I'm looking to buy a belt sander and am considering either the
Porter-Cable 362VS or the Milwaukee 5936. Both are 4x24 inch, one
variable speed and the other fixed. I have both Porter-Cable and
Milwaukee tools and am pleased with both companies.

Any advice on which to purchase?

Thanks,
John

"John Raymond" wrote:

I'm looking to buy a belt sander and am considering either the
Porter-Cable 362VS or the Milwaukee 5936. Both are 4x24 inch, one
variable speed and the other fixed. I have both Porter-Cable and
Milwaukee tools and am pleased with both companies.

Any advice on which to purchase?

SFWIW, I'd stay away from 4" machines.

In the case of P/C, they use the same motor for either the 3" or 4"
machine.

IMHO, the P/C is strictly a toy.

Burned up a couple of them before buying the P/C "Choo-Choo" which
they no longer make.

Lew

On Oct 8, 8:53*pm, John Raymond wrote:
I'm looking to buy a belt sander and am considering either the
Porter-Cable 362VS or the Milwaukee 5936. Both are 4x24 inch, one
variable speed and the other fixed. I have both Porter-Cable and
Milwaukee tools and am pleased with both companies.

Any advice on which to purchase?

Thanks,
John

I have been building solid surface countertop since DuPont had 4
colours only. (1986)
Been through them all except the Choo Choo..
Milwaukees are heavy. PC's die. Bosch fare a bit better, but the best
punch for the buck is the 3 x 24 Makita.
We can't seem to break them. Replace the graphite skid pad and the
thing keeps going and going.
The dust collection is mediocre.... on any of them.

Robatoy wrote:

On Oct 8, 8:53Â*pm, John Raymond wrote:
I'm looking to buy a belt sander and am considering either the
Porter-Cable 362VS or the Milwaukee 5936. Both are 4x24 inch, one
variable speed and the other fixed. I have both Porter-Cable and
Milwaukee tools and am pleased with both companies.

Any advice on which to purchase?

Thanks,
John

I have been building solid surface countertop since DuPont had 4
colours only. (1986)
Been through them all except the Choo Choo..
Milwaukees are heavy. PC's die. Bosch fare a bit better, but the
best punch for the buck is the 3 x 24 Makita.
We can't seem to break them. Replace the graphite skid pad and the
thing keeps going and going.
The dust collection is mediocre.... on any of them.
I'll second that, I've got a Makita that is well into its
second decade and it just keeps running and running.

basilisk
--
http://www.welshpembrokecorgis.com

Robatoy wrote:

Been through them all except the Choo Choo..

SFWIW:

Have a Choo-Choo I no longer need.

If interested, contact off list.

Lew

I'll second that, I've got a Makita that is well into its
second decade and it just keeps running and running.



me too.

shelly

basilisk writes:

I'll second that, I've got a Makita that is well into its
second decade and it just keeps running and running.


Ditto. I'm not a pro, but I use it my 3x21 Makita to sand my front porch every 3 years.
It's 20 years old.

Maxwell Lol writes:

basilisk writes:

I'll second that, I've got a Makita that is well into its
second decade and it just keeps running and running.


Ditto. I'm not a pro, but I use it my 3x21 Makita to sand my front porch every 3 years.
It's 20 years old.

I did have to replace the platen. So I upgraded to the non-metal kind. Can't find the link to the product.

On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:58:02 -0400, Maxwell Lol
wrote:

basilisk writes:

I'll second that, I've got a Makita that is well into its
second decade and it just keeps running and running.


Ditto. I'm not a pro, but I use it my 3x21 Makita to sand my front porch every 3 years.
It's 20 years old.


I have a Ryobi that keeps going after 20 years. But, not sure if the
same quality of Ryobi is there today. I like the fact the top is
flat and it can be used upsidedown for sanding small parts. The
variable speed is very nice too. I use finishing sanders more than a
belt sander, maybe that is why it has lasted so long.

I had the same model. I used it commercially for about 8 years.
It got to where I couldn't keep the belt tracking. I went to
replace it with the exact model because of the flat top, upside
down capability. I didn't find it , so I purchased this Bosch as
a replacement:
http://www.boschtools.com/Products/T...px?pid=1274DVS

I was always quite pleased with the Ryobi, same for the Bosch. I
also have and use a heavy old Milwaukee for serious work.

--
______________________________
Keep the whole world singing . . . .
DanG (remove the sevens)




"Phisherman" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:58:02 -0400, Maxwell Lol

wrote:

basilisk writes:

I'll second that, I've got a Makita that is well into its
second decade and it just keeps running and running.


Ditto. I'm not a pro, but I use it my 3x21 Makita to sand my
front porch every 3 years.
It's 20 years old.


I have a Ryobi that keeps going after 20 years. But, not sure
if the
same quality of Ryobi is there today. I like the fact the top
is
flat and it can be used upsidedown for sanding small parts.
The
variable speed is very nice too. I use finishing sanders more
than a
belt sander, maybe that is why it has lasted so long.

Phisherman writes:

I have a Ryobi that keeps going after 20 years. But, not sure if the
same quality of Ryobi is there today. I like the fact the top is
flat and it can be used upsidedown for sanding small parts.

That reminds me -
One of the things I like about my Makita is the sides are flat and
parallel, so I can clamp it in a wooden bench vise and use it upside
down.

I've used it to sand the edge of large parts, and do rough stock
removal.

I never tried it without fastening it to the bench.

"John Raymond" wrote in message
t...
I'm looking to buy a belt sander and am considering either the
Porter-Cable 362VS or the Milwaukee 5936. Both are 4x24 inch, one variable
speed and the other fixed. I have both Porter-Cable and Milwaukee tools
and am pleased with both companies.

Any advice on which to purchase?

Thanks,
John

If you're really convinced that you need a 4" sander the Bosch
http://tinyurl.com/yjr95d6
can't be beat...........IMHO.
I don't use it often but when I do it's a workhorse.

Max