Product Description

Compact & Light Belt Sander Kit, Gets Into Tight Places Or Fits Unusual Applications, Flush Sands To Perpendicular Sufaces, Low Center Of Gravity & Weight Is Directly Over Platen For Less Chance Of Gouging, Rubber Gripping Surfaces, Dust Sealed Switch, Removable Front Handle, Metal Housings For Durability, Removable Dust Port With Dust Canister, Port Accepts Both 1" & 1/2" Dust Collection, 2-1/2" x 14" Belt, 800 SFPM, 5A Motor, 5 LBS, 1 Year Warranty.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1319 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Porter Cable
• Model: 371K
• Dimensions: 9.40 pounds

Features

• 2-1/2-inch by 14-inch compact belt sander kit; rear dust exhaust
• 120-volt, 5 amp motor; flush side for sanding next to perpendicular surfaces
• Durable plastic housing and rubber grip
• Includes sander, 80-grit sanding belt, carrying case, manual
• 10-3/4-inches long; 8-1/2 pounds; 1-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description
The Porter-Cable Family of Belt Sanders
In 1926 Porter-Cable introduced the first portable belt sander and tweaked the design five years later by adding dust collection and a horizontally placed motor. Today, this company produces an assortment of powerful, durable belt sanders that are designed to perform -- and some of them weigh as little as five pounds.

About The 371K Belt Sander
This portable, compact belt Sander from Porter-Cable is shaped like an armadillo with an arched back and a rubber grip for one-handed operation. Because it's so perfectly balanced, no matter how you hold it you're directing force at the center of the platen for more comfortable, precise control. With a super light body weight (just five pounds) and advanced design, this model is sure to become a favorite go-to device -- and its designers aren't the only people who think so. In 2006 this belt sander won the Handy Magazine Innovation Award due to its great style, ease of use, and all-around great craftsmanship.

Packed to the gills with helpful features, the 371K is ready to work, with a removable dust port that helps keep your work space clean. Its 5 amp, 500 MWO motor delivers real power for clearing hardwoods, and the dust sealed, recessed switch is easy to access and minimizes accidental turn-offs. The removable auxiliary handle gives you exceptional control when you need two hands, and low center of gravity feels stable, no matter how you hold it. The 371K boasts a hardy plastic housing over metal components that are made to stand up to heavy use, with a flush side that lets you sand right up against perpendicular surfaces. This kit comes with an 80-grit sanding belt (2-1/2 by 14-inch) and a carrying case for easy transport to the job site or the workshop.

Applications
Ideal for broad, general workshop purposes, this belt sander smoothes and levels solid wood and veneered sheet goods, sands cabinet face frames, prepares edge-glued solid panels after clamping, and does a fine job of removing lots of stock quickly.

Key Technical Specs

• Power: 120 volts
• Belt size: 2-1/2 by 14 inches
• Belt speed: 1,100 sfpm
• Motor power: 5 amps

Warranty
The 371K belt sander is covered by Porter-Cable's standard one-year warranty.

What's in the box:
Porter-Cable belt sander, 80-grit sanding belt, carrying case.

From the Manufacturer
The 371K belt sander fits in the palm of your hand. The 371K Compact belt sander is the perfect compliment to your heavy duty 3- by 21-inch or 4- by 2inch belt sander. The compact design offers hand held control and features a 2-½ by 14-inch belt for those applications where a bigger bulkier sander won't work. Whether you're scribing, chamfering, edge sanding, or doing a small surface prep, you'll look to this tool to tackle the task. The tool has a large rubber overmolded surface for gripping it in multiple positions, has a dust sealed switch for durability and boasts a 5.0 Amp motor for power in virtually any application. At only 5 pounds, you'll find it's 20 percent lighter than it's competition and has a flush side to enable sanding in tight areas, up to 90 degree angled surfaces. This product comes in a heavy duty kitbox and features a 1-year limited warranty.

Customer Reviews

Whole Lotta Grunt in a Small Package
I bought this sander when I was halfway through a boat-building project earlier this year. We used a combination of power and hand planers for fairing the framework, but had concerns about hitting metal fasteners buried in the woodwork. A full-sized belt sander was ruled out due to its bulk and aggressiveness. I had seen this sander at the Porter Cable booth at the local woodworking show and finally broke down and bought one through Amazon. I have not been disappointed. It has plenty of power and did everything we asked of it, but its small size was nice for fine work and when I had to lie on my back and clean up some stuff under the deck. It does get pretty warm after several minutes, but this is a minor gripe. For cleaning up large areas I would still use a full-sized belt or random-orbital sander, but for the small stuff in tight areas this thing is unbeatable. Being from Porter Cable I suspect it will be tough to wear out as well. Highly recommended.

Stop Whining
I saw this sander in the display at my local Lowe's and just had to have it. I've been a carpenter for over 25 years and know a good tool when I see one. Of course it's going to get hot your hands on top of the sander as apposed to in front of or behind the motor and heat rises. I don't have girly man hands so this is not uncomfortable. As far as the thickness of the top grip go's if it's to big for your little hands this might not be the sander for you. I took it out of the box as soon as I got home and put it to use. I'm glad I paid the $100.00 I did for it. It will pay for itself tomarrow then after that it's all profit. I recommend this sander for the proffesional carpenter that knows what he's doing just because of it's size it may not be suitable for first time users or unskilled home owners this is a pro grade tool and should be handled as such.

Great tool
I purchased the sander on a whim. This is a great sander for certain jobs. The sander is small, has a narrower belt than other sanders, and can be controlled with one hand making this a great sander for delicate jobs that might require controlled material removal. I recently used it to sand flush 1/8" plywood glued as a back to a cabinent. I've used it to sand end grain boards that stuck out a little farther than desired. I did notice it becoming hot quick but my belt ran true once adjusted. If you have large panels to sand, buy a 3" or 4" belt sander. This won't replace your random orbit sanders either, but it has proven a very useful tool for certain jobs that other sanders can't perform.