Porter-Cable's 3-by-21-inch belt sander features an all-metal housing that gives the tool a solid feel, makes it tough to damage, and lets you sand effectively without having to press down. This sander also does a great job of keeping belts centered, a terrific bonus because there's nothing more frustrating that having to constantly re-center a belt. According to Porter-Cable, the all-metal housing accounts for the centered placement of the belts. The sander remains rigid, even during heavy use, and the metal helps dissipate heat, keeping the belt relatively cool and in place.
This sander also has a variable-speed dial that lets you match the speed of the belt with the application, so you can speed up for aggressive removal or dial down for more precision. We really like the 360-degree adjustable top dust nozzle--a feature you won't find on many belt sanders--because it lets you pivot the dust bag (or hose if you're hooked up to a dust vac), a huge convenience when sanding in corners or along edges. And, lastly, this is a quiet sander, thanks both to Porter-Cable's newly designed gear system, which meshes more accurately, and to the sander's serpentine drive belt, which makes considerably less noise than a more common cog system. For a belt sander, this tool is surprisingly easy on the ears, and that's a very good thing. --Jon Groebner
