus an aluminum tube on the Type 4.I might add the staff at the Flushing NY service center was rude in dealing with me.No more Porter Cable tools for me.This was my first and last tool.

I've owned/used several belt sanders over the last couple of years. This is one of the best. Powerful, somewhat heavy but well balanced. Because it is somewhat heavy and powerful, I save this for the tough wood, like oak or cocobolo. (I have a Bosch with a sanding frame that is awesome for finish or delicate work.) The motor does run hot, as another reviewer noted. The dust collection bag works darn well for what it is.

This sander is heavy but a workhouse - first class. We purchased a DeWalt first but it kept breaking belts. We replaced it with the Porter Cable and are very satisfied.

This is a good sander.. it gets the job done. Even a novice can smooth out huge areas with minimal effort with this tool. it has enough power to really strip wood and take away material too. The location of the dust bag, and the power cord, are very annoying. It seems like every minuite the darn power cord is pressing against my knuckles again.my arm again. And the dust bag keeps getting knocked off and hits things. Maybe Im being too picky, but they are so annoying that, whenever possible, I opt for the DeWalt 5.5" Random Orbit Sander. Its very easy to change belts and to readjust. I personally recommend the variable speed control.Unless shop neatness is important to you, choose the PC Sander without the bag. Other than my 2 complaints, a very solid tool that you should have.

you could turn the thing upside down to make quick adjustments to small pieces of wood, it would be near perfect. It's a great combination of size/wieght/price/performance, but it wont sit upside down without building a jig/stand to hold it.
br /In most instances, this is not an issue. But when it is, it's a fairly annoying design flaw.

Having had this sander for five years, its greater usage this year brought about its near demise. Used only for what it is designed to do (planar sanding of individual pieces for paint removal and/or finishing), frequent usage highlights its shortcomings.
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br /1. The sander is difficult to lubricate and runs hot. After 15 minutes of running time, it starts to smoke when, no way, can the housing be touched.
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br /2. The open drum is problematic; the user has to be constantly mindful of the cord so it doesn't get caught up in the housing.
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br /3. The tracking wheel is easy to adjust; nonetheless, the belt is apt to track continually from side to side.
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br /4. The machine is somewhat heavy, not well balanced, and tends to wander toward the motor-side, requiring firm two-handed control and more downward pressure than advisable.
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br /5. The bag, despite the fact that it swivels, interferes with sight-lines. This, plus the tool's weight, makes sanding the undersides of an attached planar edge impossible.
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br /For me, the solution to these problems will be the Bosch 1274DVS 3" x 21" Dustless Variable Speed Belt Sander.

This Sander does an excellent job finishing large work that is too large to run thru the automatic machie. It saved much time and setup was fast and easy.

I had a super DeWalt 3x21 for a decade of weekend warrior, but decided to try Porter this time. I have a mix of both in my tool chest, so far always satisfied. I can't compare a decade of DeWalt to a few weeks of Porter-Cable, but so far I like the new tool. It seems very powerful when I dig in, well balanced so responds like I want. Unlike another reviewer, I found using it on "slow" is useful, and very quiet. I put on "fast" for a big flat slab, but "slow" for anything else. It isn't clear if DeWalt or Porter dust collection is better, and I'm not sure if I like the smaller DeWalt or larger Porter bag. I like the open front of the Porter. It seems like the belt on the Porter wanders a bit less than the DeWalt under non-flat uses (tipping back or forward, cleaning up an edge of something). Tracking is good on either.

Before buying a belt sander, I borrowed and friend's Bosch and rented one of these. I found the PC unit to be underpowered; when pressed on the work surface, it slows down considerably and gets hot quickly - the housing is too hot to touch! In contrast, the Bosch unit had significantly more power, making the job easier. I also disliked the PC's ergonomics - the bag sticks up between your hands and gets in the way when you're using the machine on a vertical surface. Buy a Bosch.

