There are two major players in the world of dust-free drywall grinders. Porter Cable has a popular model with professionals who need high productivity. It has a large, rounded orbital grinding head with the electric motor mounted on the extension handle. The Dustless Technologies Turbo Drywall Sander has a smaller rectangular orbital grinding head driven by the airflow of the vacuum. It is designed more for tight spots and for sanding in corners.
The biggest problem with the Porter Cable Drywall Sander is its weight - 8.5 pounds. If you keep that kind of weight at shoulder height, it will cause muscle burns within minutes and require frequent breaks. You can turn a significant project into a marathon of misery. Some people choose manual by grinding methods and tolerate dust to avoid fatigue associated with Porter Cable drywall grinder.
Porter Cable Drywall Sander is a good quality device that also has benefits. For a professional gypsum grinder in need of a device with high productivity, it is a good choice due to its aggressive grinding effect. It allows the operator to quickly cover larger areas, but also pays a premium price for it. It costs about $ 430 and it does not include a vacuum, just the drywall sander. For small contractors, DIY owners and homeowners, the hefty price tag for the Porter Cable System may not be worth it.
And in tight spaces like bathrooms, Porter Corded Drywall Sander is often impractical because the sanding head is too large; it is rounded so that it does not reach the corners; the long stick impedes maneuverability and you can not adjust the head angle so you get wherever you need to.
So how do you deal with these tight spots? Manual grinding? No, it still creates dust that requires a lot of work to clean up. The Dustless Technologies Turbo Drywall Sander goes where the Porter cable unit cannot. It has a rectangular head so you can grind the corners. The post is removable so you can turn the device into a dust-free handsander, perfect for tight spots. With an adjustable bend, you can set the main angle where you need it to suit even the most uncomfortable working conditions.
Dustless Turbo Drywall Sander is a good alternative to Porter Corded Drywall Sander for people who want a lighter system at a lower price. The Turbo Drywall Sander weighs just 4.5 pounds. and it sells for less than half the price (only $ 180) for a Porter cable unit ($ 430). It is also a great asset for professional Drywall Contractor who need the high productivity of the Porter Cable System, but also want a lightweight, more versatile system for small jobs, tight spaces and touch-ups.
A major consideration is the type of vacuum used in connection with drywall grinder. Porter Cable sells a 10 gallon wet / dry vacuum with its Model 7800 Drywall Sander for $ 370, bringing the total cost of the Porter Cable setup to $ 800. Dustless Technologies sells a dry / wet vacuum cleaner. 16 gallons wet for $ 300, bringing the total cost of your drywall turbo sanding system to less than $ 500.
For less money, the dust-free technologies vacuum has a few different advantages over the Porter cable vacuum. While the Porter cable vacuum claims to offer 99.85% efficiency, the dust-free vacuum goes further by trapping airborne particles down to 0.5 microns with its optional microfilter. This is very close to the performance of the HEPA level, which is captured down to 0.3 microns. When it comes to ultra-fine drywall dust, the added filtration is remarkable.
Another consideration when choosing a drywall sanding system is the cost of sandpaper. Porter Cable Drywall Sander uses proprietary sandpaper that costs $ 5 per sheet. Dustless Technologies Turbo Drywall Sander uses standard size sandpaper sheets, which are available at any hardware store for about a dollar per. Sheet.