Vacuum attachment?

[george]

I am about to invest in a Porter Cable 7334 orbital sander, but was wondering if the vacuum attachment is worth it.

Since I have to use my shop-vac anyway, couldn't I just have an assistant hold the shop-vac hose to suck away the flying debris? I will have to use some sort of vacuum because I am sure the marina would otherwise alert the EPA.

I will be sanding off 30+ years of accumulated bottom paint from an Alberg 30 on Labor Day week, and was wondering also how long it will take. I am taking along 2 assistants so we can all take breathers with hoisting what I imagine will become a very heavy power tool.

This will be outside, so should I spead sheets or something on the ground?

[Jason K]

After sanding my decks without it, I have to say YES!!!!!!!

What a, cough, nightmare.

Not the first time this has come up, by the way. See this thread:

http://www.triton381.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=871

[Jason K]

I responded without reading your whole post. Let's try this again...

Since I have to use my shop-vac anyway, couldn't I just have an assistant hold the shop-vac hose to suck away the flying debris?

Brilliant! I could really use one of your indentured serv- I mean assistants. That does work, to a degree. Though I don't think it's as effective as a vacuum attachment. Also, on my shopvac at least, before it got,uh, wet, the particles came out the exhaust because the filter SUCKED.

I will be sanding off 30+ years of accumulated bottom paint from an Alberg 30 on Labor Day week, and was wondering also how long it will take. I am taking along 2 assistants so we can all take breathers with hoisting what I imagine will become a very heavy power tool.

The time spent is directly proportionent to how much sandpaper you are willing to go through. If you don't mind burning it up, it could be done a couple of long, dirty days. I went through about $500 worth of sandpaper doing the decks! The job definitely goes much, much faster when you're not miserly with the discs. Also, buy the best discs you can find. I skimped a bit on one batch and, if I could actually get the disc to stay stuck to the tool, it didn't last long enough to be effective.

I use the PC 7336 (the 6" model) and it is not a burdensome tool, relatively speaking. It's also the best $100 I put into the whole project (actually $200 as I went back for one more). Another word of advise, though I'm sure you know this - use respirators, not dusk masks; that stuff is pretty toxic.

This will be outside, so should I spead sheets or something on the ground?

That depends on whether your yard has a sense of humor or not. Actually, most require it.

Good luck with your project. The Alberg 30 is a great boat, I hope you don't have out of the water too long.

[windrose]

Take a gallon jug of water and fill it to the point it weighs the same amount as the sander.... tie a line to the jug, pass the line thru a block and back to the sander, let that block run along the life lines-- then you don't have to hold the weight of the sander, you simply have to steer the sander and let it do it's job. Depending on where you are on the hull, you might want to give a little more lift to the sander by putting a little more weight in the jug (when you are doing the overhead flat portion of the hull).

Like Jason says, invest in a good respirator, good eye protection (you will be surprised how much seems directly overhead), throw away Tyvek and a BOX of vinyl (my preference) gloves. Good luck.

I don't know what Porter Cable's return policy is, however, expect the sander to be spent when you are finished. Personally, I like to go buy a cheap $35-$45 Craftsman orbital sander for these jobs.... they never ask what caused it to bite the dust they simply give you another one. The metallic grit destroys the innards.... I've burned up everything from DeWalts to Ryobi's.... it's spent and covered in heavy metals such that you aren't crazy of using it bare handed anymore. Buy a cheap Craftsman for this!

[Figment]

Well, holding the vacuum hose near the sander will give those assistants something to do, but I don't think it will be a particularly effective dust control method. Dust from a grinder can be made to come out in one general direction, dust from a RO sander isn't so obedient.
Yeah, I'm a fan of the vacuum attachment thingy.

I also second the reccomendation to buy good sandpaper discs. LOTS of them. What you don't use on this bottom job will sit quite happily on the shelf until next year.