Porter-Cable 330 Sander review-Is it Really One of The Best Orbital Sanders?
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It looks like this sander is discontinued and, therefore, not available anymore. For more choices on orbital/sheet sanders, please visit Best Finishing Sander recommendations.
To answer this question about Porter-Cable 330 Sander, you should really ask yourself another one. What are the most important features for you in a finishing/orbital sander?
We all know that feeling of confusion when trying to find the best tool for the purpose. It takes time and a lot of research. And because I like to check every possibility before I spend my hard-earned money, it takes time.
I’ve decided to share my findings with you so you can have a closer look and check for yourself if this Porter-Cable 330 orbital sander is right for you.
- Ergonomically-designed sander with solid metal frame design for a long lifetime of solid performance
- Sands at speeds as high as 14,000 orbits per minute
- Comfortable design minimizes vibration and allows for hours of fatigue-free operation
- Measures 4.5 by 5 by 4.5 (HxWxL) and weighs four pounds
Power
With its 1.2 Amp motor, it might not be the most powerful sander, but it still will do a great finishing job. A single-speed and 14000 OPM it’s typical for most generic sanding tasks.
This sander may lack versatility, but, in my opinion, it’s not meant to be used for many different tasks. It’s a finishing 1/4 sheet sander, and it should be used for that purpose.
With its small orbit (5/64″), you’ll achieve a cleaner finish. If you need something more powerful or versatile, you should look for a random orbit sander like Porter Cable 382 or Makita BO5041.
Baseplate
It’s got a 1/4 sheet baseplate with heavy and pretty stiff metal clamps that require a special tool to operate. This tool is included with the sander, and if you worry you may lose it, you can always use a screwdriver.
This may seem like a lot of effort to change a sandpaper sheet, but there are several upsides to this feature.
First, the paper is gripped a lot tighter than in most palm sanders. The second thing is that you’re able to use the old trick and mount several paper sheets at once, and when the first one wears out, all you have to do is tear it out, and you have a fresh sheet ready to use.
Pretty handy, isn’t it?
If you’re not fond of playing with these clamps, there is another way around it. This base accepts PSA-type sandpaper (stick-on/pressure-sensitive adhesive). The only downside is the price. This kind of sandpaper is far more expensive than traditional sheets.
After getting to this point in my review, you’re probably wondering why you should pay more for this sander when it hasn’t got many of the “fancy” features the other ones have. Well, this is the part you should read on to find out.
Body
How many times I’ve heard or read that nowadays, power tools are well made as they used to be. Usually full of plastic with some of the parts expensive to replace if possible at all.
This is one of the examples where the designers decided to go for durability and quality materials. A full, solid metal frame will last years and for a hobbyist or DIY-re even decades.
This makes it quite heavy and difficult to work overhead, but on the other hand, the weight adds more pressure when sanding, and it’s a great feature when needed.
This is a tough machine made to last. The ball bearings are fully sealed, and the motor brushes are long, allowing for a long time of use and cheap to replace.
The power switch is conveniently placed near the top of the tool and easily switches it on and off with one finger.
Unlike in any other typical palm sander, there is no knob on the top of this sander. The idea is to wrap your hand around the body. This way of holding it is far more comfortable and allows working for longer without any cramping. It also gives you more control over the tool.
Vibrations
Another important feature for any woodworker. When you look at Porter-Cable 330, it’s not very obvious, but the rubber vibration dampeners built into the base and a heavyweight both do an excellent job reducing vibrations.
The base plate is well isolated from the outer housing allowing working longer without fatigue.
Dust collection
Surprisingly this sander hasn’t got any built-in dust collection. It’d require you to work on top of a downdraft sanding table. For some users, who haven’t got any dust collection system in place, this may be a significant drawback unless you don’t mind cleaning up after a busy sanding session or if you’re working outside—in conclusion-not, everyone’s cup of tea.
The upside is that because there is no dust collection, there are no holes to suck up the sawdust, and there is no fan, which means there is absolutely no dust in the body or a motor, and that means an increased lifetime of the tool.
Other features
Although it hasn’t got many extra features, as I mentioned above, many of the users have found this sander fairly quiet compared to other orbital sanders.
Verdict
This sander is definitely something different. With its limited features, it may not be for everyone. But if you’re after well build and solid tool, it’s worth considering. Let me summarize it for you.
If you buy Porter-Cable 330 Orbital Sander, you’ll get a great palm sander that will last you for years. It’s very well made using quality materials. A well-balanced, easy to control by grip design and comfortable to hold will allow you for many working hours without fatigue.
It’s excellent for awkward places like sides, where bigger ones won’t fit, and you’ll achieve great finishing results using 220 and finer grit sandpaper. Quieter than most of these types of sanders, it’s very pleasant to use.
No dust collection built-in or awkward clamping system means that it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. However, these features make it extremely durable. Now it’s up to you to decide which features are the most important in an orbital sander.
This sander is one of the best on the market, and if you’re willing to compromise, it will serve you for years to come.
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Last update on 2024-04-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Great idea about loading several sheets at once! Now why didn’t I think of that? Seriously tho – I hate having to stop and change the paper. I love the way it grips that sand paper, I have never found a peel and stick version that does not fly off, also very annoying. This looks like a pretty good sander and it’s going on my wish list for sure. Do you think the price is in line? Seems pretty fair to me.
Hi, Scott!
I must agree it’s a brilliant idea!And for that reason only I’d recommend it to anyone. I remember struggling with sandpaper popping out of the clamps during sanding and it was driving me crazy.
As for price, it’s a solid tool, very well build. When thinking about a price you usually have some kind of a budget in mind for the features you’re after. Some people might say it’s a bit pricey comparing to other orbital sanders this size but I don’t mind paying for a quality tool that will last you years if not decades and will pay for itself in the long run. So in my opinion, this price it quite attractive when you think in terms that you wouldn’t have to buy a new tool every couple of years and parts are fairly cheap to replace.
Kasia
Best compact sander ever made. We do not understand Porte Cable here. First they discontinue an excellent laminate router with an off-square piece of junk, and now replacing the 330 speed block with an equally disappointing thing the 380 model. A shame…
I have every sander made my mortal man. I’m not kidding. 3 5 in. 8 hole disc random orbits, 1 5 in. grinder style RO for the heavy stuff, 2 belt sanders 1 full size & 1 of those cute little P-C machines, Proxxon band file & flap sander, MacMop on buffer, 12 in. disc, 6 X 48 belt, strip 1/2 in. / 1/4 in. X 42 in., oscillating spindle, straight line air sander, sanding attachment for my jig saw (poor mans scroll saw, ( (please in spite of Bosch I have a real Powermatic floor mounted JIG saw) P-C Dremel profile sanders I think that’s all except my SpeedBlock witch I’ve had for many years and it’s still going. You’re right it’s one durable little machine. I can’t figure some mfgs. out. They build a legend and then toss it. Another example the Dremen it’s a light machine & easy to handle, but the outstand design feature is the sand paper is in a loop. That way when one spot wears out you just rotate. They made the machine 2 or 3 years and dropped it. Only God & Dremel know. Thinking again only God knows. Dremel haven’t got a clue. All this is my 2 cents worth, but I have been stomping around in sawdust since the 1st. year of shop in 7th grade to now (I just turned 80)
Pop Golden
Wow! That’s a lot of tools you have, Pop Golden, lol. I wholly agree with you. They come up with an awesome design, and then they ditch it for something subpar. And the only reason I can see is to make more sales and more money. Sadly they’re not here to serve customers anymore. Thank you for stopping by and leaving your two cents Pop!