There’s nothing like finishing drywall for irritating you. Hanging sheet and taping joints takes hours. Then there’s all the sanding.
The Porter Cable drywall sander want to make your life easier during the latter task. It’s a pole mounted machine aimed at reaching higher ceiling while minimizing dust. But the product gets cursed by many more person than praised.
The reason isn’t typically because the thing doesn’t work. It do, but differently than a traditional orbital sander. And people don’t change how they operate with it.
In order to fix things you has to know what went wrong in the first place. Three primary problem account for most complaints. The sandpaper loads up or falls off.
Motor shakes too much. Dust collection system fail. Finding the source of the problem fix it.
It is usually quite simple. No need to trash whole thing.
Fixing Common Porter Cable Drywall Sander Issues
Understanding Drywall Sander Issues
Velcro strips; Most people has issues with the way their tool attaches to the sandpaper.
Porter Cable tools use these strips quite frequent to attach the mesh screen to the body. The problem with these is that they trap the fine gypsum dust quick. The grit of this dust separate the hook from the loop.
This realy weakens the stickiness after only a couple minute of operation. So if you’re noticing that your sand paper is beginning to slide around then it’s safe to assume your Velcro is gummed up. Fortunately the solution is easy but many folks overlook it.
Cleaning Velcro Strips for Better Adhesion
Simply give the Velcro pads found on the sander head a good vacuuming. A damp cloth can also help remove the sticky residue, but don’t try to clean them while they are dry because that just grinds the dust deeper into the fibers. Do NOT attempt to clean when it’s dry.
It’ll just grind the stuff even further into the material. Keeping the screen fastened requires regular care
Most of the time, hearing your sander vibrating or making noise mean there is an issue with the bearings or some other mechanical jam. To give you flexibility in the angle you can sand at, there’s a spindle that the sander head spins on.
To make that happen easy, the spindle uses small ball bearing. The gypsum dust gets everywhere, and over time it pack into those bearings. That increase the friction and requires the motor to work harder to maintain speed.
Addressing Motor Vibration and Bearing Wear
Before you’ll notice any vibration, you’ll hear a grinding noise. Cleaning off the exterior won’t resolve the problem if the bearings is shot. That would of require replacing the whole sander head assembly which isn’t so easy.
Keeping the dust port clean prevents the problem from happening in the first place. A good dust collection system is not only important for health but performance. Is the sander sluggish?
Check your hose. That flexible hose that goes from your sander to your shop vac can kink up easy. It can also collect a bunch of fine dust inside itself which greatly cuts down on airflow.
To keep dust off the wall, the sander need strong suction. Weak vacuum = dust escaping everywhere. It also mean faster clogging of the screen.
Maintaining Dust Collection System Airflow
Regularly inspect your hose for blockages. After each use shake it out. Make sure the connection at the sander head is tight and sealed.
A good seal is the difference between a contained mess and a white cloud in your livig room.
The second common complaint is that the pole feel loose when assembled. Control and power come through a locked telescopic pole section.
So if your head drifts around, it means the locking mechanism of your extendable poles need cleaning up or replacing. No amount of pressure on the side of the pole will help you sand precisely. Make sure the pins lock into place fully and clean off locking collars.
Securing the Telescopic Pole Mechanism
Never force the pole out past the markings indicating how far it should go. Doing so will strip the inside thread. When connected firmly, it provide the control needed for edges and corners.
Keep in mind that it’s sometimes less expensive to replace worn out components rather than purchase a whole tool. Older models still have replacement Velcro strips and screens available from Porter Cable. Just look up the model number of yours and you’ll be good to go.
Be sure they’re compatible. You don’t want to use a different sized screen or your thing will fail early. A mesh screen is best for these type of tools versus just regular old sandpaper.
Replacing Worn Components and Screens
The mesh doesn’t clog up and lasts longer. Get a good roll of mesh. Keep a spool handy in the box.
This will make your finishing better and extend life of the sander. Sanding drywall is messy work no matter what tools you use.
Having an unreliable sander makes it more stressful than necessary.
Maintaining the Velcro will get you back on track. Checking for bearing wear keeps the motor humming. Strong vacuum airflow means less dust.
Letting small problems control your schedule is a bad idea. Taking care of machine’s needs will pay off. Stay on top of keeping the tool running right.