Porter-Cable 343K 5-inch Random Orbit Sander Kit - Hook & Loop Pad | 
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| Brand: Porter Cable
Category: Home Improvement
List Price: $109.30
Buy New: $59.00
You Save: $50.30 (46%)
New (22) Refurbished (3) from $42.00
Rating:  42 reviews
Media: Tools & Hardware
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 8.5
Dimensions (in): 15 x 8.4 x 7.2
MPN: 343K
Model: 343K
UPC: 028877545769
EAN: 0028877545264
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Features:
| • | 3.0 amp motor fopr power and durability in the shop | | • | POREX dust cannister exceeds durability of cloth dust bags | | • | Improved ergonomics with rubber top grip for comfort | | • | Top cap design allows users to service or clean out the unit quickly | | • | Dual dust ports accept 1- and 1-1/2-inch vacuum hoses; 1-year limited warranty |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
3.0 amp motor fopr power and durability in the shop POREX dust cannister exceeds durability of cloth dust bags Improved ergonomics with rubber top grip for comfort Top cap design allows users to service or clean out the unit quickly Dual dust ports accept 1- and 1-1/2-inch vacuum hoses 5" Random Orbit Sander, 3.0A Motor For Power & Durability In The Shop, Porex Dust Cannister Exceeds Durability Of Cloth Dust Bags, Improved Ergonomics With Rubber Top Grip For Comfort, Top Cap Design Allows Users To Service Or Clean Out The Unit Quickly, Dual Dust Ports Accept 1" & 1-1/2" Vacuum Hoses, Includes: Sandpaper & Kit Box, 1 Year Warranty.
Amazon.com Review
We love random orbit sanders for their speed and versatility, and this one from Porter Cable is a great specimen. It's a compact little thing, light as can be, yet its three-amp motor produces 12,000 orbits per minute for both rapid stock removal as well as a fine, swirl-free finish. This sander uses readily available 5-inch, eight-hole, hook-and-loop paper, and with 60 grit on it, this is a hungry, aggressive little sander, taking out tooling marks, rounding corners and flattening glued-up surfaces just like a belt sander, but without any of the toll on your body. At the other end of the sanding spectrum, work all the way up to 220, and you'll have yourself one smooth surface. One of the things we like best about this sander is that it doesn't want you to exert any effort - you get the best results letting the sander do the work. Another one of our favorite features here is the solid dust canister, really a cut above the cloth bags most models have. If you've got a shop vacuum, you can attach it to the dust port on the sander, which accepts both 1- and 1-1/2-inch hoses. It makes a huge difference with a vacuum attached, and we were impressed with the extraction design. Here's a great innovation, too, in terms of tool life and maintenance. Porter Cable designed this sander with a removable cap on top, allowing you to clean out and maintain the sander without taking the whole thing apart. One of the nicest things about this sander is how it treats the body that's using it. It's incredibly light, extremely compact and very responsive. Even using it at shoulder height doesn't take much of a toll on your arm and shoulder, and the rubber grip cancels out any vibration, eliminating that creepy feeling in your arm. The shape just feels good in your hand, too. And for safety's sake, we like that the Automatic brake will engage whenever the pad is off the work surface, slowing the rotation down from 12,000 orbits per minute to just 400, protecting both you and your workpiece. This is one of our favorite random orbit sanders, and if you have the chance to try one, we know you'll love it too, whether you're into serious woodworking, you're a do-it-yourselfer or a professional in the trades.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste
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| Customer Reviews: Read 37 more reviews...
 avoid at all cost November 20, 2008
rhett (KY)
This sander is junk, and I only hope you have looked past the other high reviews and have read what other full time woodworkers have written. PC needs to spend less time trying to make "cool" looking tools and get back to making quality electric hand tools. I typically sand 450+ doors/drawers a year not to mention cabinets. I have been through several PC sanders. When my last 333 broke, I bought this newer version of what I though was a similar machine. Night and day. This sander wanders uncontrollably, leaves swirl marks everywhere, and eats through sandpaper. After 3 hours of sanding it went back in the box to be returned. Bring back the light grey workhorses you were once know for and scrap these dark grey POS's. PC will see no more of my hard earned dollars.
EXTREMELY Disappointed! November 5, 2008
G. Scott (New Jersey)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I don't usually review items after I purchase them... especially when its been over a year. But today I became so frustrated with this sander that I just had to share.
Previously, I owned a DeWalt random orbit sander which was my first. It was awesome. Maybe not quite as powerful as some people would like, but it handled like a dream. I built my entire kitchen with it and I couldn't have achieved the results I did without it. Funny thing is, I really didn't do much research when I bought it. It was affordable and in stock at my local home center, so I wen with it.
Well, when the DeWalt finally died, I thought this time I would do my homework and get something even better. I mean, if I liked my old one so much without even researching it before hand, then this time I would get something even better! So I ended up with the Porter-Cable. What a mistake! One word...CONTROL. This thing drifts all over the place when you're trying to work with it. It isn't balanced well, or something and just feels terribly uncomfortable to use. I thought maybe it was my sanding discs, but after trying a couple different brands, I realized that this is just how it is.
So, for the past year I've just been using it anyway (basically avoiding it whenever possible) because I didn't like the idea of throwing money down the drain. And then today something else has started happening. The sawdust collector just falls off! When I'm sanding, it just come loose and FALLS OFF! Sawdust everywhere and when I put it back on, it is so loose that it won't stay in place unless I keep checking on it. I have no idea why it is loose unless the plastic is just fatigued or something, but now I've had it.
As far as all of the positive reviews are concerned, in scimming through them, it seems that this is the first or only brand sander that many of the reviewers have owned. Maybe thats why the gave it such high marks... nothing to compare it to. But I urge you to look for a different sander. The DeWalt handled like a dream and was much nicer to use than this one. Of course, the only reason I know this is because I've used it.
 Porter-Cable 343K 5" Sander Review September 16, 2008
Lynn C. Orfgen (Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a fairly active wordworker (a hobbyist) that builds our own furniture, primarily out of cherry. I have four 5' random orbit P-C sanders along with a host of others. I find all of the P-C Sanders to be superb, reliable and durable products with only one minor weakness. I believe that the dust collection canisters could be a little stronger and that the airflow to them should be strengthened a bit. I do get a fair amount of residue on the outside of the sander that probably could be "collected" a bit better. A couple of mine have more than ten years of fairly continuous service with the only additional costs being that of the sanding pad, as the hooks seem to wear out after a great deal of us. Great products!!
Good value, does the job, great features. August 29, 2008
shelley stallings (Alaska)
Having used this sander for many hours in the last year, I can say it works well. Powerful, ergonomically well designed and sturdily built. I especially lke the dust port which easily hooks up to shop vac. This makes the sander virtually dust free, a very important feature for me.
Nice tool but ???? August 29, 2008
Brian W. Hilmar
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Unit seems to work well overall but does seem to BOG down on occasion.
Maybe it needs a little more capacity OR it's at my end. The tool deos
do a nice finishing job.-----Brian
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