Ever since Porter Cable came out with their drywall sander I’ve wanted to give it a test in my own hands I found that the local rental place rents one for $35 a day (not including sanding pad and sand paper) so I gave it a go just yesterday.

I was very skeptical. I completely expected to run this tool for about 5 minutes and give it up for the ole hand method. I’ve read some negative comments about it being too heavy for prolonged use, leaving swirl marks that created more work than it saved, etc.

But I’m here to tell you that it worked like an absolute dream. I was done in about a quarter of the time I had expected for hand sanding and didn’t leave but a speck of dust on the floor. I didn’t wear a dust mask and you would have never know to look at me that I just finished sanding 2400 sq ft of board. The only draw back, and I’m not complaining by any means, is I had to spend about 45 minutes with the hand sander to hit about half an inch of edge it will not reach at wall intersections.

I give it definite thumbs up. I don’t hate DW work so much any more. However for the little DW work that I do and $500 for just the sander alone. I’ll happily continue to rent.