I replaced my old Craftsman belt sander after 15 years (wasn't broken, just wanted something newer and "better" before the old one broke at an inconvenient time) and thought P-C was the way to go without breaking the bank. Dust collection sounded cool, too, since my old unit spewed sawdust everywhere. The P-C is nice in that belt changes are easier, the variable speed control is handy, and the unit has a solid feel. It is a bit quieter than the old Craftsman. While the bag does catch some dust it's still a messy tool (I haven't hooked it up to my shop vacuum yet--I'm hoping for dramatic improvement and will update my review to 4 stars if that works well). I've been spoiled by other old tool upgrades where the new outperforms the old by soooo much, so I was underwhelmed in this case. Doesn't mean it's a bad tool, but just don't expect miracles.

With variable speeds I consider it to be, plain and simple, the best 3x21 belt sander in our shop. It's a wonderful work horse.

In the first six hours of owning this sander:
br /1. Pulled it out of the box and didn't notice the on/off switch was locked on. Plugged it in, smashed my finger.
br /2. Dust collection doesn't work. The motor/fan spits wood chips at you which happen to shoot at your eyes underneath safety goggles. I put a vacuum on it hoping the big suction piece at the back would suck up wood dust, but found that the suction went around the motor, not to suck up wood dust. Probably sucks air around the motor to help with cooling:
br /3. I couldn't hold my hand on the metal body of the sander after ten minutes it got so hot.
br /4. I sucked the power cord under the belt but I won't hold that against this sander, definitely user error.
br /5. Something stripped/broke in the drivetrain as the motor spins now but the belt doesn't.
br /6. The dust collection tube needs to be mounted on the other side of the sander. I couldn't get the sander underneath the lip of the stairs I was sanding because the tube got in the way.
br /
br /It's being returned once the store opens.

Always wanted a Porter Cable belt sander. My old Ryobi lasted years but I know it was not a great machine. I got this perhaps 5 years ago but as I am not working regularly as a carpenter anymore, and the machine was used for one small job and then hardly at all for 5 years.
br /Recently doing some light-duty sanding on a small dresser and the belt started slipping. Then stopped. Opened up the machine and found that the secondary drive pulley (the one that is attached to the drive "wheel") is made of light plastic and had broken (sheared-off) at the "hub" of the pulley. This is a little 15-cent peice of plastic that is on the critical drive-train. Seems very foolish of Porter Cable to do this. My local tool repair guy told me they did this for a while but supposedly they are making it with a metal gear/pulley again.
br /I come to a company like Porter Cable not for bare-minimum engineering but for robust "lifetime" engineering. Having a tool fail on the job is no good; I don't care what the warantee is like (in this case...past warantee).
br /My advice, check out a Bosch. Porter Cable does not get high marks for this one. This would not have lasted a day on a real jobsite with that plastic gear in there!
br /To be fair, when it runs- it feels fine. Balance is fair. It tracks well and the dust collector works reasonably well. (By the way, Amazon had this shipped WITHOUT the bag! I had to sort-of make a big deal about it because it IS advertised as having the bag). Gotta be careful!
br /Another small point, no case at all available-even as an additional accessory.

nice and solid to keep it from wandering too much. feels like it should last a while. i use mine only occasionally so i can't speak to its longevity. variable speed is a nice feature. before this, i had only used my dad's old black and decker....needless to say this one blows that one away!

I had a porter cable sander before and this one is just as good so far as it was, and it was as good as you can get!
br /The ordering process was excellent.

I have owned this wonderful sander for 5 weeks. In that time I have over 40 hours running time and it works great. Like power steering on a car it is almost effortless to use. The weight of the sander is more than enough for the toughest jobs. I will let you know a year from now how it has held up. The others I have killed in a years time each.

