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TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
For assistance with your tool, visit our website at
www.porter-cable.com
for a
list of service centers or call the Porter-Cable help line at 1-800-487-8665.
FINE FINISHING
The action of the Porter-Cable Finishing Sander causes thousands of tiny
abrasive grits to move in circular orbits against the work at high speed. Each
grain moves in the same direction at a constant speed so the cutting action is
uniform over the entire pad surface. Crossing and re-crossing of the abrasive
grits from all directions quickly levels surface irregularities to a fine, uniform
smoothness. Start the work with an abrasive grit just coarse enough to remove
the high spots and excessive roughness. Follow with a second sanding using a
grit one or two grades finer. Continue with successively finer grits until the
desired finish is obtained. DO NOT GO FROM A COARSE GRIT TO A VERY FINE
GRIT IN ONE STEP.
Going from a coarse grit to a very fine grit in one step could make it difficult to
remove swirl marks that might have been made by the coarse grit abrasive. Use
the finest grits practical for the roughing operation and then finish by using
successively finer grits.
REMOVING PAINT AND VARNISH
Read and follow all instructions in the
ADDITIONAL
SAFETY RULES FOR PAINT REMOVAL
section of this manual.
Your sander will do a good job of removing old paint and varnish if two
precautions are taken. First, be sure to use a coarse, open coat abrasive to avoid
the usual clogging of the abrasive surfaces. Second keep the machine moving
over new areas to avoid heating and softening the material being removed. Try
to work the entire surface down at the same time by working in wide,
overlapping arcs. Do not concentrate on small areas. If liquid removers or
heaters are used to speed the work, be sure the surface is cool and dry and the
excess material has been scraped away with a putty knife or other suitable
scraping tool before applying the sander.
CABINETS AND DOORS
The orbital motion of the Porter-Cable Finishing Sander is ideally suited for
finishing doors, cabinet fronts and other installations where wood grain is often
perpendicular to that of a joining piece. Since the motion is circular, the machine
may be moved in any direction and crossed from one part to the other without
regard to direction of grain. A uniform and smooth finish will result on both parts.
The same procedure may be used when evening joints in all types of cabinet
work. The sander may be worked on both sides and in all directions to obtain a
smooth, matching joint. By properly changing from coarser to finer grit abrasives,
an excellent finish will result.
RUBBING AND POLISHING
The finishing sander is excellent for all types of polishing and rubbing on flat or
round surfaces. Felt rubbing pads, available as accessory equipment can be
quickly attached for rubbing operations. With it, metal parts, enameled surfaces
and woodwork may be polished. Use rouge or paste wax for polishing with the
finishing sander.
