Sanding dry wall sucks. By this point, you’ve hung up your drywall and taped all the seams. And now you’re stuck with the tedious last part: sanding it down.
Towards the end of a long job, your Porter Cable sander decide to give out on you. How can you be mad at it? It’s supposed to help you get through the work.
It shouldn’t throw another wrench in a tiresome process. When the sander stop working, most folks assume its the motor that’s burnt out. They’ll make an unneeded trip to hardware store.
And in turn, they toss a good tool. The truth is most problems are just a simple blockage. Tripping a safety mechanism can happen too as well as worn contacts.
These can be fixed within minutes. Saves money. First thing: Is power OK?
Simple Steps To Fix Your Sander
Check Power Connections and Battery
Intermittent electrical connections is common with electric tools in dusty environment. Connections will go bad long before internal component. Wiggle the tool body where it connect to the cord.
Also wiggle the cord just below the plug. Exposed or frayed wiring can result in an open circuit. For battery-operated sanders, make sure that the battery are properly seated.
And make sure it’s fully charged. A weak battery can causes the motor to spin sluggishly or not at all. This is the same as if the switch were broken.
Test the outlet by plugging a lamp into it. That eliminates any external factor so you know when it’s time to look at machine itself. If you have power but no rotation, then it’s probably a mechanical problem.
Clear Dust and Joint Compound Blockages
Fine drywall dust are extremely abrasive. When combined with water, it become like a paste. That paste will pack in between the spindle and sander body.
It will also pack into bearing housing. Take off the sanding pad and look at the spindle. Is there anything stuck on it?
Clean it out with something like a brush or some compressed air. Sometimes a piece of joint compound will get wedged up there. That block the spindle and stalls motor immediately.
Often just clearing that out would of made it work again. Another likely suspect are carbon brushes. Brushes is small part that deliver electricity to the shaft of the motor.
Replace Worn Carbon Brushes
Over time they wears out. On older Porter Cable tools, you can get at them through a brush access panel. If the brushes are too short, the tool will still hum but it won’t spin.
The brushes needs to extend more than half an inch to contact the commutator. A cheap repair involve replacing the brushes which extend life of the tool. Not replacing worn brushs can damage motor windings.
That’s a much more expensive fix. If you have a dust collection system, make sure that it’s not plugged up on vacuum port side. Backpressure from a full bag or a clogged hose stall the motor.
Inspect Dust Collection System
Remember, when the motor has to work harder because of a blocked exhaust, it stalls. Disconnect the vacuum hose and see if you can run the sander. If collection system is the issue, the motor will spin freely.
Clear out the hoses, clean filters and let the dust have a clear path so that the motor can operate at its intended speed. Lastly look at the switch mechanism The rocker switch has dust inside the contacts. That gunk keep the circuit from closing correctly.
Clean the Rocker Switch Contacts
Open up the switch housing and spray contact with some electrical cleaner. It is techy stuff. If not possible just buy a new switch from the manufacturer.
It’s a little part but it can cause big problems. Fixing this get the sander going again. Save your money, finish the walls, and continue the project without buying a replacement.