This is a great belt sander. It has plenty of power, it handles easily, it tracks without problems, is relitively quite (always wear hearing protection when using power tools), and having variable variable speed options is very useful

I've used PC tools for years, and I wouldn't own another brand of belt sander or router. I've used and abused them, to the point of smoke coming out of the motor a few times, and after they cool off they just keep on ticking.pThis belt sander has a lot of power, but it's the ergonomics that make it my favorite--it's very comfortable to hold and, more importantly, to keep level when you really need to lean on it to remove some wood. The dust bag swivels a little too easily, but it's not a show-stopper by any means.

The sander itself has good power,the dust collection system on the other hand is a joke on this model.I use a sander alot holding it in a vertical position,and all your doing is eating dust.
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br /ertical

Hands down, this takes the cake. Variable speed makes it easy to control. Fabulous power. This is everything I hoped for and more. For the homeowner or professional who wants one belt sander, this is the way to go.

This sander is super powerful. The adjustable speeds is very handy. The belt centering knob works perfectly, and is very convenient. Everything about this sander seemed to be perfect.pUntil I changed from a 40 grit to an 80 grit belt. What happens is the chute that the sand dust is fed into clogs. This causes the sander to perform poorly. So the sand never reaches the sandbag, and it dumps out onto the floor or into the belt of the sander. In order to unclog the sander, you have to remove 6 screws, take off one side of the sander, and then clean it out with a wire. What a pain. I am going to take this one back and buy a DeWalt from Amazon.

Great sander, ample power, belt changes and tracking adjustments are a snap. However, one time during use, I inadvertently let the power cord get too close to the drive wheel. The tool sucked the cord up, wedging the cord between the sanding belt and the tool housing, and grinding the motor to a halt. The cord was easily repaired, but the drive belt (which connects the motor to the drive wheel) was shot and needed to be replaced. The moral of the story is to keep a close eye on the cord, and keep it away from the drive wheel at all times. Other than that, the tool has performed flawlessly.

I consider myself a pro carpenter. I've used this machine andbralso recomended it. Several users complained of the power cordbrgetting wedged between the drive drum and the belt, considerbryourselfs lucky. My fingers became wedged between the drum and the belt. The flat p/u chute on the rear bottom of the machine sliced my small finger open requiring sixty stiches. Ouch. Shavedbrthe tip off my middle finger and broke the ring finger. Ouch again. I had the trigger locked on and had to pull the cord outbrof the power outlet to shut it off. brI cannot suggest a belt sander that will do a better job, there are none. Just be careful an hopefully Porta-Cable adds a drumbrcover like all the other manufactures.

My old belt sander stop working. I went to sears and purchased their 8.8amp belt sander. I used it for about 5 minutes and found it really did not have the power I need. So I took it back to Sears. Then I order the porta cable 352vs from Amazon. As soon as I had taken the sander out of the box I could feel a big difference. I plug the sander in and used it. It has a lot of power. I am very pleased with it. I was really shocked to feel how much more power the porta cable has over the sears craftsman. There is no question about it ,if you need a belt sander go buy the porta cable.

I just purchased this today (11-17-06). Junk. It's going back tomorrow. The dust bag is the size of a football and you cannot see what you're doing. They removed the 90 degree tube for the dust bag. I am pretty sure this adds to dust everywhere. I can't even hookup my vacuum to it. It tips easily causing gouges in the wood. Very difficult to operate with one hand. This is the 4th Porter Cable I have bought. Three out of 4 have been junk.
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br /Find something else.

I agree that this is a powerful sander. Has anyone else had
br /any type of problem with the open drive drum? Some users have had the power cord get sucked into the sander.
br /Thanks and HAPPY HOLIDAYS
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Used this belt sander for a few weeks but the plastic gear driving the belt broke.
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br /Don't buy!

I bought this sander and tried it on a group of pine butt jointed boards. It is too unstable. It tends to tip at the slightest opportunity towards the motor side. Even a slight pressure on the back causes a gash in your work. I spent more time removing scrapes and gashes than smoothing my work. Very frustrating. I am going to try a different brand as the others seemed to be more stable in the store and didn't tip so easily.