PC attachments for Sanding?

[2000firebird]

Does anyone make products so that you can turn your porter cable into a sander? Is the PC powerful enough for something like this? Who makes some good products and what would you recommend? Anything I can find in a store or will it have to be ordered online? I'm taking my motor apart and I'd like to polish up some things like the intake, valve covers, etc. I figured doing it by hand might take extra long and this seemed like a good use of the PC to me.

 

[tom p.]

2000: http://www.autopia.org/forum/hot-tub/137042-re-purposing-porter-cable.html



I think my PC is about 15 yrs. old and I purchased it from a wood working type of store, so it was set up with a dust hood collection system, etc. I've never used it, but I've done virtually no wood work with it. I believe the PC would be considered a finishing sander.



The little sanding discs are e-z to find at your local hdwe store.

 

[2000firebird]

awesome how do you think it would do sanding aluminum? This looks real nice but I haven't found any 3'' pads yet that weren't in 30 bulk packs.

3M Clean Sanding 3 inch Disc Backing Plate Kit, 3M sanding disc backing plate with adapters, backing plate adapter kit, six hole sanding disc



are these just attaching with velcro like the LC pads?

Wondering if I even need the backing, or if i can just get the sanding discs. I have a 4.5'' and 3.25'' backing plates for the regular foam polishing pads. Do I need new 'sanding' backing plates or will it attach to the ones I have just fine (it won't have the heat holes in it though).

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

Indeed, your PC started life as a DA sander in the woodworking field so it's pretty easy to find 5/16" backing plates and sanding discs of various sizes to use with it. For automotive use (especially if you decide to sand paint) there are systems available from a number of sources including 3M, Meguiar's, and Mirka to name a few with discs ranging from rough to super fine (3000-4000) grit.

 

[2000firebird]

Should I get a special backing plate with the holes in it or just use my regular ones? I found a cheap Diablo varitety pack with hook and loop 5" discs at home depot so I got that and will try it out. The guy at HD said I should pick up a ryobi RS290 for $40. Its rated at 12,500 OPM. Not really needed? Any other good sources for hook and loop variety packs? I found a store on the 3M distributor list il check out later today.

 

[Accumulator]

Yeah, the PC really *is* a sander, detailers just pressed it into polisher duty to the point that they started selling it for that too.



I've watched construction guys use one to descratch/burnish stainless steel, so sure it'll work on aluminum. But, heh heh....how much time do you have?



For sanding wood, the plate with the holes a) lets you hook up a vacuum attachment and b) gives the sanding dust somewhere to go.