PORTER-CABLE 362VS 4-Inch x 24-Inch Variable Speed Sander

We didn't want to put this one down, and that's not our usual reaction to a belt sander. But we would have happily refinished a hardwood floor with Porter-Cable's 4-inch belt sander. It feels great in your hands thanks to the attention Porter-Cable paid to ergonomics. The front grip is perfect and the handle is comfortable, with the speed control perfectly positioned for on-the-fly changes. It's heavy, but the weight of the 12 amp motor is centered right over the platen, so the balance is perfect and you can let this hummer do the work for you. The variable speed will let you cover from 1,000 to 1,500 surface feet per minute. We loved the quick-release belt-change lever and wonder why no one thought of it sooner. Belt tracking is controlled with a fingertip knob, and it worked like a dream in our tests. All that would be enough to win our vote, but get this: it has a large-capacity dust-collection bag that swivels 360 degrees and will never get in your way. Two thumbs up on this one. --Kris Jensen-Van Heste