Parts for Porter Cable Tools

[mcp6453]

A small belt on my Porter Cable Model 333 Series 2 random orbital sander broke. The part number is 903373. The typical cost is about $2, but every source I have checked wants $9 or more for shipping.

Does anyone have a favorite source for parts for Porter Cable tools that has a more realistic shipping charge? The belt can easily ship in a letter-size envelope for less than a dollar. There is a local Porter Cable repair facility. Maybe they have one (which I will check tomorrow.)

As far as I can tell, all the belt does is prevent the pad from going into high speed when it is not in contact with the sanding surface. It's used to add friction to the pad's rotation. It doesn't look to me like it will hurt the sander to operate it without it until I can find a new one.

We're trying to strip the dark, damaged finish off of a 100 year old dining room table. When the belt broke, we were having marginal results using 80 grit paper. The wood is hard as a rock. I can't find my belt sander.

[aemeijers]

That is mother nature telling you you are using the wrong tool for the job. Unless this is a plank 'farmers table', you don't sand, you strip chemically. If this table is worth money, or is a family heirloom, take it to somebody that can hot tank it for you.

-- aem sends...

[Dean Hoffman]

Our local Tru Value Store will get parts and pieces for tools.

[dpb]

....

...

All the "belt" is is an O-ring.

First thing I do is take the thing off because all they do is add heat that destroys the lower bearing prematurely unless the sander is only used very intermittently.

You should have no trouble finding replacement at any decently-stocked hardware, automotive parts or industrial supply.

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[mcp6453]

We consulted with a professional who quoted us $600 for the job. It's not worth that to us. I don't know what a plank "farmer's table" is, but it sounds like that description may fit this one. It was probably purchased from Montgomery Ward early in the 20th century. It was my grandmother's dining room table. It had to be very inexpensive when it was purchased.

[Red Green]

mcp6453 wrote in news:YPedncweYumOzcHWnZ2dnUVZ [e-mail]:

For a single item like this, local purchase is more economical. You're on the right track with checking for local PC authorized service center. Yellow pages should list them. Doesn't need to be authorized center for that though. Anyplace that repairs tools should have or be able to get it pretty quick. Since you have the part number, phone calls should save some running around.

[dpb]

Red Green wrote: ...

Excellent advice in general, but... :) In this case the "belt" is just a common o-ring available anywhere w/ a decent selection of same.

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[GROVER]

I have the exact same ROS and needed the exact same "o" ring. It is a poorly kept secret that the shipping and handling charges out weigh the cost of small parts procured from all parts vendors. The S & H profits probably are more than the profit on the small part.

Joe G

[dpb]

GROVER wrote: ...

...

Yeah, I've a half-dozen or so of this and the variations thereon...I've quite a collection of "belts" in the drawer if (altho unlikely) I ever put one back on... :)

And, hopefully you recognized it for what it was/is as simply an o-ring and did the logical instead... :)

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[mcp6453]

I lucked out. There is a service center just a few miles from my office. I was able to pick up a couple of them today for a reasonable price. Now I'm back to trying to understand what they do. The repair guy said they keep the disk from free-wheeling.

[Indiana Dav]

[Indiana Dav]

[ransley]

Its good you cant find your belt sander and your sander broke, you strip finishes off furniture with chemicals, you strip floors with belt sanders. I have a belt for 25$ for you.