Great little sander, dustless sanding bag collects well, easy variable speed adjustment
342755
Great little sander, dustless sanding bag collects well, easy variable speed adjustment.  I would recommend this orbital sander to friends.
3283504
I really like this sander, its great for my small hands.  It would have been even better if it came with variable speeds.
2341090
This sander performs great and is quiet. The dust collector really works. The case allows you to load a disc quickly to align the holes with the sander, that helps with smoothe operation and dust collection. Excellent sanding quality. I used a polishing pad on my corvette, it does that well also.
2869099
My father has the same sander that uses the PSA paper instead and he loves it. I was a little skeptical of buying this model which uses the hook and loop style paper, but have sanded several hundred board feet of red oak and have no regrets. The dust collector works great and is sufficient enough that I don't need to wear a mask. The accompanying case is a nice addition allowing me to store this above my cabinets with the other tools I don't use that often. I have a number of Porter Cable tools in my shop as it's a brand that I can trust to last a long time. Consider purchasing the Mirca aluminum oxide paper from Amazon as it's also an incredible deal.
1959947
A solid, hefty machine that does what it's supposed to do.  I needed assistance getting it out of the truck and into place in my workshop, but all that weight helps the sander do its job.  Takes 16 amps; I don't try to remove a lot of wood in a single pass.  Changing the sandpaper strips is easy.  Dust collection is no better or worse than any similar dust-maker, which is why I keep abrasive machines in a room separate from my workshop. My only real complaint is the the gears which run the crank that elevates and lowers the conveyor belt slipped out of contact with each other the first day. The fix for that is a little convoluted (there's a brief paragraph about it in the manual), but it works. The manual is thorough, particularly about maintenance and replacing worn out parts.  Glad I bought this machine.
1711116
If you've read my other reviews, you know I own a lot of sanders (more than I've been able to review, actually), and this is one of them.

This sander has been around for years and does a great job. The old version was made in the U.S.A., but the new version is made in Mexico, NOT the U.S. as the information on Amazon states. There are more plastic parts on the newer model, but nothing to worry about.

The new model also has variable speed and dust collection, although it does NOT have an included template for punching PSA sheets, or an included PSA pad, for that matter. I think it's because P-C markets the unit as a polisher, and hook-and-loop polishing pads work great, while PSA polishing pads wouldn't work so well if they were available. Talking about "not available," there is no punch for this machine; you have to make your own out of a block of wood and some bolts.

This unit is now incorrectly labeled a "random orbit" sander, when it's really a "dual action" sander, meaning the orbits aren't really random, and regular swirl marks exist. However, dual action sanders leave much less noticeable marks, and produce a much better finish than orbital sanders.

Variable speed is a great feature for not melting varnish when sanding it, and for not taking off a load of stock instantly. Being a bigger guy I can use the sander with one hand, but be aware it is a monster at full speed and will consume wood quickly.

The sander is relatively light for this type of sander, pretty quiet, and relatively vibration free. Realize this is a lot of sander, so it's not exactly light, quiet, or completely vibration free, but it's the best sander you can buy in its class. It's also much more controllable than a 6" sander, and when combined with the variable speed it can handle most any sanding or polishing job well.

I immediately bought the PSA pad (for keeping edges square) and contoured PSA pad (for rounded edges). PSA paper is about 1/2 the price of hook-and-loop, and a torn piece of PSA won't immediately ruin the PSA pad, unlike hook-and-loop.

The case is huge, as another reviewer put it, but not large enough to store boxed pads. You can fit two unboxed pads in two corners, the handle in the third corner, and the fourth corner is molded for the vacuum adapter.

The results from this sander are the best I've found for a dual-action, and the sander is built well. Buy it; you'll probably love it.

If it came with a both hook-and-loop and pressure sensitive adhesive pads, and a hole punch plate, I'd give it 5 stars, even if the box couldn't hold boxed pads.
4895606
I've only used the sander a couple of times since buying it but it does a good job.  I've used it only on MDF and on black walnut so far.  On the walnut, with 150-grit paper, it sanded out burn marks from a router bit quite easily and smoothly without marring the wood.  It runs quietly.  Only thing I don't like is that I can't find a transition piece to connect the sander's 1.5" dust outlet port to the 2" inlet hose on my shop-vac, but the dust bag that comes with it works well as an alternate.
1948640
I love this little sander.  For light duty work like crafts and small DIY projects, this is a perfect size and price.
353472
I've been very pleased with this setup. The unit, dust cannister and stand were shipped very quickly and carefully wrapped on their own pallet to prevent damage. The sander runs true, smooth and is much quieter than I expected. The built in blower and dust cannister collect almost all the dust. That really surprised me. I had anticipated possible hooking this unit up to my 2hp dust collecting system. I hoped it would be ok without resorting to such system hook up so I wouldn't have to go around the shop each time I used the disk sander adjusting blast gates. I find the dust collection on the sander plenty good enough and much more convenient. The cast iron table and adjustments are solid and stay in position well. I only wish the adjustment to the table tilt was done by a wheel crank, but I think you have to pay about twice the price to find that feature. All in all I'd rate this as one of my better tool investments.
1517659
I needed to replace a 20+ year old Craftsman sander for infrequent DIY/home project work.  Positive reviews and the attractive price overcame questions about the quality.
My first impression was the light weight of the unit compared to my old Craftsman, which makes storing and retrieving the unit easier.  Time will tell if some qualities were sacrificed for lighter weight, but at this point it is a definite plus.
Having the hook and loop fastening is great, and having the "standard" paper clips for non hook and loop sandpaper was a plus, but the clip mechanism seems a bit flimsy for regular, repeated use.  Fortunately, the hook and loop paper is reasonably priced and much easier to use, so this is likely not going to be an issue
The dust collection bag attaches by a simple quarter turn that gathers much of the dust, is easy to remove and reinstall, but requires a bit of effort to empty through the narrow opening.
The shop vac "adapter" doesn't fit my Stanley 1.5 hp shop vac, so is useless.
PROS
Lightweight
Low sound level
Easily removable dust bag
Hook and loop fastening
Standard 1/3 sheet non hook and loop sandpaper clips
CONS
Useless "adapter" for shop vac
Standard sandpaper clips are too flimsy for regular use
3049252
So far Ive had my Re manufactured sander for almost a week and used it everyday, I use mine to sand patch on concrete and wood subfloors, This has been the fastest way to get a very smooth floor and ready for sheet vinyl or any other floor, The sander with 40 grit paper removers paint drips, ridges, sheetrock mud and many other things that I had to scrape before, Almost dust free when used with a shop vac, The only down side is the hook part that holds the sand paper is less aggressive than my other sanders and it likes to throw disks, and I have to special order sanding pads, or go to Home Depot and get a universal pad . in a 60 grit I would rather use 30 or 40, I will update in a month or so.
267548
I love this little sander. It's perfect for the in between jobs that an orbital sander is too slow for and a larger belt sander would be unwieldy. I use it for fine tuning cabinet projects, stairs and just about any trim work. I owned this for a few years now and no problems to report.
1526544
I found this sander to be a nice compromise between my 3-amp Dewalt Random Orbital Sander and just using an angle grinder to clean up reclaimed wood faster.  I wish it had a bit stronger motor, as you have to be careful not to apply too much pressure, or it will bog down.  But it definitely gets more material off, much faster.  Definitely recommend hooking it up to a dust collection hose if you can, or dedicate yourself to using it outside.  Glad I bought it.  Wish it was stronger.
4705246
I am a general contractor doing remodel/restoration work on old buildings. I also do cabinets and have dabbled in wooden boat restoration. I have been at it over 30 years and have had a lot of belt sanders.
I have enough ambivalence toward this chunky little sander that I felt the need to share my thoughts. I bought this machine when it first came out to replace my ancient Makita 3"x24" which I used for job site sanding, often vertical. It still works but the sleeve bearings howl for oil at inopportune times.

The DeWalt DW433 design allows for nearly the same size platen with a smaller belt. However, although the DeWalt is physically smaller it is way heavier making it a chore to control in vertical position. The extra weight does make horizontal sanding easier but I generally use a 4" machine for flat work. I have a Makita 9403 4"x24" which I really like, I feel the wider belt is less likely to leave gouges; and it weighs about the same as the DeWalt.

On the plus side the DeWalt is compact and powerful. It has many well thought out details. I have never had any problems with quality. If anything it is too powerful for 3"x21" belts. The machine is very sensitive to the type of belts used and it eats thru belts very quickly. Cheap belts will stretch and have you grinding through the chassis. Even good quality belts don't last long and I suspect the power, weight and the tight radius the belt travels over the front rollers shortens their life. Belt tracking is sensitive for the same reasons.

Dust collection is problematic. I have found the canister to be nearly useless for the kind of heavy stock removal I usually do with a belt sander.  In addition the "break away" design of the dust collector attachment, detaches itself with the slightest bump spraying dust in your face. A couple of nylon ties fixed that problem. I purchased the vacuum adaptor which works well when hooked up to a shopvac but if you are using a coarse belt for heavy stock removal or if you shred a belt (fairly common) you will need to have compressed air handy to clean out the clogs.

This would be a great sander for flat work in the shop hooked to a vacuum. There is a stand which converts it to a vertical sander which would be handy. It would be good for metal work with fine belts and the variable speed; and it can be had at a deep discount. But out on my job sites where vertical work is usually part of the mix it is too heavy and too fussy with belts. Maybe I will try the Bosch 1274.
2159170
Great sander for the price.  Would recommend it for any anyone that needs an occasional sander that does a great job.
4313265
So far this has been a really great little sander. The port on the rear is a bit of a mystery. I guess you are supposed to attach a vacuum to it however the instructions say nothing about that. No dust bag included
2944963
The bag itself is a very good bag and collects very fine particles for those time you don't want to hook up a shop vac or dust collector.  The one downside - and this has nothing to do with the bag - is that due to the design of the bosch table saw, you still get dust and shavings coming out the bottom of the saw.  For just small jobs, I like the bag, even though it lacks the suction of the dust collector.  Easy to attach, easy to take off and with the large zip, easy to empty.